—JOB 42:3 Miriam, Moses, and Hur sat around their small mat for the evening meal and shoved morsels of food around their wooden plates. No one was hungry. Earlier in the day, when the slave drivers raided their village for Hebrews to replace the house slaves killed in the storm, they’d hidden Taliah on the roof. Women had been taken from their children, screaming, to live and serve in Egyptian households—never to return to Goshen. Men, too, were taken, but most husbands were allowed to return home in the evenings. Masters used only women to warm their beds. “When did Taliah eat last?” Hur broke the long silence. Miriam tried to recall. “I think we ate a little something after Eleazar and Hoshea left with Moses.” “Should I go get her?” Moses asked. “Or maybe take up some cucumber and melon? They may sweep for more replacements tomorrow. Taliah should stay on the roof for a few days.” The sound of heavy footsteps outside their doorway silenced them all. A burly Egyptian guard slapped the curtain aside and entered, inspecting the interior.
