The bucket chain moved up through the dark opening in the arched ceiling with Joel riding along. The opening was very narrow. He had to press his body tightly against the buckets to keep from being brutally and perhaps fatally scraped against the brick walls. He was so weary that he almost fell asleep.

Thus Joel, son of Jacob of the Tribe of Judah, began his first dangerous mission to help his exiled people escape from Babylon and return to Jerusalem. Joel, as a slave worker in the Hanging Gardens, was a key figure in the plot, for only he could travel through the intricate man-made garden terraces surrounding the dwelling of evil Prince Belshazzar.

Few people were entrusted with the plans of the revolt. Joel could talk only to Nin-Bel, daughter of a rich merchant, the prophet Daniel, his uncle Jehu, and Gobyras, a mighty Israeli fighter, for spies and death lurked in every corner. It was hard for the boy to believe that his people could escape their mighty captors, but he was quickly caught up in a series of frightening events that challenged all his ingenuity and courage.

Here is a story from biblical times, set in one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, that is as full of excitement as any twentieth century adventure tale.

From the dust jacket