Judah's Wife by Angela Hunt: A Book Review

Judah's Wife (The Silent Years Book #2): A Novel of the Maccabees
Author: Angela Hunt
Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: 2018
Pages: 386
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.

Judah's father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight--or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision--what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long?

The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage . . . and sacrifice.

My Review: Judah’s Wife is a retelling of the Maccabean revolt. The story is focused on the romance of Judah Maccabeus and his wife Leah. Leah is the abused daughter of a merchant. She sells cheese in the market stalls. When she is attacked by a group of young men in the market, a young man named Judah Maccabeus comes to her defence. She soon catches Judah’s eye and marries him. Leah believes that now she can live a peaceful life. However, her happy marriage is short-lived when the Syrian king forces all Jews to abandon their faith and convert to the Syrian religion. Judah, his father, and brothers defy the king’s laws and start a revolt in order to practice their religion without persecution. Leah struggles with her husband’s decision. She begins to learn to put trust not only in her husband but also God.

Leah is a complex but realistic character. Because Leah was abused by her father, it is hard for her to trust her husband completely. She is afraid that the war may turn her husband into a violent man. Throughout her marriage, Leah slowly realizes that Judah is not her father. Once she learns this fact, she is devoted to Judah and to God. She accepts God’s calling and plays the role that God has destined her to fulfill. Thus, I could sympathize with Leah. She is traumatized by her past. She must learn to let go of her past in order to embrace her present and future.

Judah is an admirable character. He loves Leah unconditionally and faithfully. He is gentle with her. When he becomes the leader of the Maccabean revolt, he knows that he will create a barrier between him and Leah. Judah is unwilling to lead the rebellion, but he listens to God’s will. He fights for the freedom to worship his God without persecution. He only wants peace and freedom. His determination and humility inspires thousands to join his army. He is also very gentle to Leah and is patient with her. He waits for Leah to love for him for who he is. Thus, Judah is both a great leader and husband.

Overall, this book is about love, freedom, and sacrifice. The novel was hard for me to put down. The characters seemed genuine. The struggles they had in ancient Israel is reminiscent of today’s times. The historical setting of ancient Israel was also very authentic. This is one of the first books that have focused on the Silent Years. The author did an excellent job in showing that God was still present during those years. The Years of Silence is a challenging subject to master, and Mrs. Hunt did an outstanding job in presenting us with Judah’s Wife. Only in Mrs. Hunt’s capable hands can she portray the Maccabean Revolt with such vivid detail and understanding. Judah’s Wife is a thought-provoking novel that shows the strength and courage of human resilience and God’s love for us.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein: A Book Review

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer Author: Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Religion, Mythology Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: 1983 Pages: 256 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: With the long-awaited publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital and important of ancient myths—that of Inanna, the world’s first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians. The stories and hymns of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar) are inscribed on clay tablets which date back to 2,000 B.C. Over the past forty years, these cuneiform tablets have gradually been restored and deciphered by a small group of international scholars. In this groundbreaking book, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein, a gifted storyteller and folklorist, have retranslated, order...

Interview with Paula Margulies

Today, I have the opportunity to interview Paula Margulies. She has recently wrote a novel about Pocahontas called Favorite Daughter, Part One , which won an Editor’s Choice Award at the 24th Annual San Diego State University Writer’s Conference. The story creates a different perspective to the American heroine. It is told in first person narrative, and it is how Pocahontas at a young age embarks through the many changes of her life. By doing so she transforms into a strong, courageous, wise woman. I am very pleased that she took the time to grant me this interview and to generously donate a copy of her novel to the giveaway. I look forward to reading her books in the future, and check back for my review of Favorite Daughter’s Part One soon. This interview is to give readers insight about her and her novel. Thank you, Mrs. Margulies. 1. Where and when do you write? In my home office mostly, although I try to sneak away to artist residencies whenever ...

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The AncientWorld by Adrienne Mayor: A Book Review

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World Author: Adrienne Mayor Genre: Nonfiction, History Publisher: Princeton University Press Release Date: 2014 Pages: 530 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Amazons—fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world—were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons. But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrio...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Search This Blog