Some biblical scholars maintain that Rahab, the woman who hid Joshua’s two spies, was a harlot or prostitute. So how did she become one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t the Father ensure a pure lineage for His Son? In this historical fiction, author Diana Wallis Taylor offers a beautiful story of intrigue that suggests Rahab was a descendent of Ephraim, one of the ten lost tribes of … of Israel. With no available Jewish men in her town, she marries Radames, a young Egyptian officer who is the new governor of Jericho. When the Israelites approach Canaan with their army, pharaoh sends word that he is withdrawing his troops. Radames fabricates a story to tell Jericho’s king, but Hammurabi doesn’t believe it…and he has his eye on the beautiful Rahab.
What will happen to Rahab after the lecherous king poisons her husband? How can she save her family from the invading Israelites? God parted the waters of the Jordan River for them–will He likewise provide miracles and blessings to her Ephraimite clan if they can rejoin their people?
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I always learn so much with Biblical Fiction. Egyptians, Canaanites, and Israelites. What a mixture! A Hebrew married to an Egyptian in a Canaanite town spells trouble in the ancient world. We mix things up today, crossing social and political barriers. Add the religious factor and you have a mission field.
Rahab of the Bible was right in the middle of a world changing event. Little did she know of her impact on Jewish history. Her belief in Yahweh while surrounded by pagans sparked a mini revival to save her family. Wow! She inspires me to witness, to stand firm, to bloom where planted.
Diana Taylor breathes life into Rahab giving her an expanded story across time. Has Rahab been wrongly labeled? You decide as you read and share her journey. If she could witness in her pagan world, surely we can take up the banner for God in ours.
I have read several novels about this intriguing Bible character, but never one presented in this way. The author’s premise that Rahab was not actually a prostitute but an Israelite seems plausible, and her fictional account built upon the known details offers a fine read. Rahab is a devout Israelite whose family moved to Canaan before their people were enslaved. In this novel, she marries the Egyptian governor who oversees Jericho, since the area was subject to Egypt. The culture and setting of the time period are carefully detailed in the compelling story. I connected to Rahab in her struggles and questions. The character is very well developed and evokes the reader to care deeply about what happens to her. She is faced with serious challenges at a young age and handles them with faith and integrity. Those who enjoy historical fiction or biblical novels should like this. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
“Something in her heart longed to truly know the God of her people. He had made a way to save her when there seemed to be no way.”
Biblical fiction is often a hit-or-miss genre, and readers tend to either enjoy it or avoid it altogether. I can understand both sides of that case and tend to stick with trusted authors I’m either familiar with or who have been recommended to me by reliable sources. Last year I did take a chance with then new-to-me author Diana Wallis Taylor’s “Hadassah” and found it intriguing. As the author herself acknowledges, she likes to choose Biblical women who are generally not well-regarded and offer a different perspective of them. One requirement that I have for reading Biblical fiction is that it does not change fundamental truths about Scripture or promote anything that does not line up with God’s Word. Good Biblical fiction, in my opinion, causes readers to more deeply contemplate and connect with the Lord through His Word, the Bible.
In her most recent novel, “Rahab: Woman of Jericho”, Taylor explores this enigmatic figure from the book of Joshua. I will be honest and say that I do not think that this is truly plausible as Rahab’s backstory because I have always read among various translations that she was a prostitute, and I think that her being a redeemed prostitute in the lineage of Jesus makes more sense and demonstrates God’s grace and mercy, particularly considering that she is mentioned in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Also, Taylor portrays Rahab and her family as Jewish, the only ones in Upper Beth-horon. That being said, though, I respect the author’s creative license and the reasons for her interpretation, and I appreciate that she addresses these at the end of the book.
The genealogy of Rahab is given several times throughout the novel, and I found this helpful in connecting her to the historical story itself and to the bigger picture of ultimately becoming part of the lineage of Jesus. It is interesting that her name means “remembering Egypt”, and that is a theme that plays out in a variety of ways as the story unfolds. There are also several elements that stood out to me as having very clear contemporary parallels. Just as, in this story, Rahab and her family are terrified when Jericho is attacked but are spared as followers of Jehovah, so are we living in frightening times amidst a global pandemic and increasing unrest and chaos, and so too will God spare us if we are truly devoted to Him. Trust is key. There is also an urgency to share God (and in the modern world, the Gospel) with others because the walls are falling down, literally in Rahab’s case and more metaphorically in ours. Another thing that struck me is the acknowledgement of the emotional and psychological impact of killing that the Israelite soldiers bore. The overall effect of everything that the Israelites went through on their journey became much more apparent to me than it had before, and I am so grateful to live in the time after Jesus’s sacrifice!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Before reading this book I had read on Diana Wallis Taylor’s blog about the writing of this book and I knew a few things were different than most of our thinking about Rahab. In this book she is not known as a harlot, like I have always heard. And a few other changes about her life. And I’m not so sure I believe it all, but it is a good book to read anyway because it challenges me to go lookup the scriptures and see for myself.
I only read a few authors who write Biblical Fiction, and Diana Wallis Taylor is one of these authors. I have read most of her stories, and they are amazing. Just as this one is. While reading Rahab’s story, it takes me back to Biblical times and what it could have been like for her at that time in her life. I like the character if Rahab in this book, as I have always like her, in other books as well as in the Bible. And especially her life after she found the One True God! Ms. Taylor does and magnificent job in writing her story. I was never bored, in fact I could hardly put it down. I love her writing style and how she weaves together a perfect story for all to enjoy. If you enjoy Biblical fiction this is one you will enjoy and watch out for the challenges along the way. And remember this is fiction, one women’s thoughts on how it could have been.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I normally either love or hate Biblical fiction. Before I read a Biblical fiction book I go back to the Bible and read the story there first. Because I want to know what is the absolute truth versus what is fiction. I get that it’s going to be fiction and the people humanized and liberties were taken, but I want the main parts to stay the same.
I think with Rahab maybe a bit too much liberty was taken because we’ve changed the foundation of the woman by which country she’s from with instead of her being an Egyptian she is actually of the tribe of Joseph. I think that probably mutes part of the forgiveness shown to all in that she was already of the right lineage anyway.
With that taken out, this is wonderful writing and I did enjoy the book. This author writes well and kept me engaging and wanting to read more. Definitely a book that I can recommend for being well written even if not entirely historically accurate.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
When I have a Biblical fiction book to read, I always go to the Bible and reread the story. I understand that a fiction book recounting a story from the Bible takes a few liberties. In this case the author changed up very vital information. The lesson about Rahab being used by God even though she was a harlot was an example that He uses the sinner as well as Christians.
I did think that the author did a decent job of telling Rahab’s story in a way that vaguely showed how God can use us. It was interesting to think how she could have been married and the danger she faced in that marriage. She was not well liked in the town because of her heritage. It still talks about the spies and how she helped them. Overall I have to say that even though the story is off course from the Bible it still was a nice look at what ifs? I do like the descriptions the author uses and how it felt like being there watching the story unfold. Did the author take away from the story by changing it up? I leave that to the readers to decide. I prefer Biblical fiction books to be close to the original and not take away the point God was using . I’m conflicted on how to rate the book because it was written well , although I think the lesson of the story was downsized a bit more than I liked.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Life in Bible times is a topic we probably do not often think about. The author has done a great deal of research and has taken us back to the time when the Israelites first entered the land of Canaan. I remember the song many of us sang when we were young about the walls of Jericho tumbling down. But imagine what life must have been like in this fortified city and how much fear there must have been when the armies of the Israelites marched around and around.
Rahab has grown up in a home that believed in Jehovah and lived a life according to that belief. Moving into a society that is totally different than where she grew up creates an opportunity for her to make a difference. But will she and her family survive long enough to be able to help? Spies arriving at her home give her a chance to become part of history.
This wonderful narration brings much to consider about this familiar Bible story. Did Rahab realize how important her place would be in the genealogy of Jesus? I received this ARC through Whitaker House and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.