Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Mesu Andrews has made her niche in biblical storytelling by developing characters in the Bible who are oftentimes obscure, almost forgotten, or perhaps unnamed. The Nameless Ones carries on the tradition by introducing us, in short story form, to fictional, yet believable characters who intersect with such famous Biblical people/incidents as: King Solomon’s writing of Ecclesiastes, Elijah battling the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, and the Assyrian siege on Jerusalem during King Hezekiah’s reign.
Why weren’t 699 wives enough for King Solomon? Did God have some great purpose for The 700th Wife? Could she make an impact on this wise, handsome, and aging king? In this story, you’ll discover the legacy of wisdom, love, and comfort her words may have been to the one called Jedidiah—beloved of the Lord.
Someone had to bring the water to douse Elijah’s sacrifice…why not The Water Girl who serves in the pagan temple of Baal? The three year drought has developed more than her thirst for water. When Yahweh shows His power, will she continue to waver between two opinions or will she find truth, freedom, and life in Him?
He is Judah’s Mole—a digger—and like all moles he’s most comfortable in the dark, away from people. As the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, marches on Jerusalem, only the Mole can save them by tunneling through a mountain to connect a spring outside the city’s wall to an internal cistern. But who will deliver the Mole from his own insecurities—perhaps The Mole’s Wife? Discover how her gift of faith matches her husband’s skill with a shovel, and together they save not only her husband’s dignity but also Hezekiah’s kingdom.
Author Mesu Andrews draws upon historical research to develop creative fictional plot lines that put a face and a name on women with essential roles in Old Testament history.
The Nameless Ones features three short stories set in three different eras of Israelite kings showcasing a fictional woman who could have played a role in a crucial biblical event. The author is careful to include notes at the beginning of each story to introduce the context and then at the end to explain fact vs. fiction.
The first story, “The 700th Wife,” tells the story of King Solomon’s last love and offers an interesting origin story for the “under the sun” phrase.
The second story, “The Water Girl,” showcases the challenge between Elijah and the priests of Baal during King Ahab’s rule. It’s a powerful story even before adding a young girl into the mix.
The third story, “The Mole’s Wife,” focuses on events during the reign of King Hezekiah and the tunnel that helped Jerusalem against the Assyrian army. It’s an interesting look into the tunnel’s construction and the men (plus their wives) who risked their lives in the process.
The short story collection, as a whole, highlights the contributions of women who were often regulated to the sidelines during this time period.
The Nameless Ones delivers a creative approach to bring historical events to light within the Old Testament framework.
Mesu Andrews is the Christy Award-winning author of numerous inspirational novels including the Treasures of the Nile series, the Prophets and Kings series, and Potiphar’s Wife, the first book in the Egyptian Chronicles series. Her deep understanding of and love for God’s Word help her to bring the biblical world alive for readers. Mesu lives in North Carolina with her husband, Roy, and enjoys spending time with her tribe of grandchildren.
