by Lynn Austin
Abba—Father, Daddy.
Apadna—A huge, open-air terrace used by Persian kings for formal ceremonies.
Aron Ha Kodesh—The sacred ark in the Jewish house of worship where the Torah and other sacred scrolls are kept.
Bar Mitzvah—Son of the commandments—The ceremony at age twelve or thirteen at which a Jewish boy is considered a man and can read Scripture in the synagogue.
Bimah—The raised platform in a Jewish house of worship where Scripture is read.
Gan Eden—The Garden of Eden.
Havdalah—Separation. Havdalah lights are lit as the Sabbath ends to mark the separation between that holy day and ordinary days.
Kidron Valley—The valley outside Jerusalem between the city and the Mount of Olives to the east.
Kippah—A small head covering worn by Jewish men.
Korban—To make a sacrifice. From the Hebrew root word meaning “to come near.”
Levir—Brother-in-law.
Levite—A descendant of the tribe of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, who later became temple assistants.
Mikveh / Mikvoth (pl)—A bath used for ritual cleansing and purity.
Phylacteries—Small boxes containing Scripture that Jewish men attach to their foreheads and arms while praying. (See Deuteronomy 6:8).
Purim—The plural of Pur, meaning to cast lots.
Rebbe—Rabbi, teacher.
Shabbat—The Sabbath, a Jewish day of rest. It begins at sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday.
Shema—Hebrew for “hear.” The shema is the Jewish confession of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4. It begins, “Hear, O Israel . . .”
Torah—The first five books of the Bible, which contain God’s Law.
Yeshiva—A Jewish school where Scripture is studied.
Ziggurat—A stepped pyramid used for worshipping pagan gods, like the Tower of Babel.
A Note to the Reader
Careful study of Scripture and commentaries support the fictionalization of this story. To create authentic speech, the author has paraphrased the words of biblical figures such as Ezra. However, the New International Version has been directly quoted when characters are reading, singing, or reciting Scripture passages.
Interested readers are encouraged to research the full accounts of these events in the Bible as they enjoy the RESTORATION CHRONICLES.
Scripture references for Keepers of the Covenant:
Ezra 7–10
Esther 1–10
Ruth 1–4
1 Samuel 15:1–35
Genesis 19:1–38; 36:1–12
Exodus 17:8–14; 28:1–42; 34:15–16
Numbers 1:47–53; 3:11–13; 8:5–26; 18:21; 25:1–15
Deuteronomy 25:5–10; 25:17–19
Joshua 2:1–22; 6:22–25
Judges 4–5
Matthew 1:5–6
Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org.
Books by Lynn Austin
* * *
All She Ever Wanted
All Things New
Eve’s Daughters
Hidden Places
Pilgrimage
A Proper Pursuit
Though Waters Roar
Until We Reach Home
While We’re Far Apart
Wings of Refuge
A Woman’s Place
Wonderland Creek
REFINER’S FIRE
Candle in the Darkness
Fire by Night
A Light to My Path
CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS
Gods & Kings
Song of Redemption
The Strength of His Hand
Faith of My Fathers
Among the Gods
THE RESTORATION CHRONICLES
Return to Me
Keepers of the Covenant
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