From 4-time Whitney Award winning author, H.B. Moore, comes the new biblical novel about Deborah the Judge, a woman who rises from oppression and leads her entire nation to victory.After years of mistreatment, the Israelites prepare to defend themselves against the oppressive Canaanites. Readying for war not only takes secret military training but also an Israelite leader who is willing to both … willing to both stand against generations of oppression and follow God.
Deborah, a young Israelite woman, lives a quiet and isolated life with her father and brothers. As a shepherdess in the hills near her home, she knows well the perils of her work. But when faced with incredible danger, she witnesses a series of remarkable events that preserve her life. The hand of the Lord is apparent, and it is clear that hers will be no ordinary life.
Years later, Deborah is a faithful wife and mother when she learns that the Third Judge of Israel has died–and she has been called to take his place. It is a tumultuous time in history, and soon, Deborah–prophetess, judge, and military leader–faces a seemingly insurmountable task: alongside the commander of the Israelite army, Deborah must lead ten thousand soldiers in their final campaign against their Canaanite oppressors with only her faith in God to guide her.
More Biblical Novels by H.B. Moore:
Esther the Queen
Ruth
Eve: In the Beginning
Anna the Prophetess
The Moses Chronicles
more
Where do I begin? I’d never read Biblical fiction until three years ago, and now I look forward to each book H.B. Moore writes. She makes these biblical figures come to life for me. I didn’t remember the story of Deborah from the Old Testament but loved reading about her.
Deborah showed she had a spiritual gift when she was a young woman guarding sheep. She recognized where the thoughts and inspiration came from and how it helped her and her family whenever she followed the promptings from the Lord. She was blessed to have a husband, Lapi, who not only loved her, but respected her gift and followed her advice. Her father and brothers also respected her gift from the Lord. I loved that these men knew where her gift came from and listened to her counsel. It was wonderful to read how Deborah became the Fourth Judge of Israel, gave counsel to her people and went on to lead them to a great victory over the Canaanites. This isn’t just Deborah’s story, the story of Barak’s family is also woven in.
I always learn so much when I read these Biblical stories and this time I learned a small part of what the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Canaanites. I can tell that the author does a lot of research and as I read I could picture the characters going about their lives. I love reading about some of the lesser known women in the Bible.
Deborah: Prophetess of God is another well written and researched book by H.B. Moore. Once you start reading one of her books it’s near impossible to put down. When I first picked it up in the evening (which was a big mistake) I kept telling myself…”Just one more chapter.” Well, 9:00 p.m. turned into 1:30 a.m. very quickly. Moore’s writing pulls you into the plot in a way that you forget you are reading a book and not watching a movie.
This particular book is about Deborah the Prophetess spoken of in the Holy Bible. There is not a lot written of her, so this makes this novel an even bigger achievement for Moore. Readers are swept away to the time when the Israelites are preparing to defend themselves against the oppressive Canaanites. With only little known facts of Deborah and her family, they are brought to life in rich, vivid detail. We learn a little about her upbringing and then go to years later when Deborah is made one of the judges of Israel. Deborah is portrayed as a woman of not only faith but great courage and wisdom. I enjoyed this book so much. I feel that this is one of her best novels yet and she has written A LOT of books. If you like historical/Biblical fiction with adventure and romance, you will truly love Deborah: Prophetess of God.
I have read a few books by HB Moore and this is the first biblical fiction of hers that I have read. This story starts out introducing us to Deborah a shepherdess as she faces two very different dangerous situations at one time.
Deborah attributes her successes in life to her constant prayers to God. The people (men) around her see her unique gifts and want to protect and help her.
This is not only a story of Deborah and her calling as the fourth judge of Israel but an enduring love story between her and Lapidoth.
HB Moore diligently did her research pertaining to customs and laws of the old testament times. She also helps the reader to understand the plight for the Israelites need to be out from under the Canaanites rule.
I enjoyed reading this biblical fiction! It really helped bring the story of Deborah to life for me.
I was given the opportunity to review this book from Covenant Communications all opinions are my own.
Deborah, Prophetess of God is another fascinating historical fiction story, told by a talented author. I was immediately taken into the story and admired and respected the characters portrayed. The author was able portray beautifully who Deborah could have been. I also enjoyed the switch to Barak’s perspective. He and Deborah had a wonderful respect for each other. I always enjoy any book from this author, and I appreciate the time and research taken on behalf of the readers. Deborah is a women of miracles. She exemplifies courage, resilience, respect, and love.
I loved everything about this book! We get to know Deborah on a personal level- her daily life and responsibilities, her family, the political climate of the Israelites and Canaanites and how it affects her. The pace of the story is anything but slow though- she is active in defense and her spiritual insights protect her and her family. It was interesting to see her spiritual gift progress as she exercises her strong faith and deepens her relationship with God. I loved the coming of age she experiences as she falls in love, marries, and embraces her role as a spiritual leader. I appreciated that Lapi and the other men in her life deeply respected and protected her not only as wife, daughter, and sister, but recognized how special and important her gift is. It’s heartbreaking to learn of the abuses the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Canaanites for so many years, and I was glad to see how the Lord prepared them to finally overcome their oppressors. This Biblical story was brought to life with vivid characters and settings and I was immersed in the book the whole way through!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Excellent writing! The story captured me from the beginning. It was hard to take breaks-it’s always fascinating to me to read of stories set in biblical times. Ms Moore has a true talent for sharing fantastic history in her novels!
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I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists,
and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive
reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this
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I honestly wasn’t sure about Deborah’s story, I knew little of it and I was quite pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was drawn into it. I loved this look into Deborah’s life and her becoming not only a prophetess but a judge in Israel. The immense study into life back then by Moore lends an authenticity to the story and brings the reader straight into the everyday life of the Israelite people. The oppression they were under by the Canaanites was shocking and sickening. I wanted the Israelites to rise up and take back their freedom. Training armies, being a judge and a mother, Deborah seemed to balance it all wonderfully. Her story is powerfully told and is one I keep reflecting on even days after I have finished it. Bold, powerful, and majestically written, Deborah Prophetess of God will leave you wanting more.
I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever heard of Deborah before. None of the story was familiar to me at all, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Reading this book made me very curious to read her story in the Old Testament.
I will admit, a good portion of the story was kind of slow moving for me, and I could easily put it down to go do something else before coming back to it. Once the final battle neared though, I became a lot more invested in the story.
I thought this story was very well done and appreciated the chance to learn more about a person that I might not have learned about otherwise.
“Deborah: Prophetess of God” by H. B. Moore
I love biblical fiction and I have read every single book by this author and this book didn’t disappoint! I LOVED IT and couldn’t put it down!
I was so enthralled with the story of Deborah and all the characters. She really came to life for me and I enjoyed reading about her training and how God protected her over the years. The story covers at least a 15 year span over her life in parts 1 and 2 of the book. In the beginning of the book the author notes what biblical characters are fiction and what ones are mentioned in the Old Testament. I was immediately drawn to the characters and how they interacted and their traditions during that period of time.
Very well written with some clean romance, drama and war action. If you have read other biblical fiction books by this author or by others and enjoyed them, than this book should be on your next “to be read” list! Highly recommend! I will be keeping this book on my bookshelf to read again!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
H B Moore has such a way with writing these Biblical historical novels. I love the way she makes the scriptures come alive. Deborah became a real person to me, not just a word on the page. I love that!
Deborah is just a girl when this book begins. She’s a shepherdess, living in the hills, just trying to stay away from the Canaanites. The reader gets to see how she was favored of the Lord, being led by him from a very early age. They also get to see the way she’s able to protect her family and sheep when she needed to. She really was a remarkable young woman.
I loved the way this book helped me understand what would have been going on in the time period between the Israelite and the Canaanites. It’s not a time period I’ve studied, but it really helps to put the whole framework of the Bible together.
If you like to read historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this book!
This book is a fictional account of Deborah the Prophetess and Israelite Judge. It starts when Deborah is a young lady shepherdess and follows her life as she “has the ear of God”. She has several revelations from God that have helped spare her friends and family from calamities mainly due to the overbearing Canaanites. She is named Judge Number 4 after the 3rd Judge, Shamgar, died. She led Barak and the Israelites to victory over the Canaanites. There was peace in the land for 40 years afterwards. This is the first book that I’ve read by HB Moore but it won’t be the last. Realistic and kept my attention. #deborahprophetessofGod
4.5 stars
H.B. Moore is a brilliant writer. She has taken two chapters from the Judges in the Bible and created a novel. I can’t help but think what a daunting task that is to remain true to the scriptural account and the historical time period.
Deborah is a story that I do not remember from the Bible. Her story is miraculous. She was a woman of Ancient Israel who became the Fourth Judge and led an army to victory against the Caananites. In the middle of this book, I knew that I needed to read the passages in Judges 4 and 5.
This novel gives an idea of what her life may have been like. It tells of a family, hopes, and dreams. I loved the people that surrounded her, the real and the fictional characters. The story is told with such vivid detail that I could picture myself there.
The best part of reading books of fiction based on the Bible is that it leads me to want to know more. I thank H.B. Moore for bringing the scriptures to life for me.
I have enjoyed many of Moore’s historical novels based on scriptural prophets, so even though I didn’t know much about Deborah, I was excited to read her story. The book has two parts. In the first part (the part that I enjoyed most) we meet Deborah and her family and learn of their struggles. Deborah showed her strength and courage, falls in love and becomes the next Judge in Israel. The second half of the book jumps forward 15 years and sets things up for battle. This part moved quite a bit slower for me, which I realize sounds funny what with some intense moments regarding a pending battle, but it didn’t pull me in as much as the first half (except for the part about Jael-hard to not be pulled in by that). Part of this may have to do with a lot more focus on another character, Barak. He was important but not who I was really wanting to focus on.
As usual with Moore’s historical novels, I came away with a desire to read Deborah’s story directly from the Bible. Moore helps readers get a feel for the people behind the Biblical story. Yes, it’s fiction, but the scriptural characters are definitely more humanized when considering their families and other struggles they may have had.
I love when authors expound on the people in the scriptures! Knowing what their lives might have been like and adding in everyday details helps me envision more fully the person. When I then turn back to the scriptures and read their accounts I can have a greater understanding. I adore that this author has chosen to write about some of the women from the scriptures. Their stories give me hope and courage to live my life with greater faith. Study the life of Deborah both in this book and in the scriptures.
Note of Interest- At the Facebook Launch for this book I had a chance to ask the author, “How do you know what kinds of fictional characteristics to add in while keeping the book pretty authentic?”
Her answer was, “The first thing I have to decide is what her family structure is like, and what her father does for a living. Then how does she fit into the family, what are her relationships? And what’s her age starting the story out. Is she married? Or will there be a romance? Then I look at her cultural and era and religious beliefs that will define a lot of how she’ll react to things and how she’ll spend her days. Since I decided that her father lives on the outskirts of the village and raises flocks, she’d have a nomad type lifestyle, which also defines her daily tasks and her knowledge of the world beyond her.”
I am truly grateful for H.B. Moore’s studies and her talent for writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Deborah: Prophetess of God by H. B. Moore is a bible historical fiction. Moore take stories from the scriptures and had fictional details to help make the story came to life. This story comes from Judges 4-5. I was not familiar with this story before I read this book and I’m glad Moore introduced the woman to me in a way I can understand. I’m also glad that I read this book, because it was oh so good! Every time I pick up one of her books I’m reminded all again of why I love her books. You can’t help but fall in love with the characters and learn something as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read in general.
Heather makes staid Biblical characters come to life. Wonderful story. Highly entertaining.
Deborah, a shepherdess, lives a fairly simple life—but that is turned upside down when encounters with the Caananites lead her, as well as others, to realize that God is working in her life, for her sake and for the sake of His people. Although she is told by the Third Judge of Israel that she will be the next judge of Israel, when that becomes reality, Deborah must summon all her faith to face the challenges ahead, as the time has come for her, along with her husband’s cousin, Barak, who has been training the Israelites in battle, to lead the Israelites against the Caananites to end their oppression.
I always enjoy reading H.B. Moore’s Biblical fiction because they make me think about people from the Bible in a totally different way. While this is a work of fiction, the setting is highly researched and it really brings to life how the ancient Israelites lived.
The plot of this book is really interesting—the first part focuses a lot on Deborah and her future husband, Lapidoth, and their love story, while setting the stage for the eventual battle between the Israelites and Caananites, while the second part moves fifteen years ahead to when Deborah becomes the Judge of Israel and the imminent battle looms large. I thought both parts were really interesting—I loved the romance of the first part but also really liked seeing how Lapi continued to believe in and support Deborah in her sacred calling in the second part. I also liked Barak’s character and seeing his worries, which were so realistic, as he was supposed to lead the Israelites, and how he had to push through them. This was just a pleasure to read!
I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I’m always fascinated by H.B. Moore’s biblical fiction books because they bring these people to life, allowing me to visualize them as real people with real struggles, strengths, and weaknesses.
Deborah definitely has gifts, as all of us do, but she’s humble, living a quiet life with her father and brothers. I loved watching her fall in love, rise to accept her calling in life, and becoming the woman she was meant to be, all while maintaining her dignity, faith, and gentleness. She’s a legend and it’s easy to see why, as her greatness is clearly obvious in this story.
The setting and characters are vivid and I felt transported to another time and place. A big thanks to this author for helping me understand this story better, making it real and relatable.
Content: mild romance (fade to black between a married couple); mild+ violence (times of war and self-defense); mild+ religion (as this is a Christian biblical story)
*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
To preface, I don’t normally delve into the Biblical in the Historicals I read, but I was given this one by the publisher and decided to give it a real chance. I was not disappointed.
I could feel the weight of this mantle that she carried. As depicted she was sensitive to God from a young age and was able to pray with a faith that I don’t quite grasp myself.
The characters were very real to me as they were written in a way that anyone can relate to. I could see the turmoil surrounding them and the need for a strong leader. The story was old and yet fresh and new. I found it difficult to put it down as I wanted to learn more about this strong leader.
H.B. Moore did a wonderful job of keeping the tone and the reverence in the book. I can’t imagine writing a book about someone who was mentioned in a chapter or two. By using the setting of the novel, the author was able to bring life into Biblical figures that may otherwise be overlooked.