Caleb and Shalev

About the Book

"Caleb and Shalev" is a Christmas story that takes place in the hills of Judea at the time of Christ's birth. Caleb is a lame boy who has been adopted by a group of shepherds. They treat him rather badly and he longs to be with people who would care for him and love him.

One day Caleb is given a crippled lamb to care for. He names the lamb Shalev which means "peaceful heart".

After seeing a king pass by in the valley below the shepherd's camp, Caleb dreams of meeting a king who will take care of Shalev and him while punishing the shepherds who have treated him so badly.

Late one night the shepherds rush back to the camp talking about a king who is now in Bethlehem. Caleb tries to go with them to see the king, but they refuse. Finally he waits until the shepherds are gone and then follows at a distance. Instead of a king, he finds a small baby. In awe of this little life, he gives his lamb Shalev as a gift.

That act changes the hearts of the shepherds and they finally welcome him as one of their own. Through a brief encounter with the baby Jesus, reconciliation is made complete. Caleb has a home.

About the Author

Born in the United States, Max Ediger has spent much of his life working with the Mennonite Central Committee in various countries around the world including Burundi Africa, Viet Nam, Thailand and Hong Kong. He began writing while working in Viet Nam in 1971 and has published a novel entitled Friendships of Gold and two books of poems with the titles Vietnamese Pilgrimage and Dialogue with a Dream.