When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.Nehemiah challenges the people of God to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one … sister and no brothers. Will her father, who rules a half-district of Jerusalem, be forgotten forever?Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same stones they hope to construct?
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Barb M. Britton has done it again with her book, Jerusalem Rising. This is a story of determination in the face of adversity. Adah wishes to honor her father’s family name by building a section of wall in Jerusalem. Her perseverance is admirable and so is Ms. Britton’s writing. This book is a page-turner and will stay with you long after the story is finished. Another five star book!
Jerusalem Rising is my favorite novel in Barbara M. Britton’s Tribes of Israel series. Primarily because when I read Nehemiah 1-8, and then read this story, it was evident how the author took great pains to hold closely to the biblical narrative. Why is this important to me? In part, because I love the Word of God. Also, because it would sadden me for someone who does not read their Bible to confuse a work of fiction with the truth of scripture. That being said, when an author takes a portion of scripture and imagines an entire life around a minor player or event, I can enjoy the story and at the same time feel prompted to revisit the Source.
In Jerusalem Rising, Britton drew her protagonist Adah and her family from Nehemiah 3:12, which reads “Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters” a portion of Jerusalem’s wall. Shallum’s daughters, who are twins in this story, are the only women mentioned among the list of exiles who worked on the wall. Therefore, I was not surprised when the author characterized Adah as a strong-willed and bold young woman. While she occasionally tests the cultural norms of women during this period, she upholds the Law and shows great concern for the honor of her parents. Her primary flaw may be that she relies too much on her own strength—something many of us can relate to.
Britton goes beyond the physical demands of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall to address other challenges and the sins of the people. This includes how they sinned by inter-marrying with gentiles (Ezra 10:3), pressed their neighbors into slavery (Neh 5:5), and faced political enemies (Neh 2:19) as well as false prophets (Neh 6). All of this fit snugly within the story, keeping the plot taught and my interest high.
If you have not read the other books in this series, Jerusalem Rising takes place far enough in the future from Building Benjamin that it can stand alone. Here at the end of book three, I can say that I’m thrilled with the direction she’s taking. History buffs, bible nerds, and biblical fiction fans will appreciate Jerusalem Rising.
Christian Shelf-Esteem received a book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255 Guidelines, concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.
Have you ever read the book of Nehemiah in the Holy Bible? Have you ever wondered about the lives of the people mentioned and even those that were not? What they did to support their families? What hardships they endured? Have you ever wondered why sons were favored over daughters? Author Barbara Britton has taken the book of Nehemiah and shared it in an amazing story that involves heartache, love, labor and toil. She paints a picture of what times must have been like in Jerusalem over 3,000 years ago. You can see in your mind’s eye what their homes, work place, market place and surrounding countryside must have been like. Adah is a daughter of a prominent man in a man’s world. She knew her place as a woman, but rose to the occasion to honor her father and family. One of the things that I took from this story was to always have praise on my lips for the blessings of our Heavenly Father and to always be in prayer for our families, community, our local, state and country’s government. Pray without ceasing!