Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Book Review - The Prophetess

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Canaan has ravaged Israel. The people are in hiding. All that stands between surrender and hope is one untested woman. 

Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord's tabernacle--or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates. The memories of Canaan's cruelty haunt her and all of Israel. Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him. 

Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God's people. Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it. Can her family ever understand? Will her people believe God's calling on her life? And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?

With her trademark impeccable research and imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel's most powerful woman in this intriguing and inspiring novel.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the bestselling Wives of King David series and The Crimson Cord, as well as the Wives of the Patriarchs and the Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Jill loves to hear from her readers. Contact her at www.jilleileensmith.com, or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith or Twitter @JillEileenSmith


MY REVIEW:

I adore Old Testament stories and the people of the Old Testament. This book is about Deborah, from the book of Judges. She served as a judge for the Israeli people during the time of the judges.  I thought I would enjoy this book but I had no idea how much!

The book mainly concerns itself with Deborah, Barak and Jael and their families.  Deborah is married to Lappidoth and there is some complications in their relationship. Deborah had been hoping to be asked by a cousin to marry him, however, Lappidoth is deeply in love with her and asks for her hand first and it is granted.  There is also Deborah's daughter, Tayla, who is head-strong and, quite frankly, annoying at times! She plays a large part in this story and it's very interesting to see how she affects her mother and father.

Jael is a woman who is living with regret, too, over how she influenced her husband. They are now living in the wilderness after being forced from their town by her husband's brother. Her husband, Heber, is a metal worker and also makes weapons. Their family is affected by the same enemy that the Deborah's family is - Sisera. 

Barak has lost his wife in the horrible raids by Sisera and he is a warrior. He tries to protect his people as well as he can and waits in earnest for word from Deborah that the time is right to go to war. Deborah is awaiting word from God and learns that there are still those who are worshipping false gods. Until they worship the true God, Adonai, He will not help them. 

I absolutely adored this book! I could barely put it down and spent many nights up way too late reading. Whether or not you are enamored with the Old Testament, as I am, you will still love this book and enjoy the story immensely. I have a new favorite author in Jill Eileen Smith and can't wait to read her other books. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Revell Reads program


Blessings - Julie

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