Full Description
A broken betrothal. A dying father. A choice that could cost everything.
As Israel prepares to enter the promised land, five sisters watch their future begin to unravel.
Zelophehad has always taught his daughters to trust God. But as his time runs short, one question remains—what will become of them when he is gone?
But Noa senses what others refuse to see. Their time is slipping away.
Strong-willed and haunted by a mistake Noa cannot undo, she’s determined to honor her father’s charge to protect her sisters. But in a culture where women have little voice, every option leads to loss.
When a bitter relative steps in to arrange marriages that could divide them across tribes and sever their sister bond, Noa is forced to confront an impossible responsibility: protect her sister or watch everything their father hoped for disappear.
In a culture where women have little voice, one choice could change everything.
As pressure mounts, Noa is drawn toward an unthinkable step—one no woman has dared to take. Torn between fear and faith, she must decide whether this step is from God or her desperate need to make things right.
Discover the story behind the daughters of Zelophehad and experience how faith, perseverance, and trust can move ordinary people to extraordinary action.
Endorsements
“A promising debut from first-time author Lisa Larsen Hill, Daughters of the Wilderness brings the story of Zelophehad’s daughters to life in a fresh and engaging way. What inspired me most was the courage these five women showed as they stepped forward to claim their inheritance. Larsen Hill’s natural storytelling shines through in the sweet family moments and wise insights about holding onto faith when life is hard. Full of heart, this novel is filled with feel-good moments of healing and restoration.”
— Tessa Afshar, Publishers Weekly bestseller and author of The Queen’s Cook
“Lisa Larsen Hill has taken an often-overlooked section of the Book of Numbers and woven an exquisite story about the daughters of Zelophehad. Daughters of the Wilderness is rich in historical detail and ripe with compelling characters, giving readers an imagination for what the Israelites’ time in the wilderness may have been like. Lisa explores the complicated relationship between sisters in a truly authentic way, bringing light to both the humanity and the divinity of the Scriptures, as only a faithful follower of the Lord can. A story full of God’s overwhelming grace that extends beyond even our own expectations, this novel had me pondering my own faith and challenged me to go deeper in my walk with God. Well done!”
— Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol award-winning author of The Orchard House and Draw Close to Jesus
“Breathtaking. Daughters of the Wilderness is a compelling read set in a little-explored biblical time. Noa is a riveting character, all the more interesting as a child of the generation of Israelites sentenced to die in the Wilderness outside the Promised Land. Noa and her sisters take on issues of family loyalty, women’s rights, and God’s plan for each life, as relevant today as they were in then. This story will both capture your imagination and send you to reread your Bible.”
— Lori Stanley Roeleveld, speaker, coach, and author of God’s Abundant Mercy: 40 Days of Living in His Compassion and Graceful Influence-Lessons from Women in the Bible
“Daughters of the Wilderness is a beautifully written biblical novel that brings the story of Zelophehad’s daughters to life with heart, imagination, and reverence. Author Lisa Larson Hill weaves rich historical detail with emotional depth, giving voice to women who wrestle with faith, family, and obedience in the wilderness. Her storytelling, built from a foundation of solid biblical knowledge, is immersive and compassionate, drawing readers into the tension, hope, and courage of these remarkable sisters. This compelling debut doesn’t just retell Scripture—it invites readers to experience it, reminding us that God has always worked powerfully through faithful women willing to trust Him in uncertain seasons.”
— Edie Melson, Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Author of Soul Care Series
“Daughters of the Desert offers a delightful and faithful expansion of each sister’s backstory, helping the reader imagine how their relationships, birth order, and even the meanings of their names prepared them to carry out such an unorthodox and dangerous plan. The result is a captivating tale of five amazing, resourceful, and brave young women who may just inspire modern-day “daughters” to “come forward” themselves in acts of justice, equality, and faithfulness.”
— Dr. Tracy Radosevic, Dean of the Academy for Biblical Storytelling
“Larsen Hill’s major contribution to the genre of biblical fiction evokes the background of the protest of Zelophehad’s daughters to their exclusion from the division of the promised land. It is a masterful retelling of the story of the dawning of justice for ancient Israelite women and a potential source of empowerment for women today.”
— Dr. Tom Boomershine, Founder of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, Author of Story Journey: An Introduction to the Gospel as Storytelling
