About the Book
Book: Noble (King David’s Brides Book Two)
Author: Mesu Andrews
Genre: Biblical fiction
Release Date: August 19, 2025
Princess
Maakah of Geshur is duty-bound to create a political alliance for her
father through marriage. The cancelation by King Saul of her betrothal
to his fourth-born son compels Maakah’s father to send her to the rebel
David ben Jesse, a shepherd-warrior anointed years earlier as Israel’s
future king, to propose a marriage between them. Taken aback by stories
of David’s ferocity and lowly birth, Maakah considers the match a
degrading fate but obeys her father’s wishes out of duty as her nation’s
only heir.
To her relief, David rejects the offer of marriage, but circumstances
make it impossible for Maakah to return home, and she must stay with
David’s people until it is safe for her to travel again. Facing
prejudice and suspicion from the Israelites, Maakah navigates the
delicate balance between her noble heritage and her growing respect for
David’s faith and leadership. In a land torn by war and divided
loyalties, she must choose where her allegiance lies: with her Geshurite
people, or with an extraordinary destiny alongside David that beckons
her from within.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Mesu Andrews is
a Christy Award-winning, bestselling author of biblical novels and
devotional studies, whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word
brings the Bible alive for readers. Her heritage as a “spiritual mutt”
has given her a strong yearning to both understand and communicate
biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the
mind, and transform lives. Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband, Roy,
where she stays connected with her readers through newsy emails, blog
posts, and social media.
More from Mesu
Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel, Noble?
Princess Maakah, the only child of Geshur’s King Talmai, and the only
heir to his throne, must shrewdly marry to strengthen her nation’s
political future. When King Saul cancels the betrothal contract he and
Talmai had arranged for Saul’s fourth-born son, King Talmai reacts
swiftly to secure a betrothal with the legendary rebel David ben Jesse.
She obeys her abba’s wishes and travels south from Geshur, where her
escort is attacked by Amalekite bandits. While captive to the
Amalekites, Maakah is befriended by David ben Jesse’s two wives, Ahinoam
and Abigail. When David rescues his family, he encounters Geshur’s
arrogant pagan princess—having no idea Talmai had sent a betrothal
contract with a Geshurite messenger. Though neither David nor Maakah
wish to pursue a betrothal, David vows to keep Maakah safe, even though
danger abounds at every turn. How did David and Maakah ever reach a
truce and marry? How did they perhaps even come to love each other—so
that Maakah could become the mother of David’s third-born son (2 Sam.
3:3b)?
How do you approach writing fiction about biblical characters while staying true to Scripture?
The Bible tells us that Maakah became David’s wife in Hebron and bore
his third-born son, Absalom. It gives no other details about David and
Maakah’s relationship; however, 2 Samuel 13– 15 does mention that
Absalom killed his brother Amnon (because Amnon raped Absalom’s sister,
Tamar). After Absalom committed murder, he fled to . . . Geshur, where
his grandfather, King Talmai, sheltered him. These later Scriptures tell
me some things about the character of King Talmai and the environment
in which Maakah would have been raised as a young princess. Using the
knowledge I’ve gained during my twenty years of research and writing
biblical fiction, I can know that if Talmai had any other heir to
Geshur’s throne, he likely wouldn’t have been so welcoming to a grandson
who could have posed a threat to a Geshurite prince. Later, Absalom
leaves Geshur—rather abruptly—and is suddenly willing to face death in
Jerusalem (at David’s hand) than remain in Geshur (2 Sam. 14:32). These
aren’t Truth explicitly stated in Scripture, but because I’ve visited
Israel twice and studied the ancient culture under the guidance of
wonderful Bible scholars, I hope the Truth of Scripture, historical
data, and a God-directed imagination blend together in a story that
pulls readers into the ancient world of David and his brides.
How do you approach writing about King David, such a well-known biblical figure, from a fresh perspective?
When most folks think of David, they remember chunks of his life: a
shepherd boy whom Samuel anointed king; the youth who killed Goliath;
the inexperienced warrior befriended by King Saul’s firstborn, Prince
Jonathan; the victim of King Saul’s mania who was lowered from a bedroom
window by his first wife, Michal (King Saul’s daughter); the warrior
who escapes
Saul in the desert, spares the enemy king’s life, and rescues Abigail
from her lousy husband. Yet for some reason, we minimize the time David
spent in that wilderness—likely, seven years or more. Then we skip
right over his seven years in Hebron when six sons were born to him by
six wives. SIX WIVES, y’all!
Then, most folks remember King David as the conquering king of
Jerusalem. But that King David is very different than the David who
roamed the wilderness and the thirty-year-old David who was learning how
to reign in Hebron. Why do I say that? Look at the psalms David wrote.
You can tell which were written in the wilderness and which were written
after conquering Jerusalem. It proves what I’ve suspected for most of
my life: When God really wants to test us, He blesses us beyond our imagination. When
David ruled from his cedar palace in Jerusalem, too many times the
wealth and blessings shoved God off the throne of his heart. I didn’t
want to write about that David. In the KING DAVID’S BRIDES series,
you’ll meet raw David—the David who says, “God is all I need because
He’s all I have.”
Tell us about your research process for understanding the political climate of ancient Israel and Geshur.
I’m so grateful for the various places we’ve lived and my husband’s
occupational journey since 2000. He began his doctoral work at Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School (in Chicago), which gave me access to his
scholarly library on campus. I muddled through those first few years of
research—partly appalled at what I discovered about ancient cultures and
partly mesmerized at how much more deeply I understood the Scripture
when I grasped the ancient cultures (both Israel’s and the pagan nations
around them). After seven years, he completed his PhD in Education and
took a job at Multnomah University (Portland, OR), where I had even more
access to their library, and I quickly made friends with the research
librarian. She helped me immensely in delving even deeper into theses
and dissertations that were more specific (like hair products of
seventh-century BC Assyrians). After nine years, we moved to the other
coast—Boone, NC—where Appalachian State University allowed me to
purchase a “community card” for $10 lifetime access. Their “religious”
research books were amazing, so I had access at home or on campus to
lots of the pagan nations’ intricate rites as well as Jewish historical
writings that I’d never seen before. We lived there for eight years
before moving back to our roots in Indiana. At each stop along our way,
I’ve picked up used books on Amazon or at these libraries (or from Roy’s
professor friends) that have helped build my personal library at home.
In 2020, Hubby and I were so blessed to take a group of readers to
Israel and actually visit the ancient ruins of Geshur! When we have an
open heart, God can use every circumstance to teach and bless!
How do you balance historical accuracy with creating relatable characters for modern readers?
Speaking of our 2020 journey to Israel . . . When we arrived at the
Old Testament site of Geshur, I was intrigued that the New Testament
city of Bethsaida had been built directly on top of it! This is common
practice in archaeological sites. Sometimes as many as three or four
cities are found in the different “strata” (or layers) of a hill (called
tel in Hebrew). Our wonderful guide, Hedva, took us to the
edge of the city, where we sat beneath a canopy as a protection from the
glaring sun. Looking southeast, we watched the sparkling rays glimmer
off the Sea of Galilee. It was one of the most beautiful sights I saw in
the Land on that trip.
Realizing, however, that the Bible specifically describes the
Geshurite villages David destroyed as “in the land extending to Shur and
Egypt” (1 Sam. 27:8), I knew this city that was way north of the
Galilee couldn’t be the same place David had destroyed. I asked the
guide, “What about the southern villages of Geshur—in the south, closer
to Ziklag, that David and his men would have destroyed along with the
Amalekites and Girzites?” She looked at me as if I had two heads and
said the Bible got that one wrong. There were no southern villages
belonging to Geshur. Hmm. Well, that would definitely be a problem for
both me and my Bible-believing readers! In order to write this story
according to God’s Truth of Scripture, I created a fictional explanation
for the villages “in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.” Am I
contradicting historical accuracy? Nope. I’m just giving a plausible
explanation until some very smart archaeologists catch up with God’s
Truth and find proof of the Geshurite villages David destroyed in
Philistine territory.
Your protagonist struggles with pride and duty. How does this reflect broader themes in Scripture?
With duty comes responsibility, but responsibility may or may not come with authority. Maakah thought she
had both duty and authority, which bred arrogance (pride) that was
doomed for destruction. In God’s economy, that’s a good thing. Since God
hates pride, the best thing He can do for us is find ways—however
gently we’ll allow it—to crush the pride that keeps us from turning to
Him for help. The greater our call to duty, the more tempted we are to
carry that duty on our own shoulders. It’s a tendency as old as the
Garden. Didn’t Eve want to eat that forbidden fruit when the serpent
said she would “be like God” if she ate it? Don’t we all stretch for
more responsibility, more authority, because we want to do it our way?
The more we get our way, the more we become proud of our successes and
the more we want the authority to make more decisions—for ourselves.
It’s really the theme of every story in the Bible and in life. “It’s up
to me, and I’ll get it done.” But God’s way says, “Obey me, and we’ll do
it together.”
Your novel deals with themes of prejudice and tribal loyalties. What parallels do you see for modern readers?
When David and Maakah focused on the ways they were different or the
barriers that would come between them, their future together seemed
hopeless. When they focused on the miracles God worked to bring them
together and their united passion for that same God, their future
together seemed inevitable.
The relationship between faith and heritage is central to your story. What inspired this theme?
I try hard not to begin the story with a designated theme. I get to
know the Truth of Scripture with the historical data I discover during
research and then do a lot of prayer-guided imagining of how characters
would feel, think, and act. The faith and heritage theme was already
there from Scripture. I couldn’t imagine that David, as a man after
God’s own heart, would ever marry a pagan—no matter what the political
benefit to his new reign. And from what I knew of the Aramean family of
nations (Geshur was one of five), Talmai would lie, cheat, kill, or
steal to find a beneficial match for his daughter. The rest of the story
was just imagining all the bad stuff that could happen in a two-week
time span that might break down both David’s and Maakah’s defenses and
open their hearts to God’s chess game of the heart.
What message do you hope readers take away from Maakah’s story?
I want them to believe that no one is too far gone for Yahweh to
reach. My husband and I weren’t believers all the way through high
school. God used a lot of key people, hard experiences, and patient
grace to draw us into His family. (See my personal testimony at: https://mesuandrews.com/meet-mesu/personal-testimony/.) If He can reach me, He can reach anyone.
What are you working on next?
I’ve already started Loyal: The Story of Haggith. Again, we
know nothing about Haggith’s true identity from Scripture, so through
supplemental Truth, historical data, and my imagination, I’ve imagined
David’s fourth wife as the daughter of Hebron’s chief priest. When some
of David’s home tribe of Judah discover his marriage to Princess Maakah,
they imagine the worst and accuse him of marrying a Gentile pagan.
Joab, David’s oldest nephew and general of his troops, convinces David
he must marry quickly and marry a woman who proves his undying
commitment to Yahweh and His Law. Who better than Haggith, daughter of
Judah’s most revered chief priest, and the woman who is David’s most
vehement critic?
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 6
Life on Chickadee Lane, September 7
Inspired by Fiction, September 8
She Lives to Read, September 9
Texas Book-aholic, September 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 11
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 12
Leslie’s Library Escape, September 12
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 13
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 14
Stories By Gina, September 15
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 16
Simple Harvest Reads, September 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Mary Hake, September 17
Holly’s Book Corner, September 18
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, September 19
Cover Lover Book Review, September 19
Giveaway
To
celebrate her tour, Mesu is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Baker
Book House gift card and a copy of both Brave and Noble!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54293
As
a busy mom you want to grow closer to Jesus, but it’s so hard to make
the time. And when you do, it’s hard to know where to start. Let this
guided journal help you to set aside seven minutes daily to reflect
powerfully on the goodness of Jesus.
Christa Joy Spaeth
is a devoted wife, mother, and passionate follower of Jesus who
understands the beautiful chaos of raising a family while trying to stay
anchored in faith. With a deep love for prayer and the Word of God, she
created this journal to help busy moms connect with the Lord in
meaningful, manageable ways—no matter how full the day gets.
In
the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido
wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why
she’s suddenly in possession of someone’s baby. Fiercely independent,
she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.
Dana Mentink
is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a
two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a
Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the
suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for
Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.
Refresh and Refocus Your Teaching Heart
Gretchen Huesmann
comes from a long line of educators, including both parents and
grandparents. Her three-decade teaching career, in private and public
schools, spanned seven states. Today, Gretchen enjoys mentoring and
encouraging educators, ministry workers, and women’s groups. She is also
a tutor and substitute teacher. An award-winning author, Gretchen is a
member of Word Weavers International and serves as president of the
Pensacola chapter. Her e-book, Teachers’ Prayer Companion: Prayer Guides for Education Teams,
can be found at GretchenHuesmann.com. Gretchen and her pastor husband
have raised four children, three of whom are teachers. Their empty nest
sits near the gulf shores of north-west Florida.
To celebrate her tour, Gretchen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
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