Bathsheba is a beautifully written story. It is one thing to read the basic names and facts in the Bible, it is a whole new experience to live through the happenings as told in the Bible in such vivid detail. With her careful attention to detail and the emotion and realism she has given to the characters, Jill Eileen Smith has brought to life the Biblical characters of Bathsheba, Uriah, and David and those who surrounded them. The author has given us a deeper look into what might have reasonably happened between Bathsheba and King David using the culture and what would have been considered acceptable views at that time. She really gave me a new perspective on the attitudes surrounding Bathsheba and King David, more specifically how their feelings and beliefs would have been affected in a time when women were raised to obey the men in their life without question. I also loved the redemptive quality of the story: yes, they sinned by committing adultery, yes there were consequences to those actions... she also showed the importance of gaining forgiveness and the honor that ultimately came from their actions.
This is the third and final book of The Wives of King David, but it reads just fine as a stand-alone. The two previous books are Michal and Abigail. This would be a very interesting book to read in a Bible Study Group as well as a book club. The publisher has provided Bible Study Questions and a Reading Group Guide online.
I always love to read stories surrounding women in the Bible, and I will be recommending this one to our book club.
by Jill Eileen Smith
Revell (March 1, 2011) ~ 346 pages
Fiction / Biblical Fiction / Historical Fiction / Christian Fiction
Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the publisher, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!
About the Book:
Can She Ever Find Redemption After One Night of Passion with the King?
“As the last word dried on the page, Bathsheba read the message through blurred vision. ‘I am with child’. She would not sign her name or address the message. He would know by the press of her husband’s seal on the wax...”
Bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the Bible’s most famous story of passion, betrayal and redemption in the conclusion of The Wives of King David series, Bathsheba (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3322-3 $14.99, March 2011). Smith draws from Scripture, in-depth historical research and her vivid imagination to unveil the story of David’s most famous wife - Bathsheba. Bathsheba is told in rich detail and drama, creating a riveting page-turner that will keep readers engaged to the conclusion of the book.
Bathsheba is a woman longing for love. With her devout husband, Uriah, away fighting the king's wars for many months at a time, discontent and loneliness dog her steps--and make it frighteningly easy to succumb to King David's charms. Though she immediately regrets her involvement with the powerful king, the pieces are set in motion that will destroy everything she holds dear. Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God--and David--forever?
Bathsheba reveals the depth of God’s grace and forgiveness. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.
About the Author: (from the publisher's release)
Jill Eileen Smith has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has garnered acclaim in several competitions. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Smith is the author of the bestselling Michal and Abigail and lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.
Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)
1 Comments:
I've really enjoyed the few novels I've read that centered on Biblical figures. I'll have to keep this, and the other two in the series, in mind.
Post a Comment