Post-Modern Hagiography:
Christian Fiction Stays Busy
Filling in the Blanks
Evelyn
Smith
Ph.
D. in English, Texas Christian
University (1995)
M.
S. in Library Science, University of North Texas (2012)
Judging
by the reviews of recent historical Christian romances, hagiography,
or the literary genre that retells the lives of saints and biblical
figures, is alive and well even if readers demand that authors don't
stray too far from the biblical narratives that inspire each tale.
While this inspirational literature can also be classified as “Chick
Lit”, the parameters of the original Bible stories limit the
independence of female protagonists.
Aimed mostly at an audience of evangelical women readers, these novels pay
scrupulous attention to historical details while leaving any love
scenes to the reader's imagination. Thus, book club reviews of these romances supplement biblical study while their audience also eager awaits the debut of a new novel in a series each year. For the most part, these books go unnoticed by professional critics, but blogs often review them.
Novels About the Early Church
Invent Scenarios & Characters
Authors find it easier to invent characters than to follow the lives of the disciples when setting novels in first-century Palestine; or else, the disciples put in only cameo appearances. After all, Christian audiences don't really like the facts tampered when historical fiction chronicles the life of Christ or the early church.
Authors find it easier to invent characters than to follow the lives of the disciples when setting novels in first-century Palestine; or else, the disciples put in only cameo appearances. After all, Christian audiences don't really like the facts tampered when historical fiction chronicles the life of Christ or the early church.
 |
Bunn and Oke include Mary and Martha as memorable
secondary characters in their Acts of Faith series.
|
Bunn,
Davis and Oke, Janette. (2009). The Centurion's Wife. Acts of
Faith, Book I, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.
In
the weeks following Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Leah, the
maid of Pontius Pilate's wife, and Alban, a God-fearing
Centurion from Gaul, each try to determine what happened to the missing body of Jesus. Along the way, Leah agonizes over a troubled childhood before
finding solace among new-found Christian friends. At the same time, circumstances
force Matthew's “faithful Centurion” to momentarily take a skeptic's view of
the resurrection. Bunn and Oke entitle this novel, The Centurion's
Wife, but the two characters don't even meet until they are
betrothed half way through the novel, and they don't marry until
almost the very last page, so don't expect too many love scenes in
this historical romance.
See also:
The
Faith of the Centurion. Matthew 8: 5-13 (NIV). (2011). Bible
Gateway. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+8%3A5-13&version=NIV
The
Centurion's Wife Discussion Questions. (n. d.). Baker Publishing
Group. Retrieved from
http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/book-resources/files/TheCenturionsWifeDiscussionQuestions.pdf
Baker Publishing Group has furnished a discussion guide to The Centurion's Wife Online.
Reviews:
Barbara
H. (2009, April 30). Book Review: The
Centurion's Wife. Stray
Thoughts. Retrieved
from
https://barbarah.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/book-review-the-centurions-wife/
It
took several chapters for Barbara H. “to connect with the
characters” but she “was drawn in as the story progressed”
(para. 4).
The
Centurion's Wife: Acts of Faith, Book 1. (11 hours and 52
minutes). Audible. [Free with 30-day membership. Retrieved
from
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Centurions-Wife-Audiobook/B003BDMOG6
Reviewers
used terms like “inspirational” and “thought-provoking” to
praise The Centurion's Wife, but other listeners also found it
boring, the authors interjecting commentary about the
characters' feelings instead of showing them while filling the scenes with anachronisms. The book also has a misleading title, for Leah
only becomes Alban's wife at the end of the novel.
The
Centurion's Wife (Acts
of Faith #1). Goodreads.
Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3900619-the-centurion-s-wife
Even
though most Goodreads reviewers like the concept of following
the lives of converts to Christianity during the weeks following the
Crucifixion, 5,426 respondents gave The Centurion's Wife only
a 3.95 rating. Most probably because the two protagonists never meet until halfway through the story, some readers complained that the story lagged . Others faulted Bunn and Oke with fiddling with the
historical details following the Crucifixion, or else thy pick at
logical flaws in the story. Curiously enough, neither Albion or Leah
never meets the resurrected Christ or the disciples, although they do
become friends with members of a house church organized around Mary
and Martha, who witness to the two first-century
detectives.
The
Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, Book 1). (2009). PaperBack
Swap. Retrieved from
http://www.paperbackswap.com/Centurions-Wife-Acts-Faith-Bk/review/0764205145/
Most
of the eleven reviewers enjoyed this “historical novel with a light
love story woven in”, although one reader complained that the
ending really didn't wrap up the story.
Pate,
James Bradford. (2014, November 27). Book Write-Up: The
Centurion's Wife. James' Thoughts and Musings.
Retrieved from
http://jamesbradfordpate.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-write-up-centurions-wife.html
Pate,
a Ph. D. candidate at Hebrew Union College, finds The Centurion's
Wife a more-or-less historically accurate “good read” that
reminds him of Lloyd Douglas' classic The Robe wherein a Roman
tribune learns about Jesus by talking to those who knew Him (2014,
November 27, para. 2 & 8). Bunn and Oke depict the Jewish
movement as devoutly Jewish, while powerful Roman officials as well as members of the Sanhadrin have only heard rumors
about an empty tomb (Pate, 2014, November 27, para. 8 & 9).
Pate, however, acknowledges that one scene may offend some
politically correct readers: Christians tell a fleeing slave to
return to witness to her master (Pate, 2014, November 27, para. 9).
Leah is befriended by the Samarian woman
Jesus spoke to at the well on the way to Damascus.
|
Bunn,
Davis and Oke, Jannette. (2011). The
Damascus Way. Acts of
Faith, Book 3. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.
The
Damascus Way sends
Jerusalem's Christians fleeing persecution along the Damascus road,
but because scriptures don't hem in the narrative, the
authors can indulge in a little bit more swashbuckling action than
the two earlier historical romances in the Acts of Faith Series.
Even so, by novel's end, Bunn and Oke pair all the major characters off in in
a loving, God-ordained marriage.
See
also:
Since
Saul's persecution of the early church sends the Acts of Faith series characters into exile upon the Damascus Road, the reader may beneath from
reading about his life and conversion:
Prat,
F. (1911). St. Paul. The
Catholic Encyclopedia.
New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm
Paul.
(2012, January 1). from Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Retrieved from http://christianityinview.com/biography/paul.html
Saul's
conversion. Acts 9 (NIV). (2011). Bible
Gateway. Retrieved
from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9
Reviews:
Booklist
publishes
starred review of 'The Damascus Way' (2011, January 17). Davis
Bunn the
Gentleman
Adventurer.
Retrieved from
http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/booklist-publishes-starred-review-of-%E2%80%98the-damascus-way%E2%80%99
In
this reprint of a January 2011 review, Booklist
notes that “a new underground religion, sandstorms, bandits,
murders, and zealous vigilantes make for exciting reading (Bunn,
2011, January 17, para. 5).
The
Damascus Way
(Acts of Faith #3). (2014). Goodreads.
Retrieved from
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8471713-the-damascus-way
The
Goodreads
community of readers gives The
Damascus Way
a 4.20 rating as Saul's persecution of the Jerusalem Church sends Abigail and her young daughter, Dorcas, towards Damascus, accompanied by Linux,
Alban's Centurion buddy. Meanwhile, Leah's brother, Jacob,
accompanies Julia, the daughter of a wealthy caravan
driver, who acts as an undercover Christian spy. Although most
reviewers liked this this well-organized page turner, some of the
readers who had previously read the first two novels in the Acts of Faith series were disappointed.
Library
Journal reviews 'The
Damascus Way'. (2010, November 6). Davis
Bunn the Gentleman Adventurer.
Retrieved from
http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/library-journal-reviews-the-damascus-way-janette-oke-davis-bunn
Davis
Bunn's Website reprints a review of The
Damascus Way found in
the November 15, 2010 issue of the Library
Journal (107, p,, p.
20) wherein the reviewer applauds The
Damascus Way for its
“relaxed, character-driven pace and engaging story” and
recommends it to fans of Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series
(Bunn, 2010, November 6, para. 2).
McKee,
Leslie. (2011, January 1). The
Damascus Way. RT
Book Reviews.
Retrieved from http://beta.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/damascus-way
McKee
notes that while The
Damascus Way is
“detailed and filled with strong biblical ties, the numerous
characters and various settings cause the tale's momentum to lag at
times” (McKee, 2011, January 1, para. 2). Accordingly, Romantic
Times gives the
inspirational, historical romance a three-star rating.
Bunn,
Davis, and Oke, Janette. (2010). The
Hidden Flame. Acts of
Faith, Book 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.
Abigail
is courted by two suitors she doesn't want to marry, so Peter comes
up with an ingenious solution, pairing her with the Jerusalem's
Church's archdeacon, Stephen.
See
also:
Butler,
Alban Butler. (1866). December 26: St. Stephen, the First Martyr.
The Lives of the Saints. XII. Bartleby.com.
Retrieved from http://www.bartleby.com/210/12/261.html
Most
probably a Hellenized Jew, Stephen was one of the 72 disciples of the
Lord. Since Acts names him first in a list of
deacons, church fathers styled him as an archdeacon (Butler, 1866,
para. 1-2). When summoned before the Sanhedrin and charged with
blasphemy, Stephen's defense so angered those present that they laid
their cloaks at the feet of Saul and stoned Stephen, making Stephen the
Church's first martyr (Butler,1866, para. 3-4).
Souyay,
C. (1912). St. Stephen. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York:
Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14286b.htm
Acts first mentions Stephen when the
Church appoints the first deacons to look after poor and widowed
Hellenized converts (Souyay, 1912, para. 1). However, a fifth-century CE tradition holds
that the Greek name Stephanos is the translation of the
Aramaic Kelil. Some scholars also infer that Stephen was a
pupil of Gamaliel, given his defense before the Sanhedrin. However,
opposition to Stephen most probably sprang from a group of
Hellenized Jews (Souyay, C., 1912, para. 2).
Stephen.
(2011). Bible Gateway. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Stephen+&qs_version=NIV
- Acts 6:5 – The Jerusalem Church chooses Stephen as a deacon.
- Acts 7 – Stephen's Speaks to the Sanhedrin.
Reviews:
Bunn,
Davis, and Oke, Janette. (2010). The Hidden Flame. Acts of
Faith, Book 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.
The
Hidden Flame (Acts of Faith Series,Book 2). (2014). Reviews. The
Gentleman Adventurer Bunn. Retrieved from
http://www.davisbunn.com/book/the-hidden-flame.htm
Booklist's
Selley Mosley recommends The Hidden Flame to those readers who
would enjoy Quo Vadis, Ben Hur, and The Robe
(Bunn, 2014, para 4).
The
Hidden Flame: Acts of Faith. (2014). Audible. [Free with
30-day membership]. Retrieved from
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Hidden-Flame-Audiobook/B003FVW842
Three
out of the four reviewers found the love story of Abigail and Stephen
a “great book while 77 readers gave it a 4.50 rating. However, one
reviewer pronounced it “uninspiring” and one couldn't open the
Audible download from a desktop computer.
The
Hidden Flame (Acts of Faith #2). Goodreads. Retrieved
from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6525434-the-hidden-flame
Most
readers enjoyed this sequel to The Centurion's Wife, 1,452
ratings awarding it a 4.16 out of 5 Some reviewers, however, found that the first part of the book dragged when Alban's
friend and fellow centurion, Linux, and the smug, rich merchant,
Ezra, competed for Abigail's affections.
Old Testament Protagonists Easily
Intrigue Today's Audiences
Novels depicting Old Testament women address surprisingly 21st-century themes. Sarah in No Woman So Fair, for example, can be seen as very much a feminist; Unveiled uncovers the abuse of women during the time of the Patriarchs, and Bathsheba chronicles the consequences of adultery. Since the Old Testament offers just a brief outline of these women's lives, present-day authors use the scriptures to illustrate contemporary themes.
Morris, Gilbert. (2003). No Woman So Fair. Lions of Judah. Bethany House.
Morris
chronicles the life of Sarah from her courtship with Abram through
old age in a straightforward retelling of the biblical narrative
.
See
also:
All
of Women of the Bible – Sarah, Sarai, Sara. (1988). Bible
Gateway. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Sarah-Sarai-Sara
Sarah
(Sarai). (1906). Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13194-sarah-sarai
Although
Sarai discloses to the Pharaoh that Abram is her brother in Genesis
12: 10-20, Jewish tradition identifies her as Abram's niece, the
daughter of his brother Haran (Sarah, 1906, para. 4). Even so, she
is certainly regal, for Sarai means “my princess” and Sarah means
“princess” as well as renowned for her
beauty (Sarah, 1906, para. 3 & 4). The Quran doesn't mention her
directly, but Arabic literature makes her the sister of Lot and
daughter of Aran, Abraham's paternal uncle (Sarah, 1906, para. 18 &
20). Legends, not mentioned in Morris' novel connect the matriarch's
death with her her hearing that Abraham had sacrificed Issac (Sarah,
1906, para. 5).
Sarah
(c. 1540 -c. 1677 BCE). (2014). Jewish Virtual Encyclopedia.
Retrieved from
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Sarah.html
When
Genesis 11: 28-30 first mentions Sarai, it identifies her as
Abraham's barren wife (Sarah, 2014, para. 5). At age 65, however,
she was so beautiful that she attracted the attention of the Pharaoh (Sarah, 2014, para.
3).
Schultz,
Rachael Gelfman. (n. d.). Sarah in the Bible. My Jewish
Learning. Retrieved from
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Bible/Torah/Genesis/Sarah.shtml
Schultz
views Sarah or Sarai as a strong independent character, who seizes the
initiative, for when Sarai can't have children, she suggests that
Abraham take her maid, Hagar, as a concubine. Then when Hagar starts to disrespect Sarai while pregnant with Ishmael, Abram let's Sarah decide what to do;
moreover, when she doesn't like Ishmael's behavior during Isaac
weaning ceremony, she asks Abram to send him away. One critic
speculates that Sarah's behavior thus conforms with the behavior of a
Mesopotamian priestess as found in paragraph 146 of Hammurabi's Code
(Schultz, n. d., para. 3-4, & 7). Then again, while the
matriarchs might be “socially subordinate” to men, they weren't
“necessarily inferior” (Schultz, n. d., para, 11).
Reviews:
Edgehill,
India. (2003, August). No Woman So Fair. HNR, 25.
Historical Novel Society. Retrieved from
http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/no-woman-so-fair/
Edgehil
labels No Woman So Fair “basically an expanded version” of
Abraham and Sarah's story in Genesis with “no revisionist or
feminist reimaging” (2003, August, para. 2).
Hollingshead,
Anise. (2014). No Woman So Fair. Bookloons. Retrieved from
http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=534
Morris doesn't mean
his novel to be an accurate retelling of Sarah and Abraham's life
together, but Hollingshead finds a few of his choices disconcerting:
She reasons that both Sarai's disregard for her brother's wishes and
the idea that she was left alone with a suitor unbelievable, and
Hollingshead totally disregarding claims that Sarai was Abraham's
half sister or niece. Furthermore, she can't swallow Sarah's putting
up with Hagar's rudeness during the handmaiden's pregnancy. Then
neither can the Midrash, a rabbinic exegesis of the Torah (2014, para. 3).
No
Woman So Fair (Lions of Judah 32). Goodreads. Retrieved
from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/359538.No_Woman_So_Fair
Goodreads
readers rate No Woman So Fair a 4.11 out of 5, and for the most part they found
it a good read, although one reader didn't like the time Morris spent
on minor characters and subplots and his “playing fast and loose”
with the biblical account of Sarah and Abraham.
No
Woman So Fair. (2011, February 18). Library Thing.
Retrieved from http://www.librarything.com/work/459640
Readers
give Morris' historical fiction a 4.08 rating, and the single review
lauds him for his “extensive research” and skillful plotting”
(2011, February 18, para. 1).
| Judah and Tamar, Rembrandt School
Judah didn't recognize Tamar as a prostitute because
otherwise she was always veiled.
|
Rivers,
Francine. (2000). Unveiled. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House.
Retrieved from
http://www.francinerivers.com/books/53/discussion-guide
Although
this novella depicts Tamar as a much-victimized and abused wife, her
trickery and deception ensure the survival of the line of Abraham.
See
also:
Judah
and Tamar. Genesis 38. (NIV). Bible Gateway. (2011).
Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38&version=NIV
Unveiled:
Tamir. (2010). Discussion Guide. Francine Rivers. Retrieved
from http://www.francinerivers.com/books/53/discussion-guide
The
Francine Rivers Web page reproduces the discussion guide found in
the back of the novel. Interestingly enough, although the novel
tells Tamar's story from her point-of-view, the discussion guide
first focuses on Judah's actions, and it doesn't ask readers to
answer questions identifying with her until half way through the
questions.
Unveiled:
Tamar. (2013, June). Audiobook (Unabridged). Audiobookstore.
(4.25 hours). Retrieved from
http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/francine-rivers/unveiled-tamar-lineage-grace_b00dhj262g.aspx
Internet
users can download an audio version of Unveiled
free-of-charge.
See
also:
Fletcher,
Elizabeth. (2006). Tamar and Judah: Her story. Women in the
Bible. Retrieved from
http://womeninthebible.net/1.5.Tamar_and_Judah.htm
The
meaning of the characters' names in Tamar's story points to their
allegorical meaning:
- Tamar means “date palm”, a source of life in the desert;
- Judah means “give praise to God”;
- Er spelt backwards is “evil”;
- Perez translates as “he who passes through”;
- Zerah means “Scarlet”
- Onan paradoxically translates as “the virile one”
(Fletcher,
2006, para. 1)
Tamar's
take has three main themes:
- God fulfills His promise to continue Abraham's line;
- Even though bad things happen to good people, and they fail to see God's plan, good can come from evil;
- God rewards the quest for social justice.
(Fletcher,
2006, para. 3)
This
morality play as recorded in Genesis 1-30 has four distinct episodes:
- Tamar marries but remains childless (Genesis 38: 1-11);
- Tamar claims her Levirite rights (Genesis 38: 12-19);
- Judah accuses Tamar of fornication (Genesis 38: 20-26);
- God rewards Tamar with the birth of twins (Genesis 38: 27-30).
(Fletcher,
2006, para. 4)
Parsons,
John J. (n. d. ). Judah & Tamar. Parashat Vayeshev.
Hebrew for Christians. Retrieved from
http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Vayeshev/Tamar/tamar.html
Genesis
38 inserts Tamar's story in the middle of the story of Joseph and
his brothers supposedly to remind the reader that “God creates the
cure before the plague” (Parsons, n. d., para. 1). The Midrash also fills in some details that
Genesis leaves out (Parsons, n.
d., para. 2). When Tamar realizes that Judah fails to fulfill his
promise to give her in marriage to his youngest son, she disguises
herself as a prostitute and solicits her widowed father-in-law on the
road to Timnah (Parsons, n. d., para. 3).
Tamar.
Midrash and Aggahah. (n. d. ). Encyclopedia. Jewish Women's
Archive. Retrieved from
http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/tamar-midrash-and-aggadah
Rabbinical
literature spares no criticism in its depiction of Judah and his sons
while the Midrash defends Tamar as a woman of modesty who
observes the laws of niddah, following the purity rituals
Jewish law demanded of women following menstruation (Tamar, n. d.,
para. 2). Different traditions, however, give different reports of
her origin: Either she was an orphan or else the daughter of
Melchizedek, the King of Salem and “Priest of God Most High”
(Tamar, n. d., para. 3).
More
importantly, Tamar's story concerns itself with motives; for example,
Er, Judah's oldest son, wouldn't perform his duties as a husband
since he feared that pregnancy would take away from Tamar's beauty
while his younger brother, Onan, spilled his seed since he knew that
any child that Tamar bore wouldn't be counted as his (Tamar, n. d.,
para 4). Here, the Midrash takes pains to discuss why Tamar's
story appears in the middle of Joseph's story, noting that the death
of Judah's two oldest sons was punishment for either telling his
father, Jacob, that Joseph was dead, or else it served as a penalty
for Judah's failure to rescue Joseph from slavery (Tamar, n. d.,
para. 5). God, however, rewards Tamar for her faithfulness and
modesty since she gives birth to twins (Tamar, n. d., para. 33).
Tamar
of Judah. (2004). Bible Study Monthly. Retrieved from
http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2004/Mar_Apr/Tamah.htm
Tradition
holds that Tamar is a Canaanite, but given that her name is of Jewish
origin, the author of Bible Study Monthly argues that since Abraham
took steps to ensure that Issac married a relative, its also likely
that Tamar might be a descendant of one of Abraham's sons by Keturah,
the woman Abraham married after the death of Sarah, or else the
descendant of one of Abraham's unnamed concubines, or even a
descendant of Nahor Abraham's brother (Tamar of Judah, 2004, para.
8).
Reviews:
Unveiled.
(2014). Historical
Novel Society.
Retrieved from http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/unveiled/
Closely
following the Bible story in Genesis, Rivers' simple narrative”
validates loyalty, strength of character, and faith (Unveiled, 2014,
para. 2).
Chapman,
Lynne. 2014). Unveiled by Francine Rivers book review.
Christian Living Site. Bella Online. Retrieved from
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12636.asp
Unveiled
is the first novel in Rivers' Lineage of Grace Series that tells the
stories of five female ancestors of Jesus listed in Matthew 1:
1-16 —Tamar, Rahah, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—all of whom have
somewhat scandalous pasts (Chapman, 2014, para. 3). Chapman finds
the novel both “captivating and enjoyable” as well as “probable”
(Chapman, 2014, para. 3 & 6), for even though Rivers' Tamar is a
Canaanite, patriarchal mistreatment won't distract her from ensuring
the continuance of Abraham's line (Chapman, 2014, para. 5).
Unveiled.
(n. d.). Library Thing. Retrieved from
http://www.librarything.com/work/334223
Five reviews give Francine Rivers' Unveiled a 4.13 rating,
most of them finding it an inspiring read that remains true to
the biblical story. However, the reader of the first review, written
in 2009, finds it a trite tale when compared with Anita Diamant's The
Red Tent.
Unveiled:
Tamar. (Lineage of Grace # 1). (2014). Goodreads.
Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95607.Unveiled
A
2001 Christy Award finalist, Unveiled rates a 4.22 rating. Readers praise the novella as an
easy and quick read, commenting upon Tamar's courage as well as her willingness to
accept Jehovah's will despite enduring years of mistreatment and
abuse from Judah's two eldest sons, Judah himself, and even her own family.
 |
| Rembrandt's Bathsheba
Did Bathsheba write some of the Psalms?
|
Smith,
Eileen. (2011). Bathsheba. The Wives of King David, Book 3. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Revell.
Jill
Eileen Smith attempts to provide motives for the adulterous David and
Bathsheba.
David
and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11-12. (NIV). Bible Gateway.
(2011). Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+11-12&version=NIV
Surat
S'ad 38. (n. d.). Quran. Retrieved from http://quran.com/38
A
possible reference to the story of David and Bathsheba—or at least
a reference to Nathan's admonishment of David occurs in the Quran
in Surah S'ad 38: 21-26. However, this passage doesn't
mention Bathsheba at all.
Reviews:
Bathsheba.
(2014). Historical Novel Society. Retrieved from
http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/bathsheba/
Although
“Smith writes well and fills her story with interesting historical
detail,” the unidentified reviewer finds the novel “unsatisfying”,
for most of the characters remain “mere sketches' while David
“never truly becomes three-dimensional” (Historical Novel, 2014,
para. 2). The reviewer also finds the narrative disjointed and most
troubling of all, he or she sees Bathsheba as “a colorless
character” who lacks “an inner life”. Indeed, the reviewer
dismisses Bathsheba as “a trophy wife who beats back the
competition (Historical novel, 2014, para 2 & 3). Thinking of
David as a sugar daddy and Bathsheba as a gold digger, however,
perhaps trivalizes the narrative.
Bathsheba
(The Wives of King David # 3). (2014). Goodreads. Retrieved
from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8471729-bathsheba
Most
reviewers found themselves seduced by the charms of Bathsheba, 121 reviews giving this third novel in the
Wives of David series an average rating of 4.20. Thus, following the
stories of Michal and Abigail, Bathsheba should capture the interest
of readers who have earlier read the novels about King
David's other favorite wives. But readers new to the series will not feel that they are missing out on earlier action, for
the tale also easily works as a stand-alone novel.
Generally, readers
credit Smith with writing a book that is both true to the scripture
and that also reflects historical research. Smith, however, has additionally filled in
some missing parts of Bathsheba's story that the 2nd Samuel narrative
doesn't divulge, for not only does she explain why Uriah refuses to
see Bathsheba while home on leave, but David and Bathsheba mutually
share the blame for their adultery, each one trying to relieve their
own loneliness and boredom. Some readers nevertheless complain
about a lack of character development.
See
also:
Bathsheba
discussion questions. Jill Eileen Smith. (2014). Christianbook.com.
Retrieved from
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1174911
The
discussion questions provided by Christianbook.com should
serve as as a synopsis of the novel while opening up the novel to
book club discussions.
All
the Women of the Bible – Bathsheba. (1988) . Bible Gateway.
Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Bathsheba
Scripture
References—2
Samuel 11:2, 3; 12:24; 1 Kings 1:11-31; 2:13-19; 1 Chronicles 3:5
____________
Haskins,Theresa.
(2011, March 19). Bathsheba—by Jill Eileen Smith.
Passionate Children's Servant. Retrieved from
http://passionatechildrensservant.blogspot.com/2011/03/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html
Haskins
find Bathsheba a “true-to-life scenario of how innocent encounters
with the opposite sex can ease into the life of a married Christian”
(2011, March 19, para.3). Never mind that a recently uncovered
inscribed rock measuring 13 by 16 inches dates the House of David is
ruling in about 830 BCE—a time when the average Israel was still
struggling to conform to the precepts that separated obedience to
from the worship of a pantheon of neighboring gods (Wecker, 2014,
December 18, para. 2 & 3). Most citizens of Judah didn't readily
affirm their allegiance to a monotheism until shortly before the
Babylon exile or even later (Tigay, n. d., p. 2).
However, after reading Smith's retelling of David and Bathsheba affair along
with the Prophet's Nathan's confrontation of David in 2 Samuel 12
and the King's subsequent heart felt repentance, it's easy for a 21st-century audience to forget
that the Talmud meted out a death sentence only to the faithless wife
if two valid witnesses testified against her (Isaacs, n. d., p. 1). Since the Talmud groups incest murder, and adultery and
incest as the most grievous of sins and condemns both the man and the
woman caught in adultery, it adopts a surprisingly modern view
(Adultery, 1906, para. 3 & 13).
See
also:
Adultery.
(1906). Jewish
Encyclopedia.
Retrieved from http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/865-adultery
Isaacs,
Ronald. (n. d.). Adultery. My
Jewish Learning.
Retrieved from
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Sex_and_Sexuality/Jewish_Approaches/Prohibited_Sexual_Relationships/Adultery.shtml?p=1
Tigay,
Jeffrey. (n. d.). Monotheism My
Jewish Learning.
Retrieved from
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/God/About_God/Monotheism_or_Monolatry.shtml?
Wecker,
Menachem. (2014, December 18). Ancient rock points to a real King
David. J Weekly.com.
Retrieved from
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/73463/ancient-rock-points-to-a-real-king-david
___________
Kraft,
Tamera Lynn. (2011, March 14). “Bathsheba” by Jill Eileen Smith.
My Review. Word Sharpeners. Retrieved from
http://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith/
Kraft
applauds not only Smith's faithfulness to the biblical account, but
she also loves how Bathsheba's characters”were real human beings
come alive” (2011, March 14, para. 1 & 3), finding Smith's
retelling of David's reaction upon Absalom's slaughter of his other
sons as found in 2 Samuel 13: 30-31 particularly moving (2011, March
14, para. 4).
Mosley,
Sheley. (2011). Bathsheba. Booklist.
Retrieved from
http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=4632609&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Mosley
notes that Bathsheba reads like Anita Diment's The
Red Tent, for it “puts
a refreshingly different spin on this familiar tale of adultery”,
exploring the protagonists' motivations (2011, para. 1).
Nichelson,
Mary. (2011, April 29). Bathsheba
by Jill Eileen Smith. Mary's
World. Retrieved from
http://marysworld411.blogspot.com/2011/04/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html
Bathsheba
“accurately depicts the demands and pleasure of being King David's
wife”, but Smith also adds motive to David's adulterous affair
(Nichelson, 2011, April 29, para. 3 & 4). This validates
Nichelson's belief that authors should take artistic license when
exploring “the realm of truth” (2011, April 29, para. 6).
Ruth
A. (2011, March 20). Review. Bathsheba
byJill Eileen Smith. Booktalk
More. Retrieved from
http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html
Since
the Bible gives no insight into Bathsheba's character and
personality, this leaves Smith free to determine Bathsheba's motives surrounding this infamous affair (Ruth A., 2011,
March 20, para. 1). Thus, the novel introduces the reader to
Bathsheba as the daughter of one of the King's advisers given in
marriage to Uriah (Ruth A., 2011, para. 2). Even if Smith “doesn't
shy away from Bathsheba's complicity, the reviewer believes that
Bathsheba's culture expected her to comply with men's wishes without
questioning them (Ruth A., 2011, para. 3).
Stacey.
(2011, March 18). Bathsheba
by Jill Eileen Smith. WORDup.
Retrieved from
http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com/2011/03/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html
Promising
that readers “will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in
the same way again”, Stacey claims that the novel “reveals the
depth of God's grace and forgiveness” (2011, March 18, para 3).
Swanson,
Lindy J. (2011). Bathsheba. RT
Book Reviews.
Retrieved from http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/bathsheba
Swanson
rates this Inspirational
Romance as
“magnificient”, giving it 4 ½ stars (2011, para. 1).
