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Heart Of Zion #1
The Heart Of A Stranger
Could Ailea ever learn to love a warrior and understand the ways of Adonai, the God of Israel? A captivating story of deception, intrigue, and love.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 1996
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Hawkins
7 books2 followersKathy Hawkins is a graduate of Southeastern Bible College and holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband--Christian broadcaster and author Don Hawkins--frequently speak at Bible Conferences and seminars.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 29, 2020
All pigs are animals, but not all animals are pigs" from the Thomas Foster's book, How to Read Novels like a Professor.
This surely is a pig. This book is based on Biblical accounts, it entails the defeat of Damascus by the mighty King David, the songwriter, the most loyal servant of God. The mood in chapters 1-4 is extremely dynamic I can only imagine the movie Gladiator, where the soldiers were unfairly beheaded in the arena while the opposing soldiers were riding with chariot and its side wheels are also equipped with some blazing blades that could cut a person in pieces by just one thwacked.
This is truly a very interesting story that could drive the reader's imagination to live with it and wander in it for the whole journey to the back page of the book. This is a must read of all generations. Because this is not just an ordinary book this indeed is a history. A history of people who contributed a lot to our idealism in life. This also shows you how faith is being tested and how faith subdued unfaithfulness in one's heart.
As I do not want to spoil the other readers
Just let me tell you that this is funny and full of humor. Specially when Aelia met Jonathan. As for the end part read it for yourself. 🤪☺️
This surely is a pig. This book is based on Biblical accounts, it entails the defeat of Damascus by the mighty King David, the songwriter, the most loyal servant of God. The mood in chapters 1-4 is extremely dynamic I can only imagine the movie Gladiator, where the soldiers were unfairly beheaded in the arena while the opposing soldiers were riding with chariot and its side wheels are also equipped with some blazing blades that could cut a person in pieces by just one thwacked.
This is truly a very interesting story that could drive the reader's imagination to live with it and wander in it for the whole journey to the back page of the book. This is a must read of all generations. Because this is not just an ordinary book this indeed is a history. A history of people who contributed a lot to our idealism in life. This also shows you how faith is being tested and how faith subdued unfaithfulness in one's heart.
As I do not want to spoil the other readers
Just let me tell you that this is funny and full of humor. Specially when Aelia met Jonathan. As for the end part read it for yourself. 🤪☺️
April 25, 2016
#1 Heart of Zion
Its been about 15 years since I last read this book, but time has not altered my enjoyment of it I'm glad to say.
Ailea is the rich and spirited daughter of an army officer in Aramea.
Her life changes when the Israelite army prevail against King Hadadezer's army. Her father is killed in battle, her furious brother also with the army escapes and creates a fugitive rebel army intent on hitting Hebrew armies and travellers, her distraught mother commits suicide, and she becomes a captive bride.
Jonathan ben Shageh is one of the Gibborim (Mighty Men) of King David who meets Ailea in her vanquished city when they take over her home for his men to rest and his armour bearer to recover. Something about her spirit and fire draws him to her and despite all the trouble she causes he chooses her as his prize of the war to be his bride -
Much to Joab's disgust who does not like Jonathan and his friendship with the king and who also has plans of his own for Ailea...and her rebel brother who is causing havoc on the highway. He plots to have his own revenge on them all!
I'm rather picky with my Biblical fiction. I have to feel that the characters and events that are in the Bible are true to the Biblical account of them. This one definitely did and I appreciated how each section of the story had a Bible verse to centre you as to what was going on.
Scripture is seamlessly woven in through the wise words of Shageh which I enjoyed. He was a favourite character of mine, his gentle manner and wise words reaching his family, his community, and also the heart of a stranger that came to live in his house.
I also liked the list of characters at the front that had an explanation of how you pronounced the names, and also a Bible reference if they were to be found in the Bible. It gave me a chance to check out the Biblical account of the battle and when Rezon became a fugitive which helped me get a feel for the story as it unfolded.
I found the whole aspect of the captive bride and the law God has for his people concerning her brought very well to life through this story, as well as Ailea's horror at that fate (as she called it) and how she struggled to be accepted in a foreign land that treated her with suspicion.
The scenery was very well brought to life too and I felt I was truly there first in Aramea, then on the journey to Jerusalem, into village life in Ziph, and onto the restful oasis at En-gedi. I really wanted to try one of those figs!
The path to true love for Jonathan and Ailea was not an easy one for them, but I felt was in keeping with the situation of the story and could see how they both reacted as they did...although there were times Jonathan tested my patience a bit. Fortunately his father said to him the things I wanted to say to him!
There were a few marital scenes where lovemaking was mentioned as happening but they were not described.
Favourite quote:
"It is very clearly stated in the Law of Moses. It says 'You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were a stranger in the land of Egypt.'"
"Rab, I do not wish to be disrespectful, but you must have forgotten to teach the villagers this precept."
Shageh chuckled. "I have not forgotten to teach it, little one. But like many of our commandments, it is much easier to teach than to follow. But perhaps you are right. I should remind them."
Heart of Zion:
#1
#2
#3
Its been about 15 years since I last read this book, but time has not altered my enjoyment of it I'm glad to say.
Ailea is the rich and spirited daughter of an army officer in Aramea.
Her life changes when the Israelite army prevail against King Hadadezer's army. Her father is killed in battle, her furious brother also with the army escapes and creates a fugitive rebel army intent on hitting Hebrew armies and travellers, her distraught mother commits suicide, and she becomes a captive bride.
Jonathan ben Shageh is one of the Gibborim (Mighty Men) of King David who meets Ailea in her vanquished city when they take over her home for his men to rest and his armour bearer to recover. Something about her spirit and fire draws him to her and despite all the trouble she causes he chooses her as his prize of the war to be his bride -
Much to Joab's disgust who does not like Jonathan and his friendship with the king and who also has plans of his own for Ailea...and her rebel brother who is causing havoc on the highway. He plots to have his own revenge on them all!
I'm rather picky with my Biblical fiction. I have to feel that the characters and events that are in the Bible are true to the Biblical account of them. This one definitely did and I appreciated how each section of the story had a Bible verse to centre you as to what was going on.
Scripture is seamlessly woven in through the wise words of Shageh which I enjoyed. He was a favourite character of mine, his gentle manner and wise words reaching his family, his community, and also the heart of a stranger that came to live in his house.
I also liked the list of characters at the front that had an explanation of how you pronounced the names, and also a Bible reference if they were to be found in the Bible. It gave me a chance to check out the Biblical account of the battle and when Rezon became a fugitive which helped me get a feel for the story as it unfolded.
I found the whole aspect of the captive bride and the law God has for his people concerning her brought very well to life through this story, as well as Ailea's horror at that fate (as she called it) and how she struggled to be accepted in a foreign land that treated her with suspicion.
The scenery was very well brought to life too and I felt I was truly there first in Aramea, then on the journey to Jerusalem, into village life in Ziph, and onto the restful oasis at En-gedi. I really wanted to try one of those figs!
The path to true love for Jonathan and Ailea was not an easy one for them, but I felt was in keeping with the situation of the story and could see how they both reacted as they did...although there were times Jonathan tested my patience a bit. Fortunately his father said to him the things I wanted to say to him!
There were a few marital scenes where lovemaking was mentioned as happening but they were not described.
Favourite quote:
"It is very clearly stated in the Law of Moses. It says 'You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were a stranger in the land of Egypt.'"
"Rab, I do not wish to be disrespectful, but you must have forgotten to teach the villagers this precept."
Shageh chuckled. "I have not forgotten to teach it, little one. But like many of our commandments, it is much easier to teach than to follow. But perhaps you are right. I should remind them."
Heart of Zion:
#1
#2
#3
June 19, 2015
I love this book! It's not one that you come across everyday because it's old and is not well known. I picked it up in a yard sale in high school and I've read it more than twice. There is, of course, a biblical theme to it based in the Old Testament. It's a lovely fiction that maybe some would enjoy. The romance starts off with a young, beautiful but stubborn Aramean girl whose hatred for a warrior and faithful follower of God, Johnathan, gradually turns into an unexpected love for him. There are more series to this which I haven't read, but it's my favorite so far..
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews