| Title | : | Song of Redemption (Chronicles of the Kings, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0764229907 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780764229909 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 349 |
| Publication | : | First published January 22, 1995 |
Jerusha, a young Jewish woman far from home, has seen firsthand what the dreaded invaders are capable of. As the powerful Assyrian army sweeps through the northern provinces, leaving little but devastation in its wake, Jerusha longs to escape. Her desperate will to live could become a link to Jerusalem's survival.
With Assyria on the march, moving closer to the heart of Judah, Hezekiah's decision to follow the everlasting One is about to face the ultimate test.
Song of Redemption (Chronicles of the Kings, #2) Reviews
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I started this book on Saturday, I'm almost finished. I am loving this series. They are very exciting and I love the separate stories of each character. Some people have commented on how modern the language is for being a biblical fiction. I love that the language is modern, to me, it is so much easier to read - I know it isn't how they talked back then, but if I read it in that language I would constantly be trying to determine the meanings. I love how I can completely understand the story, relate to the conflict, mourn with the characters or rejoice with them and feel like I totally get what they are saying.
I really liked one readers comments that said "very relatable human beings faced with one of mankind's oldest conflicts -- the choice between faith and fear". Yes, this book is full of those choices between faith and fear. While back then the "fear" was probably much more than we could bare today in these times, back then choosing to do what they know is right comes with angering those who can just beat you to death, or worse. Today we face those same choices but it is probably more like choosing between what you know is right and risk losing friends, or risk feeling alone or foolish, or facing some taunting or teasing. I feel strength from the characters in standing up for what they believe is true and right. I love how King Hezekiah is such a great King, yet he too loses faith, or struggles with despair, or mourns and questions God about why a loved one was lost. In fact, all the characters in this book have faced great adversity and have had moments of losing faith, some of them fall, and some of them regain thier faith and press forward and are stronger. Life's challenges come to everyone, its a matter of how we deal with them and will we ultimately stand up for what is good. -
Song of Redemption is the second book in the Chronicles of the Kings series about the life of King Hezekiah of Judah, who's story is told in 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings, and Isaiah in the Bible.
I only bought Song of Redemption because Ms. Austin cruelly started a romance at the end of Book 1, and I HAD to see how it panned out. Ironically, the romances in this series are not heavy-handed, and the culmination of the aforementioned romance was not what I expected.
However, the rest of the book was very enjoyable. Maybe this sounds bad, but unlike a couple of other reviewers, I liked the violent aspects of this book because they felt authentic for the time period. And although it's clear what violence occurs, Ms. Austin does not write the violence with as excruciating detail as she could have.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book and the next one in the series is that it made certain parts of Scripture come alive for me like never before. I have spent a lifetime reading the Psalms as metaphorical, and working to apply it to my current day life, things like, "When I'm surrounded by my enemies, the Lord will destroy them all." But to see it in action, to read a well-written story where, when they are surrounded by enemies, and against all logic put their hope in the Lord, that the Lord actually DOES come to their defense... well, that's just cool.
One other thing Ms. Austin does well is to depict the tension that would have occurred among the highest level of government officials when dealing with a crisis. The constant building of pressure, the questioning on what to do, the second guessing of decisions, the desperation, all felt authentic and was well-done.
Ms. Austin did, once again, super-impose today's beliefs onto characters who wouldn't have had them, but this time I barely cared. The titular redemption, and the way the character comes to accept it, is one of the best I've ever seen in Christian fiction.
In short, I really liked it. -
Not me starting and finishing this book in one day. I loved this. This is exactly what I hoped to read as a sequel to Hezekiah’s beginning. I’m really enjoying this and I hope the series keeps this momentum.
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Out of the whole series this book has to be my favorite. The story continues for the King to follow God Laws but there is another story in this book that is hard to read but so good as well. It follows a girl who gets capture by Israel enemy. What she goes thru is hard to read but will show how good are God is for getting her out of the situation and blessing her. If you have a hard time reading about rape then this book in the series is not for you, but know you will see God work throughout the whole book. Reading this book you will see what happens when you walk with God and when you don't what circumstances you can face. Such a great series and I do highly recommend it!!
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There were some great concepts in this - especially the idea of giving God a part of ourself, but not surrendering all aspects of our lives.
I didn’t start keeping track of quotes straight away, but these were 2 I liked once I did start noting them down:
“…it had never occurred to him to call on Yahweh for help. He had shut God out of his life, living his own way, on his own strength. And that was arrogant pride.”
“He had tried to trust in God yet control his own life at the same time, trying to reconcile the two sides of himself: his self-reliance and his faith in God. And he suddenly remembered that his grandfather had once warned him that he could never do both.”
I am enjoying reading a fictional account of Hezekiah’s life and will definitely continue on with the next one. -
A great sequel! It lagged in the beginning for me but by the middle and end I couldn't stop reading! So suspenseful. Greatly written to show the grace and power and glory of God.
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♥
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Four stars
Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Prose:
Ocassionally it modernized things a bit, but other than that it was good.
Romance:
Very good! It does depict a married couple- but it does it very tastefully and I liked how Lynn Austin showed different parts of marriage (reliance on each other/being partners) that aren't always seen in novels. Also- I really ship
Characters:
Pretty good! Lynn Austin does a really good job of making the biblical people seem real and adding just enough fiction to make it interesting.
Plot:
Pretty good. Very realistic to the biblical timeline/setting.
Overall:
I really liked it. I'm definitely going to read the next few books!
Content:
Assyrians do burn villages/pillage. There are mentions of rape, some implications of women being raped and then killed. Mentions of aborting a child mentions of child sacrifice. (all things depicted as bad) Mentions of having concubines, harems, and multiple wives. (also treated as wrong) Mentions of birth (glossed over) marriage, and kissing (all between spouses/engaged couples) Mentions of being barren and miscarrying a baby. -
It took me 3 years to continue this series, and thankfully I have the rest, because this second story grabbed my attention and at my heartstrings so I'm looking forward to continue with this series.
I loved how Biblical accurate the story of Hezekiah is told. The author did a great job of bringing these biblical characters to life and taking me with on their emotional journey in discovery of God and the fulfillment of surrendering every aspect of your life to Him.
Evil back then was just as vicious, if not more, as it is today. The Assyrians were cold-hearted with no respect or compassion for any human life. My heart broke a few times for Jerusha, who was taken by these evil men and had to endure a lot of pain, suffering and heartache.
There was quite a few introspective lessons in this story. Especially with regards to surrendering to God and seeking Him.
I will definitely continue this series and highly recommend it to fans of Biblical fiction. I would recommend it for older readers since this covers difficult issues like rape, murder and idol worship. -
Good story, but with some very disturbing events.
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Captivating Epic
The story keeps getting better. Gripping and a page turner. The pages of the bible have come to life in a different way. -
I really liked this book! It's the second in the series and tells the story of the beginning of King Hezekiah's rule and his efforts to help Israel remember the Lord and keep His laws. He asks for the prophet's guidance and wants to do the Lord's will, even when that doesn't make sense to others. It takes faith and trust. It helps us to understand the challenges of the day, for women, for captives, and for those trying to live faithful to God. There are thought-provoking questions and situations here that are applicable to our day and helpful to me--do we pray, do we seek to know God, do we trust that He cares and that He is our strength? Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"'It's too easy to believe in our own importance when we're surrounded by our own creations all day... Can we fashion anything as fragile and perfect as this leaf--or as solid and enduring as those mountains (p. 23)?'"
"'Pray. And you allow the Lord to be your strength. Remember--the Lord doesn't give you strength... He is your strength (p. 26).'"
"'Our nation has stumbled around in darkness, without God's light to lead us, for much too long... But this is about to change. I'm going to rebuild this government from the ground up, and I intend to rule this nation according to the laws of Moses (p. 45).'"
"'How can Shebna make wise decisions without the Lord's guidance?' 'Because he's a brilliant man.' 'They're the most dangerous kind. Man's wisdom is foolishness in God's eyes (p. 57).'"
"'There are no alliances in God's plan... Alliances with other nations lead to bondage... You don't need to trust in the fickleness of other nations. Put your trust in God (p. 59).'"
"'Yahweh. He is the only God we will ever worship in this nation and in this household as long as I am king. The others are only wood and stone (p. 66).'"
"Now he could begin to lead his nation on God's path (p. 74)."
"'Passover will be the beginning. I'm going to reawaken in my people a knowledge of our history--and of our God (p. 84).'"
"If you return to the Lord, then your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land (p. 91)."
"'The Torah says that it's a great blessing to extend hospitality to strangers at Passover (p. 100).'"
"In his heart Hezekiah knew that he didn't feel the depth of love for God that they felt. He felt gratitude for his salvation... But he didn't really know God. How could he say that he loved Him (p. 106)?"
"'When you brought your sin offering to the Temple and placed your hand on the animal's head, how did you feel at that moment?'... 'I felt... unworthy.' 'Then you do know Yahweh. When we feel unworthy in His presence it's because we glimpse His holiness. You obeyed the Law, and He revealed His holiness to you (p. 107).'"
"'Son, I want you to keep these words to Moses very close to your heart. They were Yahweh's promise to Joshua as he prepared to lead His people. And they will be God's promise to you, too: 'Be strong and courageous' (p. 118).'"
"He suddenly knew what these heaps of tithes really meant. This was the beginning of God's blessings on his nation. God had renewed his nation's prosperity as His part of their covenant... 'With God you can do anything (p. 131).'"
"'Yahweh answers some prayers--but not all prayers. Not one hundred percent of the time. Surely you know how impossible this situation is... You're asking for a miracle (p. 139).'"
"'Jerusha, is it really you?'... 'I never thought I'd see any of you again... I never thought I'd come home again (p. 185)!'"
"'Are you out of your mind?... How can you still believe in God? Was He deaf to the cries of all these people? Is He blind to what's happening to His promised land? Doesn't He care about any of this (p. 200)?'"
"'The Assyrians use powerful weapons of war and machines that can break down even the strongest walls. Besides, they don't accept defeat (p. 219).'"
"He had worked hard to obey God's Law... purging idolatry from the land--but had he done enough? Would Yahweh spare his nation because of his faithfulness (p. 228)?"
"'Where am I going wrong? Why is everything falling apart (p. 229)?'"
"'All of your fortifications will certainly slow them down... But the Assyrians don't care how long it takes. Six months or six years--it's nothing to them... I've never seen them lose (p. 234).'"
"'Sometimes I wonder about God. I wonder if He truly delights in all our religious forms and rituals or if they are barriers that keep us at arm's length from Him. I wonder if He wouldn't rather have our simple love, like a father with his children, instead of as a king and his subjects (p. 263).'"
"'I have no use for people who don't believe in God. You can blame my father for instilling me with that prejudice (p. 279).'"
"Now all Hezekiah could do was pray that his plans and fortifications would never be needed (p. 287)."
"'The decision isn't mine to make... It's God's. I'm not going to choose either alternative until I know what God's will is. Find Rabbi Isaiah. Ask him to seek the word of the Lord for me. Tell him I'd do whatever Yahweh says (p. 296).'"
"He needed to hear from God first. He wondered if the prophet had fled because he knew that Judah was about to be invaded. All of a sudden God seemed very far away (p. 299)."
"'God of Abraham... My son hasn't called on you, has he? He hasn't sought your wisdom and help... He needs your help, Lord, and he's too proud to ask (p. 315).'"
"'God never answered any of my prayers (p. 315).'"
"'My sweet child, I think He has answered them, but you refuse to recognize it... What they've done to you can never be changed. But now you face another choice, Jerusha. How will you live the rest of your life? You can let the past make you bitter and unforgiving and unloving. Or you can turn the pain into something beautiful by choosing to do so (p. 316).'"
"'Because of what you've been through, you can reach out to others--but first you have to stop thinking of yourself. Did your father and mother die to save you so that you could be crippled with self-pity for the rest of your life (p. 317).'"
"'You're a living testimony that God answers prayers (p. 317).'"
"'I started to search for a way to end my life, too... but the day I decided to die was the day they set me free to track me down again. They gave me hope--a reason to want to live--but it was a mockery. How did I dare believe that I could escape from them (p. 321)?'"
"'Have you prayed?... Have you asked God for help (p. 321)?'"
"Yahweh was a living God to Hilkiah and Jerimoth, a God they could turn to for help. But in spite of the fact that Eliakim attended the sacrifices and festivals year after year... Yahweh remained a distant, unknown God to him. And it had never occurred to him to call on Yahweh for help. He had shut God out of his life, living his own way, on his own strength (p. 321)."
"'Your Majesty, you've earned my deepest respect for seeking the will of the Lord... May God grant you the grace to hear it and understand it... You stockpiled your weapons... You built a reservoir... but you didn't look to the One who made you... the One who planned everything long ago (p. 324).'"
"'The Lord is your strength, King Hezekiah. And Yahweh's word to you is to wait (p. 325).'"
"'God, give me the faith to believe (p. 326).'"
"In all the years he had come to the Temple, Eliakim could never remember a service like this one. But had he ever come with his heart surrendered to God before (p. 328)?"
"'Remember how Yahweh helped us defeat the Philistines? They were stronger than us, too (p. 330).'"
"'How can the arm of man possibly succeed if God himself fails us (p. 332)?'"
"Jerusha knew that Hilkiah would gladly give her money for an offering, yet she didn't want to ask him. An offering that didn't cost her anything wasn't a true sacrifice at all. God had given everything to Jerusha. What could she possibly sacrifice to Him in return?... As Jerusha walked away, her eyes filled with tears. 'I'm sorry, God. But this is the only thing I really own.' She reached into the fold of her dress and pulled out the torn fragment of blanket that had once swaddled her baby. It was her only link to her daughter--and to her past. Tears rolled down Jerusha's face as she held it out to God. 'It's all I have, Lord. But I'll offer it to you. Please accept my sacrifice. Please forgive me and make me whole again (p. 339).'"
"'If you had died, I never would have seen the power of God. But you're God's gift to me, to show me that He has the power to answer prayer. That's why you lived. It was God's choice, Jerusha. Not yours (p. 341).'"
"'When you pass through the fire, you won't be burned. The flames will not hurt you. For Yahweh is your God. The Holy One of Israel is your Savior (p. 345).'"
"'Someday God will turn these tears into joy (p. 348).'" -
"The Song of Redemption", the second offering in the "Chronicles of the Kings" series by Lynn Austin breathes life into the continuing saga of the reign of King Hezekiah. I don't know that I thought that I would have enjoyed these books as much as I have, but I will absolutely keep reading this series as Lynn Austin truly does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life with a fast paced tale.
King Hezekiah is truly beginning his reign and learning what it is to be a King who honors and follows the way of Yahweh and how that plays out. This presents itself in choosing to have one wife, instead of a harem and choosing to have faith in God over fear of the Assyrian's constant threat of attack. Always Lynn weaves in the character's struggles and crisis of faith in a very moving and realistic way. A new character that we meet in this book is Jerusha- her heartbreaking tale is really a page turner as she is a beautiful girl taken and enslaved by the vile Assyrian army on one of their raids through her small town. We learn how she is able to survive her captivity and live to tell about it, truly a survivors story.
I particularly find interesting in this book the very real havoc that idol worship had in this day and age and just how vile and twisted it was in that culture. It is a very thought provoking look to ask ourselves, "what idols do we have today in our own lives that maybe we donh't recognize?". I highly recommend this book and will definitely finish out the series. -
I have been reading a few books by Lynn Austin for a while now, this is about the second for the year. She is an award-winning author in Christian literature. She writes both historical and contemporary fiction. This is the second book in the Chronicles of the Kings series. This looks at the reign of Hezekiah in Judah in 761 BC. He has decided to trust Yahweh to guide his decisions and live according to the laws of Torah.
It will be hard for me to be distant in this review. This book has been such a timely read. I related well to the struggles of both Hezekiah as he seeks to be a king guided by the laws of Torah and being rational/common sense and those of Jerusha( the other story-line protagonist). At one point, I no longer cared if it was historically accurate, it was well researched by the way or whether it was too modern in speech. The struggle to recognise pride, dealing with the doubts and sin , having good counselors around you became more vital. I wish the book was mine to read again but highlighting all those key promises and verses. And honestly, Lynn Austin is becoming my go-to fictional Christian author to read. She brings alive the story of these people in a way that transcends modern times. Whilst, it can not replace reading scripture, it brings life without being blasphemous. Would recommend to anyone, whether a Christian or not. -
Song of Redemption by Lynn Austin, An emotional colourful expansion of an overlooked bible passage in 2nd Kings ch 17 & 18, yet It tells a powerful simple message, return to the Lord and you will be blessed.
The dual kingdoms of Israel & Judah are under threat from the north the Assyrian empire is expanding and by right all nations who oppose them, must be brought low. The fictional story follows Jerusha she is captured, enslaved & abused, but she has belief in the Lord which she doesn't realise at first but it carries her through to her eventual song of redemption.
Amazing & captivating, 2 highly charged story lines, I really had mixed thoughts going in but after the first couple of chapters man I was hooked line and sinker to the end. Lynn tells this epic in an easy simple to follow manner, just holly molly cow wow.
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It wasn’t as good as the first one. Darker themes and issues in this one which focused on Eliakim building the tunnel that would create Jerusalem’s water supply and a new character named Jerusha. By the end the author finally showcased the biblical truths that both Hezekiah and Eliakim learned through trials: having enough faith to trust Him completely and not relying on your own strength.
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I could not put this book down! I believe the story is well written. I love how Austin keeps the different story lines and character perspectives going throughout the story. I am hooked and cannot wait to finish the series!
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couldn't put it down; could feel the characters emotions. much easier to visualize 7th century Jerusalem.
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I really enjoy this series!
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I enjoyed this book, and Jerusha’s story kept me enthralled.
I do get tired of beautiful women being the only ones being wanted by men in this series. Hephzibah’s sole purpose as a pretty comforter at the end of a hard day was not my favorite. I wish the author gave her some purpose, or a hobby, or something! She and Hezekiah lust one another rather than love each other. I get that marriages are often flawed, but I wish it was highlighted a little more how little these two actually know each other, that this marriage is not ideal, rather than gushing over long lashes, perfume, muscles, and hard chests. I do assume the author will get into this later in the series, or at least show better marriages as a contrast, so I can look past it for now.
However, I really don’t like how (so far in this series) if someone is fat they are bad. I get this being used with rich officials, as it compares to the starving poor, but this one line, however, made me angry:
“So maybe some of them are a little chubby. So what? What’s wrong with chubby?”
“What’s wrong with beautiful, Abba? Beautiful is much nicer.”
First complaint: who says “willowy” was the beauty standard of the day?
Second complaint: Why should a Christian author perpetuate the myth that “chubby” is ugly, even through the lips of a flawed hero?
This line is the reason this book got four stars instead of five from me. -
I’ve read this series once before, and I struggled with it more this time. It was more violent than I remembered, and I really struggle with all the brutality exhibited by the Assyrians to their captors. My stomach turned a bit several times, and that’s just not really a reading experience that I desire. That being said, every single book makes me tear up with the astounding depths of God’s grace and compassion. Lynn Austin makes the stories of the Old Testament spring from the pages. She quotes a lot of scripture, and lists scripture references in the front of the book so you can read from Kings and Chronicles and Isaiah to get the real account. This series always makes me want to dive headfirst into those Bible passages.
Content: violence, war, forced prostitution, rape, murder, infant sacrifice -
This was not my typical genre. I read this for a book club at church. I liked hearing the Psalms and Scripture references spoken in conversation between the characters. I know that other reviewers felt like the modern language detracted from the story, but I rather appreciated it. I felt like it made the story more readable.
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For me, this one was better than the first. I liked the parallel stories of Hezekiah's maturing reign as Judah's righteous king and Jerusha's struggle for survival from the Assyrians. The strong message of true faith resonated in each character.
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Dor mi o fost sa citesc pe nerăsuflate!
Și așa fain ii ca parca și credința mea in Iahve e înviorata -
After surviving a tumultuous childhood, when Hezekiah is at last crowned king of Judah he determines to purge his country of idolatry and return to the worship of Yahweh. But years of idol worship are not set aside so easily by all of his subjects, and his sweeping religious reforms meet with stiff opposition. When the Temple is rededicated and the celebratory feasts are re-established, Hezekiah sees the beginning of God's answer to his heart's cry -- his people are turning back to God, and prosperity is returning to his ravaged land. Longing to shake free of the last vestiges of Ahaz's rule, Hezekiah decides to forego the annual tribute payment to Assyria, a risky move as the dreaded Assyrians outmatch the Judeans in strength and funds. Faced with the most terrifying army in the world, Hezekiah confronts his greatest challenge yet -- to bow to what the eye can see, to fear, or gamble everything on faith in an unseen and unshakeable God's promises.
Song of Redemption is a novel saturated in biblical history and the faith of the ancients that still has the power to speak to us today. Taking the accounts in 2 Kings 17-18 and 2 Chronicles 29-32 as her basis, Austin brings ancient Judah to life at the crossroads of idolatry and religious revival. Hezekiah and his contemporaries leap living and breathing from the page, very relatable human beings faced with one of mankind's oldest conflicts -- the choice between faith and fear. I absolutely loved seeing worship come alive through Austin's prose. Her well-researched, biblically grounded storyline breathes fresh life into the Old Testament texts, giving the reader a relatable example in Hezekiah as to what the Temple, what the revival of this time meant to the Jewish people. Austin's representation of Hezekiah's character is a sterling example of what I love about biblical fiction -- it can be a powerful reminder that the people immortalized within the pages of the Bible were not superhuman giants of the faith, but very much fallible human beings, assailed by the same struggles we face today -- the pitfalls of pride, fear, and doubt.
The first third of Song is a bit slow-going, but by the second third, when Judah is faced with annihilation by the Assyrians, the novel becomes unput-downable. This history absolutely fascinates me. Faced with the promise of an Assyrian siege, Hezekiah took steps to reinforce Jerusalem's walls and to secure the city's water supply from the Gihon Spring. The engineering of Hezekiah's tunnel is nothing short of miraculous, a fascinating slice of history Austin deftly brings to life. While I love Hezekiah's character, I think I most relate to the storyline Austin introduces involving Jerusha, an escaped Assyrian captive, and Eliakim, the chief engineer charged with improving Judah's defenses. Jerusha's faith and self-worth have been shattered by the atrocities she endured, while Eliakim places his faith in himself and what he can see, the work of his hands. They are powerful reminders of mankind's never-ending tendency to make any given problem bigger than the God we claim to serve and believe in. His capacity for redemption and His power to save know no bounds, and Eliakim and Jerusha's story is a challenge to live lives with faith unleashed.
While I was a bit struck by the dialogue, which at times seemed entirely too modern, that is a minor qualm. Song of Redemption is biblical fiction at its best, a story that brings the forefathers of the faith to vibrant life and will inspire you to look at the source material with fresh eyes, to live your faith out loud. -
Discussion Questions for song of redemption
What should king Hezikah done when he couldnt find any honest followers of God? Choose shebna because he was honorable but not a follower of God. But shebna did say he would lead. by the laws of the torah.
Shebna claimed not to Religious idealism and political reality. What should we do today?
Micha countered he was wrong. That yahweh was the real ruler. Therefore there is no difference they are one and the same.
Did you think it was strange that hezikah thought Isaiah the prophet as a possible choice?
Pg 325 Did you seek gods will before you did all these thing?
The king went ahead with his plans and then asked for gods blessing. How often do you do that? Trust in god and do what you want anyways.
Pg61. If you share the love for god…
the Hebrew Bible uses the word ‘Ish’ {איש} which is ‘man’, and this goes together with the Hebrew word for a ‘woman’ ‘Ishaha.’ {אישה} god אלוהים
What language do you think he was referring to?
What did you think about the chapters going from the king to jurusha? The transition between lifestyles and privilege.
Jedeliah made a threat against Shebna. Said he stood by and did nothing while the kings mother died. Do you think his threat had credibility?
Jerusha felt like she was unworthy un pure. Like she had sinned even though it wasnt what she wanted while in the camps. Could her thinking be justified?
After hephibahs miscarriage she wanted her husband to hold her but she was deemed unpure. Then she was requested to present a sin offering after her miscarriage but she refused. Was that the start of her turn against God?
When jurusha and her sister were hiding under the burning house jursha told her sister to save her breath there is no god. But her sister kept praying.
What drew eliakim to jerusha?
Hephzibah dedicated her unborn child to the false goddess. Why would she be so stupid?
Hephzibah didnt have faith in yahweh because she was barren. She turned to other gods for some sense of security. Do you think she ever believed in yahweh? Or was she only trying to please her husband?
Hephzibahs mother was very toxic. What did she do to corrupt hephzibah?
317
Turn the pain into something beautiful.
341
Eliakim said im glad you lived it showed me the power of God. (To jurusha) -
Hezekiah has a lot on his plate. He just became King of Judah and his father King Ahaz left the kingdom in ruins. Hezekiah fortunately has the counsel of Zechariah, his maternal grandfather and former Chief Priest. Choosing to bring the kingdom back to God's original plan by following what is written in the Torah isn't easy and is met with a lot of resentment from his counsel. His one concession to the law is he has announced Shebna as his advisor, despite the fact that Shebna is an athiest who isn't willing to bend his beliefs. This also means he has to dismiss his concubines and have only his wife Hephzibah in his harem. Hephzibah is overjoyed that she is now getting her husbands undivided attention, and even sees him slowly falling in love with her, but when she is barren month after month she starts to consider drastic measures to ensure she gives her husband an heir. Jerusha is kidnapped by the Assyirans on the day of her cousins wedding, and her captor Iddina lets her live on the condition that she submits to him and any other man in the camp. Can her will to live keep her alive, or will the rape and enforced labour be too much for her?
This is the second book in the series, but I read the first one several months before and had no problem picking it up so I feel like anybody could read this book as a stand alone. Obviously Lynn Austin fictionalized King Hezekiah's life drastically, since she manages to write multiple books on his life when in the Bible he only spans a few chapters. I'm not complaining, it does make the books flow smoothly. I was originally unsure I would like series, but the first one was free so i figured it wouldn't hurt to try them and I was not disappointed.
