Silent, Shem caressed Annah and kissed her cheek. As she leaned against him, Annah felt their child stirring within her, calm and unhurried. Somehow, the calm of this child reassured her. You won’t forget the words of your parents, she thought to the unborn one. And you will tell your children the stories of old, so they will never turn away from the Most High, but be glad and look forward to the day when He sends His Promised One to call to them in love.
She convinced herself that this would be true; the Promised One would come soon and this formidable new world would not be corrupted in the same way as the world before—by evil from her own children and their kin.
“Pretty,” Asshur said again, staring up at the clear, brilliant blue sky.
“Pretty,” Annah agreed quietly, feeling her husband’s arm tighten around her. “But not as pretty as before.”
Glossary
In order of appearance:
Havah (Khav-vaw) Life giver.
Hebel (Heh-bel) “Emptiness” or “Vanity.”
Annah (Awn-naw) A plea: “I beseech thee” or “Oh now!”
Yerakh (Yeh-rakh) A lunation of the moon. One Month.
Naham (Naw-ham) Roaring.
Iltani (unknown) Ancient Semitic/Babylonian name
Parah (Paw-raw) Fruitful.
I’ma (Ame-maw) Derived from “Im” or “Em” and the syllable “Ma.” Mother. Bond of the family.
Kentum (Ken-toom) Century. From the root words “kmtom” and “centum.”
Afal (uncertain) Indo-European root word describing a number of fruits, including the apple.
Tseb-iy (Tseb-ee) Splendor. Conspicuous.
Chathath (Khaw-thath) To break or prostrate by violence.
Tan-neem (Taw-neem) Monster.
Nachash (Naw-khawsh) To hiss. To whisper a spell. Serpent.
Haburah (Khab-oo-rah) Bound. Bruised.
Gammad (Gam-mawd) Warrior, i.e. grasping a weapon.
Ayalah (Ah-yaw-law) Doe.
K’nan (Ken-aw-an) Abbreviated from Kena’an. Merchant.
Noakh (No-akh) Rest.
Naomi (No-om-ee) Pleasant.
Shem (Shame) Denotes honor. Literally means “Name.” Also, “Appointed One,” and “To desolate.”
Khawm (Khawm) Heat, i.e. a tropical climate.
Yepheth (Yeh-feth) Expansion.
Methuwshelakh (Meth-oo-sheh-lakh) “Man of the Darts.” In a lesser sense, “He who departs before the waters.”
Khawvilah (Khav-ee-law) Circular.
Zahar (Zaw-har) Gleam. Also, “To teach.”
Tsaraph (Tsaw-raf) Goldsmith.
Nephiyl (Nef-eel) Bully. Tyrant. Giant.
Taphaph (Taw-faf) Mince. To trip coquettishly.
Tsillah (Tsil-law) Shade.
Shuwa (Shoo-aw) Wealth.
Qetsiyah (Ket-see-aw) Peeled cassia bark.
Bachown (Baw-khone) An assayer of metals.
Dahar (Daw-har) To move irregularly.
Ma’adannah (Mah-ad-an-aw) Pleasure. Dainty. Delight. Also, “A bond” or “Influence.”
Qeb-al (Keb-al) To acquire.
Kinah (Kin-aw) Wares.
Pa-sak (Paw-sak) To divide.
Saiyr (Saw-eer) Shaggy. He-goat.
Etsah (Ay-tsaw) Trees. Wisdom.
Ghinnah (Ghin-naw) Garden.
Ce’appah (Seh-ap-aw) Twig. Branch.
Tirtsah (Teer-tsaw) Delightsomeness.
Hadarah (Had-aw-raw) Decoration.
Pathal (Paw-thal) To wrestle.
Akar (Aw-kawr) Troublesome.
Othniy (Oth-nee) Forcible.
Sa-khar (Saw-khar) Peddler.
Yediydah (Yed-ee-daw) Beloved.
Elam (Ay-lawm) Hidden.
Asshur (Ash-shoor) To guide. To be level.
Kuwsh (Koosh) Possible meanings: “To scatter.” “Confusion.” “Chaos.”
Bekiyrah (Bek-ee-raw) Eldest daughter. Firstborn.
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