Avishag
David, the first king of the ancient kingdom of Israel, lies dying – but not in peace. His ambitious sons contend for the throne, egged on by their equally ambitious mothers. Into this palace of plot and counterplot comes a young girl, a maiden from Shunam who is brought to tend David and warm his failing body. Her name is Avishag, and she unwillingly becomes the focus of the warring factions of David’s unruly family. Walking a narrow path between the dangers, Avishag becomes essential to King David, and thus to the sons who would claim the throne, Adoniyah and Shlomo (Solomon). It is Shlomo whom the Shunammite maiden loves – but forces both political and religious threaten to tear them apart. In the end, it is Avishag’s courage and pure sense of self that enables her to triumph and create a new life for herself.
Set in a world of shadowy intrigues and bold action, Avishag tells a compelling story, giving radiant life to a woman who is presented in the Bible as a mere pawn. Fans of The Red Tent and The Midwife’s Song will find Avishag a worthy addition to the genre.
