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The Triumph of Deborah
The richly imagined tale of Deborah, the courageous Biblical warrior who saved her people from certain destruction
In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah, a highly respected leader, has coerced the warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with Asherah and Nogah, daughters of the Canaanite King, as his prisoners. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.
Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, develops a surprising affinity for Barak. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life.
Filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, The Triumph of Deborah is the absorbing and riveting tale of one of the most beloved figures in the Old Testament, and a tribute to feminine strength and independence.
The third book in Eva Etzioni-Halevys novels featuring women of the Bible. This is biblical fiction at its best.
In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah, a highly respected leader, has coerced the warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with Asherah and Nogah, daughters of the Canaanite King, as his prisoners. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.
Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, develops a surprising affinity for Barak. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life.
Filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, The Triumph of Deborah is the absorbing and riveting tale of one of the most beloved figures in the Old Testament, and a tribute to feminine strength and independence.
The third book in Eva Etzioni-Halevys novels featuring women of the Bible. This is biblical fiction at its best.
358 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2008
5 people are currently reading
1105 people want to read
About the author
Eva Etzioni-Halevy
26 books68 followersEva Etzioni-Halevy is professor emeritus of political sociology at Bar-Ilan
Univeristy, Israel, now turned into a biblical novelist. A child Holocaust
survivor, she was born in Vienna, Austria. She managed to escape as a small
child with her parents in 1939 and spent World War II in Italy, partly in an
Italian concentration camp and partly in hiding. She moved to what was then
Palestine in 1945. She also spent time in the United States and Australia
before returning to Israel and taking up her position at Bar-Ilan. Eva lives
in Tel-Aviv with her husband; she has three grown children.
Univeristy, Israel, now turned into a biblical novelist. A child Holocaust
survivor, she was born in Vienna, Austria. She managed to escape as a small
child with her parents in 1939 and spent World War II in Italy, partly in an
Italian concentration camp and partly in hiding. She moved to what was then
Palestine in 1945. She also spent time in the United States and Australia
before returning to Israel and taking up her position at Bar-Ilan. Eva lives
in Tel-Aviv with her husband; she has three grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 1, 2019
Israel is threatened with destruction by an imminent Canaanite invasion. Deborah, the great Hebrew judge and prophetess rallies the nation from Mount Tabor in the heart of Israel.
Deborah persuades the Israelite general Barak to launch a strike against the Canaanite forces commanded by their general Sisera, who has terrorized Israel for years.
Against overwhelming odds the Israelites root and completely crush the Canaanite forces, before taking control of King Jabin's castle at Hazor.
Sisera flees the sight of the battle and takes refuge in the tent of a Kenite woman, Jael, who slays him, as retribution for his reign of terror.
After taking Hazor, Barak liberates the Israelite slaves, and takes captive Jabin's daughters. He forces Canaanite princess Asherah to marry him, without realizing that it is Nogah who is the true prize.
Much of the book focuses on Barak's womanizing and his relations with the various female protagonists.
I didn't much like Etzioni-Halevi's version of Barak, as he seems like a vain and shallow casanova ruled purely by his ego and own whims.
I have always seen Barak in a totally different way.
I far preferred who was interesting and admirable as both a forceful and compassionate women. I would liked to have read more about Deborah and Jael.
Nonetheless the author vividly brings ancient Israel to life and provides and exciting and fleshy novel.
Deborah persuades the Israelite general Barak to launch a strike against the Canaanite forces commanded by their general Sisera, who has terrorized Israel for years.
Against overwhelming odds the Israelites root and completely crush the Canaanite forces, before taking control of King Jabin's castle at Hazor.
Sisera flees the sight of the battle and takes refuge in the tent of a Kenite woman, Jael, who slays him, as retribution for his reign of terror.
After taking Hazor, Barak liberates the Israelite slaves, and takes captive Jabin's daughters. He forces Canaanite princess Asherah to marry him, without realizing that it is Nogah who is the true prize.
Much of the book focuses on Barak's womanizing and his relations with the various female protagonists.
I didn't much like Etzioni-Halevi's version of Barak, as he seems like a vain and shallow casanova ruled purely by his ego and own whims.
I have always seen Barak in a totally different way.
I far preferred who was interesting and admirable as both a forceful and compassionate women. I would liked to have read more about Deborah and Jael.
Nonetheless the author vividly brings ancient Israel to life and provides and exciting and fleshy novel.
Read
July 27, 2011I belive the title is misleading; it should have been "Barak's Triumphs in Bed", or "Barak and Nogah's Lovelife". The story's only remaining echo for me is that of a poorly disguised bodice ripper. "The Triumph of Deborah". Really? I would have loved to have read something more about her triumphs, and not only in bed. Barak and his sexual partners do overtake Dborah as the book's main focus, however, and this was confusing and aggravating, to say the least.
July 14, 2014
I was so excited about this book, which I randomly picked up out of a sale bin at Borders. The story of Deborah has always interested me, and I was curious to see it from the perspective of a female Israeli professor. But here the author has basically turned the story of the judge and prophetess Deborah and Barak, a story with so much political and cultural promise, into a bad soap opera. Maybe I found the style of her prose (weirdly impersonal) off-putting, but I didn't enjoy this.
I also was disappointed in the characters. It surprised me that a novel written by an educated woman with a predominantly female cast of characters could be so ... what's the opposite of empowering? For a novel with Deborah's name in the title, not much of the novel is actually devoted to understanding her. There are few redeeming qualities about Barak, who is supposed to be the desire of all the women around him, and the women seem strangely satisfied to marry and love men who mistreat or discount them. I understand the culture and attitude towards marriage is different from ours today, but seriously. These women seem to possess neither intelligence nor a will of their own, slaves to their desires and misguided passions. One character, when offered a life on her own terms utilizing her own skills and intelligence, turns away from it to throw herself back at the feet of the man who mistreated and took advantage of her. Another one marries and falls in love with a man simply because he looks like her dead husband--something the man himself predicts with maddening smugness. And the list goes on.
I rarely can find nothing redeeming in a novel, which makes this all the more baffling. What a disappointment.
I also was disappointed in the characters. It surprised me that a novel written by an educated woman with a predominantly female cast of characters could be so ... what's the opposite of empowering? For a novel with Deborah's name in the title, not much of the novel is actually devoted to understanding her. There are few redeeming qualities about Barak, who is supposed to be the desire of all the women around him, and the women seem strangely satisfied to marry and love men who mistreat or discount them. I understand the culture and attitude towards marriage is different from ours today, but seriously. These women seem to possess neither intelligence nor a will of their own, slaves to their desires and misguided passions. One character, when offered a life on her own terms utilizing her own skills and intelligence, turns away from it to throw herself back at the feet of the man who mistreated and took advantage of her. Another one marries and falls in love with a man simply because he looks like her dead husband--something the man himself predicts with maddening smugness. And the list goes on.
I rarely can find nothing redeeming in a novel, which makes this all the more baffling. What a disappointment.
January 15, 2009
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has taken the story of Deborah the prophetess, put flesh on the bones and created a trashy romance novel.
October 14, 2008
The Triumph of Deborah is a historical (Biblical) fiction novel and yet so much more. I have always enjoyed Biblical stories and this one did not disappoint me.
Deborah, a Prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah...in the hill country of Efraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. -Judges 4:4-5
The story is about Deborah who was a very powerful woman in Israel-people stood in awe of her. As the above quote from the Bible tells us the people of her land looked to her for guidance and advice so she became a judge in the land. She also felt herself a 'mother figure'-from the time she was young she had taken on the role of telling others how to handle issues and they would abide by her. Deborah was also a prophetess-God spoke to her and she carried out his wishes among his people. Deborah is a fascinating character not only because of the power she had but also the way she was willing to overlook being treated in not a respectful way by men who knew no better-she was a better person than that. When she was dealing with men who did not think a woman's place was that of a leader she would, to some extent, not flaunt her power. I respected that about her-she wasn't arrogant in her power, she just knew it was there and I imagine so did these men and that's what scared them. Deborah is the one who instigates the war between the Israelites and Caanaanites. She had a prophecy from God that they would win so she goes with Barak to war and they do indeed prevail.
However, I don't think that Deborah is the only powerful woman in this novel. There is Nogah, who is the King of the Caanaanite's illegitimate daughter who was powerful in her own more quiet way. She is another character I felt very drawn to. She started out as a slave, her mother Reumah watching over her very closely as she knew who Nogah was. Eventually the King finds out who Nogah is and welcomes her into his heart although will not recognize her publicly. She learns to read and she and her mother have a much better life for a while. Then there is a war and Nogah's life is upset once again. She goes to live in Barak's home being a maid once again. However, she falls in love with him and he with her although he is oblivious at the time and only after she leaves him, does he realize his love. Finally they come together again and in Nogah's quiet way she tells Barak that peace between the Israelites and Caanaanites is the best for both. Deborah agrees and they meet together with the Caanaanites and an agreement of peace is established.
There is so much more than I can ever possibly put in a review. This book is very rich in detail of both the people and the land-I felt as though I was a part of everything happening. It also has a romantic element which is enjoyable. I loved that we saw the power, especially of Deborah, in a time when this was really unheard of. Women had no rights in that time and yet here was Deborah rising above that to be a judge and highly respected.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has a way of making us love these characters. I felt so strongly for them and their welfare. I was sad to see this novel end-it is a story I could have kept reading for another 400 pages. It is a testament to women that we can overcome almost anything to succeed. We are strong and brilliant and beautiful!
There are many quotes throughout this novel that are amazing but with my love of flowers I picked this out as one of my favorites just for the visual aspect and feeling of peace that it brings to me.
'A gentle breeze was moving the branches of the blooming pomegranate trees and mandrakes, whose fragrances it bore into the distance. A mulitude of colorful wildflowers had sprouted; they glistened like precious stones from the dew of the night that still clung to their petals'.
I think this book is well worth reading especially if you love Biblical fiction. It's a great story with an even greater lesson. For myself, I will definitely be reading her other two novels, The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth.
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
Deborah, a Prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah...in the hill country of Efraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. -Judges 4:4-5
The story is about Deborah who was a very powerful woman in Israel-people stood in awe of her. As the above quote from the Bible tells us the people of her land looked to her for guidance and advice so she became a judge in the land. She also felt herself a 'mother figure'-from the time she was young she had taken on the role of telling others how to handle issues and they would abide by her. Deborah was also a prophetess-God spoke to her and she carried out his wishes among his people. Deborah is a fascinating character not only because of the power she had but also the way she was willing to overlook being treated in not a respectful way by men who knew no better-she was a better person than that. When she was dealing with men who did not think a woman's place was that of a leader she would, to some extent, not flaunt her power. I respected that about her-she wasn't arrogant in her power, she just knew it was there and I imagine so did these men and that's what scared them. Deborah is the one who instigates the war between the Israelites and Caanaanites. She had a prophecy from God that they would win so she goes with Barak to war and they do indeed prevail.
However, I don't think that Deborah is the only powerful woman in this novel. There is Nogah, who is the King of the Caanaanite's illegitimate daughter who was powerful in her own more quiet way. She is another character I felt very drawn to. She started out as a slave, her mother Reumah watching over her very closely as she knew who Nogah was. Eventually the King finds out who Nogah is and welcomes her into his heart although will not recognize her publicly. She learns to read and she and her mother have a much better life for a while. Then there is a war and Nogah's life is upset once again. She goes to live in Barak's home being a maid once again. However, she falls in love with him and he with her although he is oblivious at the time and only after she leaves him, does he realize his love. Finally they come together again and in Nogah's quiet way she tells Barak that peace between the Israelites and Caanaanites is the best for both. Deborah agrees and they meet together with the Caanaanites and an agreement of peace is established.
There is so much more than I can ever possibly put in a review. This book is very rich in detail of both the people and the land-I felt as though I was a part of everything happening. It also has a romantic element which is enjoyable. I loved that we saw the power, especially of Deborah, in a time when this was really unheard of. Women had no rights in that time and yet here was Deborah rising above that to be a judge and highly respected.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has a way of making us love these characters. I felt so strongly for them and their welfare. I was sad to see this novel end-it is a story I could have kept reading for another 400 pages. It is a testament to women that we can overcome almost anything to succeed. We are strong and brilliant and beautiful!
There are many quotes throughout this novel that are amazing but with my love of flowers I picked this out as one of my favorites just for the visual aspect and feeling of peace that it brings to me.
'A gentle breeze was moving the branches of the blooming pomegranate trees and mandrakes, whose fragrances it bore into the distance. A mulitude of colorful wildflowers had sprouted; they glistened like precious stones from the dew of the night that still clung to their petals'.
I think this book is well worth reading especially if you love Biblical fiction. It's a great story with an even greater lesson. For myself, I will definitely be reading her other two novels, The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth.
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
April 30, 2009
I had a sudden urge to read a historical novel this weekend. Since I own only a couple, the choice was easy. I had read a lot of reviews of ‘Triumph of Deborah’ and knew it was generally liked. So I didn’t hesitate to pick it up.
And yes, I liked it. In fact, I loved it. I had absolutely no knowledge about Deborah. So before reading the book I googled a little and found out that she was a highly respected prophet, a judge and a leader of Israel. And the fact that she was a woman and yet respected so much during that era was inspiring.
Okay, let’s jump to the book. Inspire of all her efforts, Deborah is unable to establish peace between the Canaanites and her people. Seeing that she has no choice but to go to war, she decides to appoint Barak as the chief. Barak is very young and inexperienced but she decides to trust him based on his past victories. Barak, although resistant at first, feels like he has no option. He leads Israel to victory against Canaanites.
In the Canaan country, the King gives the responsibility of war to Sisra who also marries his daughter Asherah renowned for her beauty. The King has another daughter Nogah from an Israeli slave and whose knowledge is kept a secret.
When Barak captures the Canaan Castle, he is smitten by Asherah’s beauty, so he takes her as his captive. Nogah accepts a job as a maid in Barak’s mansion. Thus begins a love triangle between Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Barak is smitten by Asherah and Nogah is in love with Barak, but Asherah hates Barak because she thinks he is responsible for her husband Sisra’s death. She waits for an opportunity to kill Barak and make him pay for his deeds.
Deborah, meanwhile, through her prophecies and her visions helps avoid another was between Israel and Canaan. In the end, Deborah, Barak, Asherah and Nogah help in bringing peace to the land.
Deborah is very strong willed and admirable. She is true to her people and is willing to sacrifice her personal life as well. I was surprised that I had never read much about the love triangle in any of the reviews. Considering it takes up more than half of the book, it’s a major part of ‘Triumph of Deborah’. I love romance books so I was in fact happy that there was this angle to it. But I do think some people might be annoyed by the number of chapters dedicated to it. So I just thought of mentioning it here.
I learned a lot about Deborah as a biblical character. The writing style is simple which makes it easier to get engrossed in the story. Although I won’t call it a character driven novel, I felt strongly about all of them; be it Deborah, Nogah, Asherah or Barak. In fact I hated Barak. He was a womanizer and he let his lust overpower all his senses. Nogah, I thought, was a fool for loving a man like Barak. But love has no logic right?
Conclusion: I highly recommend this book. I am definitely going to be on a lookout for Eva Etzioni-Havely’s other books- The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth.
originally reviewed at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
And yes, I liked it. In fact, I loved it. I had absolutely no knowledge about Deborah. So before reading the book I googled a little and found out that she was a highly respected prophet, a judge and a leader of Israel. And the fact that she was a woman and yet respected so much during that era was inspiring.
Okay, let’s jump to the book. Inspire of all her efforts, Deborah is unable to establish peace between the Canaanites and her people. Seeing that she has no choice but to go to war, she decides to appoint Barak as the chief. Barak is very young and inexperienced but she decides to trust him based on his past victories. Barak, although resistant at first, feels like he has no option. He leads Israel to victory against Canaanites.
In the Canaan country, the King gives the responsibility of war to Sisra who also marries his daughter Asherah renowned for her beauty. The King has another daughter Nogah from an Israeli slave and whose knowledge is kept a secret.
When Barak captures the Canaan Castle, he is smitten by Asherah’s beauty, so he takes her as his captive. Nogah accepts a job as a maid in Barak’s mansion. Thus begins a love triangle between Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Barak is smitten by Asherah and Nogah is in love with Barak, but Asherah hates Barak because she thinks he is responsible for her husband Sisra’s death. She waits for an opportunity to kill Barak and make him pay for his deeds.
Deborah, meanwhile, through her prophecies and her visions helps avoid another was between Israel and Canaan. In the end, Deborah, Barak, Asherah and Nogah help in bringing peace to the land.
Deborah is very strong willed and admirable. She is true to her people and is willing to sacrifice her personal life as well. I was surprised that I had never read much about the love triangle in any of the reviews. Considering it takes up more than half of the book, it’s a major part of ‘Triumph of Deborah’. I love romance books so I was in fact happy that there was this angle to it. But I do think some people might be annoyed by the number of chapters dedicated to it. So I just thought of mentioning it here.
I learned a lot about Deborah as a biblical character. The writing style is simple which makes it easier to get engrossed in the story. Although I won’t call it a character driven novel, I felt strongly about all of them; be it Deborah, Nogah, Asherah or Barak. In fact I hated Barak. He was a womanizer and he let his lust overpower all his senses. Nogah, I thought, was a fool for loving a man like Barak. But love has no logic right?
Conclusion: I highly recommend this book. I am definitely going to be on a lookout for Eva Etzioni-Havely’s other books- The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth.
originally reviewed at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
November 6, 2008
The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni – Halevy is a riveting tale of a determined, highly respected leader and prophetess Deborah.
This novel is set in ancient Israel in the twelfth to the mid eleventh centuries BCE. In this gripping tale, Deborah is a very powerful woman who judged the people of Israel. People from far and wide would come to Deborah to seek judgment and counsel. Deborah was married to Lapidoth, and could hear God’s voice too. Her prophecies were highly revered and mostly came true too. She more than often set out to tell people the wishes of God and to tell them to mend their ways or else the wrath from Heaven would be unbearable.
On one such day, Deborah has a vision, and understands that she has to have a war against the neighboring Canannites, who have been terrorizing the people of Israel and looting them and killing many as well. She summons Barak, the mightiest of all and asks him to launch a war against them. Despite all the odds, they succeed. From the destroyed royal family of the Cannanites, Barak brings back 2 princesses Asherah, the most beautiful of the beauties and Nogah, the illegitimate daughter of the King.. And thus starts a gripping tale of love, disappointment and hatred.
The story weaves around Deborah, but at no point in the novel, do we feel that she is the only person. She is extremely powerful, but never uses her power for anything that’s against Torah rules. She is very humble and generous all throughout but nevertheless not perfect and I really found that aspect of her drawing. Barak on the other hand is one man, who is powerful, intelligent and a womanizer but extremely noble in his heart. He never forces his way with women, but women are drawn to him so much that they feel it a great reward to be with him.
I would love to say that I am in love with Barak’s character, but Nogah is the one who got all my love and anticipation. She is the quite powerhouse of knowledge and love and I identified with her so much too. And for being her aide, I really liked Uriel also.
Being totally clueless about this chapter in the Bible, I was truly amazed at the in depth knowledge about this period of time, that this book bestowed on me. It was fast-paced, well-written and Eva has done full justice to all her characters. I would love to tell you all about each and every character and more about them, but I would like you all to read and ravish and understand.
I give it 5 on 5. And I am thankful that I read this amazing tale that has given me a taste for historical fiction. I am all ready to pick up other titles by Eva herself.
This novel is set in ancient Israel in the twelfth to the mid eleventh centuries BCE. In this gripping tale, Deborah is a very powerful woman who judged the people of Israel. People from far and wide would come to Deborah to seek judgment and counsel. Deborah was married to Lapidoth, and could hear God’s voice too. Her prophecies were highly revered and mostly came true too. She more than often set out to tell people the wishes of God and to tell them to mend their ways or else the wrath from Heaven would be unbearable.
On one such day, Deborah has a vision, and understands that she has to have a war against the neighboring Canannites, who have been terrorizing the people of Israel and looting them and killing many as well. She summons Barak, the mightiest of all and asks him to launch a war against them. Despite all the odds, they succeed. From the destroyed royal family of the Cannanites, Barak brings back 2 princesses Asherah, the most beautiful of the beauties and Nogah, the illegitimate daughter of the King.. And thus starts a gripping tale of love, disappointment and hatred.
The story weaves around Deborah, but at no point in the novel, do we feel that she is the only person. She is extremely powerful, but never uses her power for anything that’s against Torah rules. She is very humble and generous all throughout but nevertheless not perfect and I really found that aspect of her drawing. Barak on the other hand is one man, who is powerful, intelligent and a womanizer but extremely noble in his heart. He never forces his way with women, but women are drawn to him so much that they feel it a great reward to be with him.
I would love to say that I am in love with Barak’s character, but Nogah is the one who got all my love and anticipation. She is the quite powerhouse of knowledge and love and I identified with her so much too. And for being her aide, I really liked Uriel also.
Being totally clueless about this chapter in the Bible, I was truly amazed at the in depth knowledge about this period of time, that this book bestowed on me. It was fast-paced, well-written and Eva has done full justice to all her characters. I would love to tell you all about each and every character and more about them, but I would like you all to read and ravish and understand.
I give it 5 on 5. And I am thankful that I read this amazing tale that has given me a taste for historical fiction. I am all ready to pick up other titles by Eva herself.
August 6, 2016
A more accurate title for this book is "The Sexual Triumphs of Deborah and other Ancient Hussies". Unless you're really into ridiculously juvenile sexual euphemisms, and authors taking wild liberties in describing what male-female romantic relationships were like in Israel 2500 years ago based on today's stereotypical female insecurities, don't waste your time on this embarrassing drivel of a book! I started it because I do enjoy well researched and insightful historical fiction, but soon felt I was forcing myself through it to the end. Ultimately I finished because I really wanted to declare the following review at my book club meeting (and here): this book is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in the author's rambling, incoherent storyline was she even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read this book. I would award it zero stars if I could, and may God have mercy on this author's soul!
April 12, 2021
כשעברתי על ההמלצות באתר סימניה הרבה אנשים אמרו שזה ספר שמתאים לנשים לא רק כי הוא פמיניסטי אלא גם בגלל דמותו של ברק.
לא היה שום דבר פמיניסטי בספר הזה. סיפורה של דבורה היה הסיפור האהוב עליי כשלמדתי תנ"ך- הנשים המשמעותיות בתנ"ך התפזרו. שתי נשים חזקות מאוד? בסיפור אחד? זה קרה בפעם האחרונה ביציאת מצריים.
אבל עציוני הפכה את דבורה ואת יעל לנשים חולות אהבה ואת ברק לדמות הראשית. הספר היה אמור להיות על דבורה, אבל הוא לא היה עלייה בכלל, שלא לדבר על העובדה שדבורה הייתה גם נביאה וגם שופטת ועדיין ברק לא מרגיש צורך לציית לה? הוא בייסיקלי כופה עלייה אונס, גם אם לא מציגים את זה כך.
כמו שהוא כופה על אשרה.
והעובדה שצימצמו את דמותה של יעל לכזו שמאוהבת בברק ורוצה לשכב איתו? מה הקטע?
עציוני הביאה שתי דמויות שלא היו קיימות במקור ואז התמקדה ברומן שלהן עם ברק.
לספר קוראים אשת לפידות. הוא אמור לדבר על דבורה, אבל היא כמעט ולא מופיעה. אם הייתי רוצה לקרוא על הOCs של עציוני לא הייתי קוראת ספר שחשבתי שיהיה על דבורה.
המרכז לא היה המלחמה. הוא לא היה הפוליטיקה או מעמד האישה. העיקר של הספר היה הרומנטיקה שהייתה מבחילה יותר מכל דבר אחר.
הספר היחיד חוץ מזה שקראתי של עציוני היה אפר על ראשה ואני מרגישה כאילו שני הספרים האלה הם הפכים גמורים, ולא בקטע טוב.
לא היה שום דבר פמיניסטי בספר הזה. סיפורה של דבורה היה הסיפור האהוב עליי כשלמדתי תנ"ך- הנשים המשמעותיות בתנ"ך התפזרו. שתי נשים חזקות מאוד? בסיפור אחד? זה קרה בפעם האחרונה ביציאת מצריים.
אבל עציוני הפכה את דבורה ואת יעל לנשים חולות אהבה ואת ברק לדמות הראשית. הספר היה אמור להיות על דבורה, אבל הוא לא היה עלייה בכלל, שלא לדבר על העובדה שדבורה הייתה גם נביאה וגם שופטת ועדיין ברק לא מרגיש צורך לציית לה? הוא בייסיקלי כופה עלייה אונס, גם אם לא מציגים את זה כך.
כמו שהוא כופה על אשרה.
והעובדה שצימצמו את דמותה של יעל לכזו שמאוהבת בברק ורוצה לשכב איתו? מה הקטע?
עציוני הביאה שתי דמויות שלא היו קיימות במקור ואז התמקדה ברומן שלהן עם ברק.
לספר קוראים אשת לפידות. הוא אמור לדבר על דבורה, אבל היא כמעט ולא מופיעה. אם הייתי רוצה לקרוא על הOCs של עציוני לא הייתי קוראת ספר שחשבתי שיהיה על דבורה.
המרכז לא היה המלחמה. הוא לא היה הפוליטיקה או מעמד האישה. העיקר של הספר היה הרומנטיקה שהייתה מבחילה יותר מכל דבר אחר.
הספר היחיד חוץ מזה שקראתי של עציוני היה אפר על ראשה ואני מרגישה כאילו שני הספרים האלה הם הפכים גמורים, ולא בקטע טוב.
October 24, 2025
The Triumph of Deborah was well-written and absorbing. The historical facts seemed correct and the characters seemed real. It was about Deborah, a judge and military leader in the Old Testament, one of the few women. She leads the Jewish people to victory over the Canaanites and then negotiates a peace. The story is fictional but it is a good story. Barak is a military leader and she asks him to fight the Canaanites. He agrees-but asks for a "reward" if he succeeds. She works with him on the fight and to make a final peace. He also marries the daughter of the Canaanite King while being in love with Nogah, a slave in the same palace. The author's descriptions of the thoughts of her characters, the words she uses to describe their appearance, and her dialogue make the book vivid and a great read.
July 28, 2019
If anything I was really drawn into the story about the world, its characters and treating each character as someone with their own thoughts downfalls and merits.
As well as managing to make them feel real, without ever confining them to any specific role but rather suiting their characters personalities. Detailing the Canaanite and Israelite wars. About Deborah but also about two sisters, one royal and the other who grew up a slave. The latter of which I would really grow to sympathize, like and also enjoy.
As well as Deborah, her mistakes and showing her as a powerful woman despite all. The ending is really good and this is a wholly satisfying tale.
As well as managing to make them feel real, without ever confining them to any specific role but rather suiting their characters personalities. Detailing the Canaanite and Israelite wars. About Deborah but also about two sisters, one royal and the other who grew up a slave. The latter of which I would really grow to sympathize, like and also enjoy.
As well as Deborah, her mistakes and showing her as a powerful woman despite all. The ending is really good and this is a wholly satisfying tale.
September 14, 2018
I found this a nice, smooth read, and it placed the Biblical story into a real setting. I got annoyed with the amount of romance and sex, and the fact that the main "hero" was a repeated rapist. Deborah was barely a main character. And the ending essentially had the females debasing their positions to placate the men.
June 24, 2022
Based on Deborah's story in the Book of Judges. Looks at Israelite warrior Barak and the three women he is attracted to after his battle against the Caananites. Well written with good historical details and real emotions.
September 5, 2017
Inaccurte account of the biblical characters in the book. Not one virtuous person in the book.
June 3, 2020
Interesting history but as all historical fiction, too much was made up.
March 12, 2009
I've never read biblical fiction before reading this book. In fact, I used to find the term a bit confusing and honestly, didn't know how to feel about it. I always felt like 'you don't mess with the Bible', ya know? I never thought this genre was for me because of that reason. But I began this book with an open and curious mind and was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Here's a bit about the book from Eva Etzioni-Halevy's website:
The richly imagined saga of Deborah, the courageous biblical warrior, prophetess and leader who saved her people from certain destruction.
In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah has coerced warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites, who threaten their people with destruction. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with two daughters of the Canaanite King as his captives. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, develops a surprising affinity for Barak. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life: the attainment of peace. Based on the book of Judges , and filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, the novel shows that in her own life Deborah was very much a woman, and that her femininity did not detract from her stature as national leader. Thereby it pays tribute to Deborah's feminine strength and independence from which present day women, seeking to build lives of their own and assert themselves in whatever way they choose to do so, may derive inspiration.
I'll come right out and say it - I originally thought I would have a difficult time getting into this book, but once I started reading about Deborah from the Old Testament, I quickly changed my thinking. I'm not real familiar with all of the stories from the Bible so this was a learning experience for me. Keeping in mind that this is a fictional story woven into biblical facts made for an interesting read.
The three women in this story, Deborah, the adored Prophetess; Asherah, the daughter of Jabin, the Canaanite King; and Nogah, the illegitimate daughter of King Jabin and a female Isrealite slave, are each very different women. In telling the story, the author manages to show the strengths of each of them and the important roles they played while staying true to relations between men and women in those times.
Deborah was a fascinating woman who had earned so much respect and love from the Israelite people. It was rare in those days for a woman to hold so much power and to be perceived almost as royalty. She sacrificed so much, personally, for her people but she never wavered from what she felt she must do.
My favorite character in the story though, is Nogah. As a child born into slavery, her life with her mother was very difficult in her early years. At fifteen when she discovered that the king who had enslaved her mother was, in fact her father, her life became much different. He acknowledge her and grew to love her very much. So when the war between the Canaanites and Isrealites came, she was torn between the two tribes. Throughout the story, Nogah faces such hard times yet she never sacrificed her beliefs and always acted with honor.
I even grew to like the character of Barak, the warrior who Deborah convinced to lead the Israelites in the war. Being a 'modern woman' it was difficult at first to remember that in ancient times, men were not faithful to one woman and it was normal for a man to have more than one wife. In the end, he was an honorable man, even though at times, stubborn, he was able to see that he may have to humble himself for the good of all the people, including his enemy.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy, an Israeli socialogist, does a wonderful job of portraying these characters and showing that women played an importance role in our history, even as far back as in the days of The Old Testament.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and I can say now that biblical fiction is a genre I like and will definitely read again. Eva Etzioni-Halevy has written many other books including THE GARDEN OF RUTH and THE SONG OF HANNAH to name a few. If you haven't ventured into this genre, I encourage you to try it with an open mind. You may just like it!
Here's a bit about the book from Eva Etzioni-Halevy's website:
The richly imagined saga of Deborah, the courageous biblical warrior, prophetess and leader who saved her people from certain destruction.
In ancient Israel, war is looming. Deborah has coerced warrior Barak into launching a strike against the neighboring Canaanites, who threaten their people with destruction. Against all odds he succeeds, returning triumphantly with two daughters of the Canaanite King as his captives. But military victory is only the beginning of the turmoil, as a complex love triangle develops between Barak and the two princesses.Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, develops a surprising affinity for Barak. Yet she struggles to rebuild her existence on her own terms, while also groping her way toward the greatest triumph of her life: the attainment of peace. Based on the book of Judges , and filled with brilliantly vivid historical detail, the novel shows that in her own life Deborah was very much a woman, and that her femininity did not detract from her stature as national leader. Thereby it pays tribute to Deborah's feminine strength and independence from which present day women, seeking to build lives of their own and assert themselves in whatever way they choose to do so, may derive inspiration.
I'll come right out and say it - I originally thought I would have a difficult time getting into this book, but once I started reading about Deborah from the Old Testament, I quickly changed my thinking. I'm not real familiar with all of the stories from the Bible so this was a learning experience for me. Keeping in mind that this is a fictional story woven into biblical facts made for an interesting read.
The three women in this story, Deborah, the adored Prophetess; Asherah, the daughter of Jabin, the Canaanite King; and Nogah, the illegitimate daughter of King Jabin and a female Isrealite slave, are each very different women. In telling the story, the author manages to show the strengths of each of them and the important roles they played while staying true to relations between men and women in those times.
Deborah was a fascinating woman who had earned so much respect and love from the Israelite people. It was rare in those days for a woman to hold so much power and to be perceived almost as royalty. She sacrificed so much, personally, for her people but she never wavered from what she felt she must do.
My favorite character in the story though, is Nogah. As a child born into slavery, her life with her mother was very difficult in her early years. At fifteen when she discovered that the king who had enslaved her mother was, in fact her father, her life became much different. He acknowledge her and grew to love her very much. So when the war between the Canaanites and Isrealites came, she was torn between the two tribes. Throughout the story, Nogah faces such hard times yet she never sacrificed her beliefs and always acted with honor.
I even grew to like the character of Barak, the warrior who Deborah convinced to lead the Israelites in the war. Being a 'modern woman' it was difficult at first to remember that in ancient times, men were not faithful to one woman and it was normal for a man to have more than one wife. In the end, he was an honorable man, even though at times, stubborn, he was able to see that he may have to humble himself for the good of all the people, including his enemy.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy, an Israeli socialogist, does a wonderful job of portraying these characters and showing that women played an importance role in our history, even as far back as in the days of The Old Testament.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and I can say now that biblical fiction is a genre I like and will definitely read again. Eva Etzioni-Halevy has written many other books including THE GARDEN OF RUTH and THE SONG OF HANNAH to name a few. If you haven't ventured into this genre, I encourage you to try it with an open mind. You may just like it!
August 18, 2010
4.5 star read.
This is a story that deftly interweaves itself through faiths and cultures and greed and power which is emphasized by Eva Etzioni-Halevy's fantastic storytelling through endearing characters from both sides of a war in ancient Israel. The novel begins as the women of the opposite sides are awaiting the news of the outcome of the battle, but we are then treated to a series of flashbacks and a buildup to the battle so much so that we are vested in both sides of the battle and wish for peace on both sides before we learn the outcome ourselves. A better educated person may be able to recall the outcome of the battle between the Israelites and Canaanites for which this novel is based. I had no idea so I had to do a quick wikipedia lookup to gain some further insight, because the suspense was too much for me.
The Bible tells us the story of a compelling woman named Deborah, who was a judge of the Israelites. In the novel, the author breathes new life into the era of the Judges and shows us all facets of the battle that Deborah helped to wage against the Canaanites and King Jabin. Most importantly in this story was Nogah, a young woman torn between the two conflicting faiths of the Israelites and the Canaanites. Nogah was the daughter of an Israelite slave, who later learns that her seemingly non-existent father is none other than King Jabin, believer of gods and goddesses. Although mother and father are worlds apart in culture, Nogah's heart is open to both of them and their views. It is through Nogah's eyes that we feel the strain of the wars and the conflict it causes between the two faiths.
Another key figure in the story is Barak, the leader who Deborah chose to lead the war against the Canaanites. He is an enchanter of women: they fall in love with him almost instantly, including Deborah and Nogah. The one who Barak wants, however, is another of the Canaanite King Jabin's daughters, Asherah. As Barak was the leader against the Canaanites and the perpetrator of death amongst her family and people, Asherah is unforgiving. Yet, she has little choice in the matter of her situation as a captive of Barak's. It was hard to connect with her due to her unforgiving nature which was a contrast to the other characters of the novel, but made for a well-rounded story. I was enthralled by the plot and the characters who were so vividly portrayed in alternating third person with an interesting timeline of flashbacks and their present times.
The author's prose was so fluid and addictive that I didn't want to put the novel down. And yet I valued the importance of the story in itself so I forced myself to savor the experience. The only quibble I had with the story was the way that it was saturated with sex. The women seemed overcome with lust especially where Barak was concerned and that became tiresome. The sexual scenes were told with grace, though, and the powerful storytelling outweighed the negative leanings I had due to the amount of sexual content.
I am so glad to have read this novel, and wish I had read it sooner. It is eye opening and poetic, and a must read for those who are intrigued by the history of religion and heritage of Israel, and it serves well for readers of historical fiction. I plan on also reading Eva Etzioni-Halevy's previous novels, The Garden of Ruth and The Song of Hannah. In biblical fiction, I have also read India Edghill's Delilah which I really enjoyed and I plan on reading more from India Edghill and Antoinette May as well. The genre of biblical fiction is vast and I must take baby steps, but after this fantastic read I know it is well worth the wait.
This is a story that deftly interweaves itself through faiths and cultures and greed and power which is emphasized by Eva Etzioni-Halevy's fantastic storytelling through endearing characters from both sides of a war in ancient Israel. The novel begins as the women of the opposite sides are awaiting the news of the outcome of the battle, but we are then treated to a series of flashbacks and a buildup to the battle so much so that we are vested in both sides of the battle and wish for peace on both sides before we learn the outcome ourselves. A better educated person may be able to recall the outcome of the battle between the Israelites and Canaanites for which this novel is based. I had no idea so I had to do a quick wikipedia lookup to gain some further insight, because the suspense was too much for me.
The Bible tells us the story of a compelling woman named Deborah, who was a judge of the Israelites. In the novel, the author breathes new life into the era of the Judges and shows us all facets of the battle that Deborah helped to wage against the Canaanites and King Jabin. Most importantly in this story was Nogah, a young woman torn between the two conflicting faiths of the Israelites and the Canaanites. Nogah was the daughter of an Israelite slave, who later learns that her seemingly non-existent father is none other than King Jabin, believer of gods and goddesses. Although mother and father are worlds apart in culture, Nogah's heart is open to both of them and their views. It is through Nogah's eyes that we feel the strain of the wars and the conflict it causes between the two faiths.
Another key figure in the story is Barak, the leader who Deborah chose to lead the war against the Canaanites. He is an enchanter of women: they fall in love with him almost instantly, including Deborah and Nogah. The one who Barak wants, however, is another of the Canaanite King Jabin's daughters, Asherah. As Barak was the leader against the Canaanites and the perpetrator of death amongst her family and people, Asherah is unforgiving. Yet, she has little choice in the matter of her situation as a captive of Barak's. It was hard to connect with her due to her unforgiving nature which was a contrast to the other characters of the novel, but made for a well-rounded story. I was enthralled by the plot and the characters who were so vividly portrayed in alternating third person with an interesting timeline of flashbacks and their present times.
The author's prose was so fluid and addictive that I didn't want to put the novel down. And yet I valued the importance of the story in itself so I forced myself to savor the experience. The only quibble I had with the story was the way that it was saturated with sex. The women seemed overcome with lust especially where Barak was concerned and that became tiresome. The sexual scenes were told with grace, though, and the powerful storytelling outweighed the negative leanings I had due to the amount of sexual content.
I am so glad to have read this novel, and wish I had read it sooner. It is eye opening and poetic, and a must read for those who are intrigued by the history of religion and heritage of Israel, and it serves well for readers of historical fiction. I plan on also reading Eva Etzioni-Halevy's previous novels, The Garden of Ruth and The Song of Hannah. In biblical fiction, I have also read India Edghill's Delilah which I really enjoyed and I plan on reading more from India Edghill and Antoinette May as well. The genre of biblical fiction is vast and I must take baby steps, but after this fantastic read I know it is well worth the wait.
July 2, 2009
I have always been a huge fan of Biblical fiction. I think it’s in part due to the fact the Bible is a never ending wellspring of characters, with little information provided about their background. The possibilities for great stories to emerge are never ending. Deborah’s story is certainly one of these. The Triumph of Deborah, By: Eva Etzioni-Halevy is definitely a page turner. I could not put it down. The novel focuses on the great prophetess and judge, Deborah. Deborah is divorced by her husband of sixteen years, Lapidoth, due in part to her choosing the great warrior Barak, for the leader of the Israel army to battle the Canaanites. Deborah never waves on her choice, knowing that Barak is the only one who can save God’s people, even though this decision causes much upheaval in her personal life.
However, Deborah is not the only central figure in the novel. She is merely the powerful force that lays the groundwork for the plot. Her power and influence is not lost on the three other main characters or the events that transpire. Barak captures the beautiful and mesmerizing Canaanite princess Asherah after defeating the Canaanites. Along with Asherah, he brings all the Israel women held captive in the castle of Canaanite King Jabin. One of these women in Nogah, a slave girl, half Israeli, half Canaanite, who is also the half sister to Asherah. Noagh, with a heart of gold and the brain of a scholar, begins to fall in love with Barak even though he is bound and determined to marry Asherah. Barak is gruff, rugged, lovable, and completely delirious to what is transpiring with the half sisters in his household. He knows nothing of Noagh’s ancestry and has become quite attached to her, yet remains fixated on her sister. Asherah, who remains hell bent on revenge for the deaths of the Canaanites, including her first husband Sisra, realizes this fact and tries to rid the house of Nogah when her sister refuses to procure a knife for her escape from the house of Barak. Deborah returns to judge the situation between the sisters, fully realizing what is taking place. Nogah leaves the comfort and protection of Barak and his household when he marries Asherah, warning everyone to reveal nothing of her whereabouts. Her heart breaking, Nogah undertakes a journey of her own.
Later seeking the council of Deborah, Nogah’s path becomes clear. What she does not know is that the man she loves is desperate to find her. Deborah’s sage wisdom and her visions foresee great calamity returning to the land and knows that it must be avoided at all cost. Deborah is a truly respectable character and woman, and this respect is not lost on the other characters. As Asherah, Deborah. Nogah, and Barak all find their respective ways, Eva Etzioni-Halevy, brings the stories together. There are no loose ends in this beautifully descriptive book.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has also written two other books of Biblical Ficton, The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth. I am anxious to read both of these soon, as I hope they are as fluid, descriptive, and as enjoyable as The Triumph of Deborah was.
However, Deborah is not the only central figure in the novel. She is merely the powerful force that lays the groundwork for the plot. Her power and influence is not lost on the three other main characters or the events that transpire. Barak captures the beautiful and mesmerizing Canaanite princess Asherah after defeating the Canaanites. Along with Asherah, he brings all the Israel women held captive in the castle of Canaanite King Jabin. One of these women in Nogah, a slave girl, half Israeli, half Canaanite, who is also the half sister to Asherah. Noagh, with a heart of gold and the brain of a scholar, begins to fall in love with Barak even though he is bound and determined to marry Asherah. Barak is gruff, rugged, lovable, and completely delirious to what is transpiring with the half sisters in his household. He knows nothing of Noagh’s ancestry and has become quite attached to her, yet remains fixated on her sister. Asherah, who remains hell bent on revenge for the deaths of the Canaanites, including her first husband Sisra, realizes this fact and tries to rid the house of Nogah when her sister refuses to procure a knife for her escape from the house of Barak. Deborah returns to judge the situation between the sisters, fully realizing what is taking place. Nogah leaves the comfort and protection of Barak and his household when he marries Asherah, warning everyone to reveal nothing of her whereabouts. Her heart breaking, Nogah undertakes a journey of her own.
Later seeking the council of Deborah, Nogah’s path becomes clear. What she does not know is that the man she loves is desperate to find her. Deborah’s sage wisdom and her visions foresee great calamity returning to the land and knows that it must be avoided at all cost. Deborah is a truly respectable character and woman, and this respect is not lost on the other characters. As Asherah, Deborah. Nogah, and Barak all find their respective ways, Eva Etzioni-Halevy, brings the stories together. There are no loose ends in this beautifully descriptive book.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has also written two other books of Biblical Ficton, The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth. I am anxious to read both of these soon, as I hope they are as fluid, descriptive, and as enjoyable as The Triumph of Deborah was.
June 8, 2012
I was pretty excited when Ms. Etzioni-Halevy contacted me regarding her book, The Triumph of Deborah. I had read a few positive reviews about it and was interested in trying out Biblical fiction, something I'd never read before. I wasn't too familiar with the story of Deborah, so before reading this book I read the two chapters in which she appears in The Bible, Judges 4 and 5. There wasn't too much there, other than what I consider a summary of the battle that Deborah convinces Barak to lead. So I was curious to see how the story would be fleshed out, and Etzioni-Halevy certainly does that, with rich detail.
The way the novel opens really grabbed me--two women, Deborah and Asherah, both waiting to find out the outcome of the war, but each wanted a very different result. Back and forth between the two perspectives we are taken, which I thought was a great way to open the story. Her writing style flows nicely and is easy to read, while still remaining relatively true to the language of the time. I was very impressed with the detail that Ms. Etzioni-Halevy was able to paint in this book, while still in keeping with the story from The Bible. (I don't want to say too much more than that, for fear of giving away spoilers.)
That being said, there were a couple of things about this book that disappointed me. I really wish that there had been more focus overall on Deborah--after all, the book leads you to believe she is the primary subject of the story. However, a good many pages are devoted to the love triangle between Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Finally, towards the end of the book we see Deborah in greater detail again, but it seemed very anticlimactic when we were supposed to be reading the story of her triumph. The other thing that bothered me was the amount of graphic detail involving Barak's relationships with Deborah, Asherah and Nogah. I had read another reviewer that felt the same way I did--this no longer was a book I could lend to my mother, which I had originally planned to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive enough to think that sort of behavior couldn't have been going on, but I really didn't need it so thoroughly described--it served as a major detraction for me. An insinuation of the events would have sufficed. So, while I did enjoy the story, my overall excitement of it was dampened by the lack of Deborah's story at times and the graphic portrayal of the romances. I can certainly understand why so many people have enjoyed this book, though--the story is intriguing and beautifully written--even I couldn't really put the book down despite the things I didn't care for.
The way the novel opens really grabbed me--two women, Deborah and Asherah, both waiting to find out the outcome of the war, but each wanted a very different result. Back and forth between the two perspectives we are taken, which I thought was a great way to open the story. Her writing style flows nicely and is easy to read, while still remaining relatively true to the language of the time. I was very impressed with the detail that Ms. Etzioni-Halevy was able to paint in this book, while still in keeping with the story from The Bible. (I don't want to say too much more than that, for fear of giving away spoilers.)
That being said, there were a couple of things about this book that disappointed me. I really wish that there had been more focus overall on Deborah--after all, the book leads you to believe she is the primary subject of the story. However, a good many pages are devoted to the love triangle between Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Finally, towards the end of the book we see Deborah in greater detail again, but it seemed very anticlimactic when we were supposed to be reading the story of her triumph. The other thing that bothered me was the amount of graphic detail involving Barak's relationships with Deborah, Asherah and Nogah. I had read another reviewer that felt the same way I did--this no longer was a book I could lend to my mother, which I had originally planned to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive enough to think that sort of behavior couldn't have been going on, but I really didn't need it so thoroughly described--it served as a major detraction for me. An insinuation of the events would have sufficed. So, while I did enjoy the story, my overall excitement of it was dampened by the lack of Deborah's story at times and the graphic portrayal of the romances. I can certainly understand why so many people have enjoyed this book, though--the story is intriguing and beautifully written--even I couldn't really put the book down despite the things I didn't care for.
September 4, 2008
The twelve tribes of ancient Israel have been in the promised land for nearly a hundred years, but theirs is not a peaceful existence. The Canaanites have never ceased to harass the tribes, attacking small villages, stealing livestock and killing any Israelite they come across. The only safety is in numbers and the Israelites have retreated behind the walls of their towns.
The prophetess Deborah, a mother in her thirties, has been a powerful voice for the Israelites for years. She is known far and wide for her fair judgement and is a respected leader. She has received a vision that she must bring peace with the Canaanites. When her diplomatic efforts fail, she is forced to call the tribes together under a warrior who will lead them to victory. If the Canaanites will not agree to a truce, Israel must subdue them by force.
Barak is a young warrior who has been very successful in retaliatory raids against the Canaanites. He has built up quite a bit of wealth, is strong and a natural leader of men. He is Deborah's choice to lead the Israelites. Unfortunately Barak has a reputation that precedes him. He is a lover of women, many women. This does not sit well with Lapidoth, Deborah's husband. He does not trust Barak and does not want Deborah anywhere near him. They have a huge fight and Lapidoth's anger and jealousy get the better of him, he divorces Deborah on the spot, after sixteen years of marriage.
Despite the problems in her personal life, Deborah agrees to accompany the army to the battle against the Canaanites. While the war is a resounding success, it creates further problems for Deborah, who has developed a bit of a crush on Barak. He demands sexual favors of her in return for his participation in the war and she surprises herself by enjoying their encounter. Then he manages to capture two of the Canaanite king's daughters, Asherah and Nogah. Thus a love triangle (rectangle?) is born. Untangling the motivations and emotions of everyone involved will have a great impact on future events.
What a great premise for a novel, to take biblical women who have little known background information and breathe life into their stories. The author does it beautifully, creating the landscape of ancient Israel so that the reader can experience it. She then brings her characters to life with human needs and emotions so that they shake off the dust of history and can be related to as people, just as if they were living today. It's the best kind of historical fiction and I recommend it!
The prophetess Deborah, a mother in her thirties, has been a powerful voice for the Israelites for years. She is known far and wide for her fair judgement and is a respected leader. She has received a vision that she must bring peace with the Canaanites. When her diplomatic efforts fail, she is forced to call the tribes together under a warrior who will lead them to victory. If the Canaanites will not agree to a truce, Israel must subdue them by force.
Barak is a young warrior who has been very successful in retaliatory raids against the Canaanites. He has built up quite a bit of wealth, is strong and a natural leader of men. He is Deborah's choice to lead the Israelites. Unfortunately Barak has a reputation that precedes him. He is a lover of women, many women. This does not sit well with Lapidoth, Deborah's husband. He does not trust Barak and does not want Deborah anywhere near him. They have a huge fight and Lapidoth's anger and jealousy get the better of him, he divorces Deborah on the spot, after sixteen years of marriage.
Despite the problems in her personal life, Deborah agrees to accompany the army to the battle against the Canaanites. While the war is a resounding success, it creates further problems for Deborah, who has developed a bit of a crush on Barak. He demands sexual favors of her in return for his participation in the war and she surprises herself by enjoying their encounter. Then he manages to capture two of the Canaanite king's daughters, Asherah and Nogah. Thus a love triangle (rectangle?) is born. Untangling the motivations and emotions of everyone involved will have a great impact on future events.
What a great premise for a novel, to take biblical women who have little known background information and breathe life into their stories. The author does it beautifully, creating the landscape of ancient Israel so that the reader can experience it. She then brings her characters to life with human needs and emotions so that they shake off the dust of history and can be related to as people, just as if they were living today. It's the best kind of historical fiction and I recommend it!
July 20, 2009
First of all I have to thank author Eva Etzioni-Halevy for sending me her book. When she first contacted me I hesitated at first because I'm always a bit wary of reading books set in the Biblical period, in fact, till now I had only read one - The Red Tent - which I absolutely loved, and so I decided to give it a go. I'm very happy that I did. This book was an absolute page turner and I just couldn't put it down.
Although it is called The Triumph of Deborah the action revolves also around Barak, the warrior who defeated the Canaanites, as well Asherah and Nogah, the two daughters of the Canaanite King that he eventually marries.
Deborah is a Judge and a Prophetess of the Israelites, for years the Israelites and the Canaanites have been at war and after a first attempt at peace Deborah believes they will have to defeat the Canaanites so they can have peace. She enlists the help of Barak for the war but by doing so alienates her husband who divorces her. Against all odds the warrior defeats the powerful Canaanite army and eventually will invade and destroy the fortress of Jadin, the Canaanite king and bring his women as prisoners, Asherah, his youngest daughter and widow of Sisra, the army commander Barak defeated and Nogah, his daughter by an Israelite slave.
I found the relationship that each women forms with Barak very interesting. They try to stay true to what and who they are which is not always easy. While they are not always likeable we can understand their actions and worries. Deborah, who would like to have a relationship with him but knows that she must stay true to her role as a judge and prophetess, Asherah who finds it difficult to have any kind of tender feelings towards the man who destroyed her world and Nogah who is grateful that he saved her mother but is uncomfortable with her role in his life. In different ways they all show strength, resiliance and independence. Barak is usually more preoccupied with his wars and working his fields than women, his use for them is normally of a temporary nature, but as the women have to adapt to the changes in their lives so he will have to change his behaviour according to his feelings.
The story gives an interesting glimpse of the way of life at the time, both in palaces and farms, as well as about the status of women and the behaviour of men. I don’t know much about this period but I must say I am now curious and ready to go and do some investigation. It’s a very easy read with solid and interesting characters.
Grade: 4.5/5
Although it is called The Triumph of Deborah the action revolves also around Barak, the warrior who defeated the Canaanites, as well Asherah and Nogah, the two daughters of the Canaanite King that he eventually marries.
Deborah is a Judge and a Prophetess of the Israelites, for years the Israelites and the Canaanites have been at war and after a first attempt at peace Deborah believes they will have to defeat the Canaanites so they can have peace. She enlists the help of Barak for the war but by doing so alienates her husband who divorces her. Against all odds the warrior defeats the powerful Canaanite army and eventually will invade and destroy the fortress of Jadin, the Canaanite king and bring his women as prisoners, Asherah, his youngest daughter and widow of Sisra, the army commander Barak defeated and Nogah, his daughter by an Israelite slave.
I found the relationship that each women forms with Barak very interesting. They try to stay true to what and who they are which is not always easy. While they are not always likeable we can understand their actions and worries. Deborah, who would like to have a relationship with him but knows that she must stay true to her role as a judge and prophetess, Asherah who finds it difficult to have any kind of tender feelings towards the man who destroyed her world and Nogah who is grateful that he saved her mother but is uncomfortable with her role in his life. In different ways they all show strength, resiliance and independence. Barak is usually more preoccupied with his wars and working his fields than women, his use for them is normally of a temporary nature, but as the women have to adapt to the changes in their lives so he will have to change his behaviour according to his feelings.
The story gives an interesting glimpse of the way of life at the time, both in palaces and farms, as well as about the status of women and the behaviour of men. I don’t know much about this period but I must say I am now curious and ready to go and do some investigation. It’s a very easy read with solid and interesting characters.
Grade: 4.5/5
September 9, 2009
The main plot of this book is the story between two sisters, Asherah and Nogah, from a Canaanite city, and their love triangle with the victorious Israelite army commander, Barak. Asherah is the legitimate daughter of the defeated Canaanite king, and Nogah is the King's illegitimate daughter by a Hebrew slave.
Both women have different views on the outcome of the war. Asherah is obviously devastated, whereas Nogah is filled with both joy and sadness. The fate of each sister after the war is quite different, and probably not what you are expecting. The story also relates how these sisters deal with their new lives and feelings after the war. They come to see each other's differences, and Nogah is a little more understanding than Asherah. She is a die-hard Canaanite, which is understandable. Nogah although she mourns her father, embraces her new found family and way of life. Don't forget that these sisters are also involved in a love triangle with Barak, which only further widens the gulf between them.
So, where is Deborah you may be asking yourself? You may recall from my previous post , that Deborah was a well respected prophetess and judge. Deborah was the one who called upon Barak to assist her in recruiting members from all of the Hebrew tribes to form the Israelite army. Although, well respected, Deborah could only do so much. It was also Deborah that was instrumental in bringing about a peace treaty between Canaan and Israel. The peace lasted 40 years. Real leaders do what needs to be done regardless of the personal consequences, and this applies to Deborah as well.
Deborah also experiences discord in her own life after the war. She handles it as well as any woman could. Things do work out for her in the end. Come to think of it, all of the women in this story eventually get a life that works for them. They are very strong women who endure many trials and tribulations with grace and dignity.
Also contained in the story are some Hebrew traditions and ways of life, and rather seamlessly too. They are a part of the story just like the wonderful descriptions of the palaces, events, and clothing. The relationships between the characters are all very interesting and different in their own respects, and by the end of the tale everyone matures, or comes into their own. Most of these characters start out with very raw, visceral emotions, but they grow up and learn how to control their emotions. They learn about life.
Thanks to Eva for sending me this book to read. I will definitely check out her other books as well.
Both women have different views on the outcome of the war. Asherah is obviously devastated, whereas Nogah is filled with both joy and sadness. The fate of each sister after the war is quite different, and probably not what you are expecting. The story also relates how these sisters deal with their new lives and feelings after the war. They come to see each other's differences, and Nogah is a little more understanding than Asherah. She is a die-hard Canaanite, which is understandable. Nogah although she mourns her father, embraces her new found family and way of life. Don't forget that these sisters are also involved in a love triangle with Barak, which only further widens the gulf between them.
So, where is Deborah you may be asking yourself? You may recall from my previous post , that Deborah was a well respected prophetess and judge. Deborah was the one who called upon Barak to assist her in recruiting members from all of the Hebrew tribes to form the Israelite army. Although, well respected, Deborah could only do so much. It was also Deborah that was instrumental in bringing about a peace treaty between Canaan and Israel. The peace lasted 40 years. Real leaders do what needs to be done regardless of the personal consequences, and this applies to Deborah as well.
Deborah also experiences discord in her own life after the war. She handles it as well as any woman could. Things do work out for her in the end. Come to think of it, all of the women in this story eventually get a life that works for them. They are very strong women who endure many trials and tribulations with grace and dignity.
Also contained in the story are some Hebrew traditions and ways of life, and rather seamlessly too. They are a part of the story just like the wonderful descriptions of the palaces, events, and clothing. The relationships between the characters are all very interesting and different in their own respects, and by the end of the tale everyone matures, or comes into their own. Most of these characters start out with very raw, visceral emotions, but they grow up and learn how to control their emotions. They learn about life.
Thanks to Eva for sending me this book to read. I will definitely check out her other books as well.
August 4, 2010
"The Triumph of Deborah" by Eva Etzioni-Halevy is a Biblical novel about Deborah, the Judge and Prophetess of Israel. With great precision and creativity Eva Etizioni-Halevy draws a historical picture of the history of conflict between Israel and Canaan. It is a time of turmoil. Those in power one day are not in control the next day. Those in slavery became free according to who conquered and who became conquerors. It is a time when women had a huge role to play in history. For instance, Deborah, the Israelite, who prophecies and commands the strategies of the Israelites war against the Canaanites. There is Jael, another woman, who will murder a Caananite leader, King Sisra, for the sake of her people.
There is also a slave girl named Nogah. Nogah crossed the boundaries of both the Israelite world and the Caananite world because she was born biracial. Through her eyes Eva Etzioni-Halevy gives a view of Nogah's life. Her father is King Jabin, a Caananite. Her sister, Asherah, is Caananite, and her mother, Reumah, is an Israelite. Because of a complex racial and religious heritage her life, in these Biblical times, is fragile and fascinating.
Then, there is Barak who carried out the commands for the soldiers that were spoken by Deborah. Barak is another complex character. He wears the blue fringe around his garments which testify to the fact that he is a keeper of Torah law. Sadly, his flesh is weak. Too often, like Samson, a pretty woman can dismember his values like a Levite priest might disjoint an animal for sacrifice. It's not surprising how many lives are disrupted by his boundless appetite.
I loved Uriel, the scribe. Uriel becomes Nogah's tutor and protector. He is old and wise beyond his years. There are many characters to despise and love in "The Triumph of Deborah." Along with the well rounded characters, there is interesting history. The gods and goddesses worshipped by the Caananites, the thirty day mourning period of the Israelites and the healing arts used during this era. For birth control, "insert a rolled-up strip of linen, coated with an ointment of beeswax mixed with olive oil..."
It is impossible to read this book without feeling transported to another world. Eva Etzioni-Halevy has written a wondrous novel. I am left trying to hum The Song of Deborah in order to remember the journey I have taken in the past few days. I look forward to reading more books by this talented author, Eva Etzioni-Halevy. This is truly a magnificent novel.
September 26, 2009
Three women, each from different worlds, have their lives thrown into turmoil by the Israelite warrior Barak.
Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, offers him her body if he will take command of the Israelite warriors and defeat the Canaanites. When he does these things – she gives what she promised and falls for him.
Naava is a Canaanite princess – but not your traditional one. She is the daughter of the king and a woman he kept as a slave. She has worked as a slave her entire life. When Barak takes the castle and takes her as one of his captives he doesn’t know of her royal status. He takes her as one of his many lovers and Naava falls hard for him.
Asherah is also a Canaanite princess. She is beautiful and smart and married to the leader of the Canaanite warriors. Like her sister, Barak takes her as one of his captives and decides he is going to make her his wife. Unlike her sister, she does not fall for Barak but instead wants revenge for the loss of her husband.
The characters in the book were a mix of historical and fictional, but the way they are represented and described, you would never know which are which. Each character has a well developed back story, personality, desires, life. You develop an attachment to the characters and want what they want (I was especially attached to Asherah’s story, right from the beginning). I didn’t know anything about this period in time or the people in this book and like usual I went outside the text to find some background information. Interestingly, almost everything I found (from biblical texts as well as general internet searches) was included in the book. The author did an amazing job of keeping the book true to what is known to have happened while filling in the gaps history left behind.
These women are strong women. Each one faces hardships, tests of character, moral decisions – like each of us face every day. Even though these events took place a very long time ago – they are still relevant to today. Women still face similar hardship and can still respond in similar ways.
I have never been to the part of the world where this story is set, but the author takes careful time to describe it and it feels now like I have been there. It is so real to me and beautiful.
This book was received for review from the author - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.
Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, offers him her body if he will take command of the Israelite warriors and defeat the Canaanites. When he does these things – she gives what she promised and falls for him.
Naava is a Canaanite princess – but not your traditional one. She is the daughter of the king and a woman he kept as a slave. She has worked as a slave her entire life. When Barak takes the castle and takes her as one of his captives he doesn’t know of her royal status. He takes her as one of his many lovers and Naava falls hard for him.
Asherah is also a Canaanite princess. She is beautiful and smart and married to the leader of the Canaanite warriors. Like her sister, Barak takes her as one of his captives and decides he is going to make her his wife. Unlike her sister, she does not fall for Barak but instead wants revenge for the loss of her husband.
The characters in the book were a mix of historical and fictional, but the way they are represented and described, you would never know which are which. Each character has a well developed back story, personality, desires, life. You develop an attachment to the characters and want what they want (I was especially attached to Asherah’s story, right from the beginning). I didn’t know anything about this period in time or the people in this book and like usual I went outside the text to find some background information. Interestingly, almost everything I found (from biblical texts as well as general internet searches) was included in the book. The author did an amazing job of keeping the book true to what is known to have happened while filling in the gaps history left behind.
These women are strong women. Each one faces hardships, tests of character, moral decisions – like each of us face every day. Even though these events took place a very long time ago – they are still relevant to today. Women still face similar hardship and can still respond in similar ways.
I have never been to the part of the world where this story is set, but the author takes careful time to describe it and it feels now like I have been there. It is so real to me and beautiful.
This book was received for review from the author - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.
July 29, 2013
Two women were standing on high places, shielding their eyes from the blazing sun with their hands, peering into the distance in search of messengers from the battlefield. Each knew that her life depended on the outcome of the battle; but their lives depended on opposite results.
When author Eva Etsioni-Halevy emailed me offering to send me a copy of her book The Triumph of Deborah, I was intrigued. I had never read any book in the category of "biblical fiction", but I'm always keen on reading historical fiction, so I accepted to review the novel. What I got was much more than I expected, for The Triumph of Deborah, far from being only a historical account of the life of the judge and prophetess Deborah, is also a real page-turner.
Contrary to what the title might led you to believe, the novel has four main characters: the prophetess Deborah, judge and leader of Israel; the Israelite warrior Barak; the Canaanite princess Asherah; and Nogah, daughter of the Canaanite king Jabin and of an Israelite slave.
At the beginning of the book, war is looming between Israel and Canaan. Deborah, the prophetess and judge, coerces the warrior Barak into launching an attack against the Caananites. Against all odds, Barak succeeds and brings back to Israel with him the two daughters of king Jabin, Asherah and Nogah. While he is imemdiately taken with Asherah's beauty and plans to make her his wife, it's Nogah who truly loves him. A complex love triangle develops between the warrior and the two princesses.
Deborah, who has recently been rejected by her hisband Lapidoth, develops a strong affinity with Barak. Yet she has to rebuild her life on her own terms, while at the same time guiding her people towards the peace with the Caananites.
The Triumph of Deborah is a rich, entertaining historical novel, full of details about the life in ancient Israel. Moreover, it's the engaging story of Nogah's love for Barak. Nogah was my favourite character, and I really wanted her to get the man she so desperately loved. At the same time, I wanted Deborah to fulfil her aspirations and reach the peace between the Israelites and Caananites.
This book was a true surprise. I never thought Biblical fiction could be so passionate and full of life! I'd definitely recommend this book.
When author Eva Etsioni-Halevy emailed me offering to send me a copy of her book The Triumph of Deborah, I was intrigued. I had never read any book in the category of "biblical fiction", but I'm always keen on reading historical fiction, so I accepted to review the novel. What I got was much more than I expected, for The Triumph of Deborah, far from being only a historical account of the life of the judge and prophetess Deborah, is also a real page-turner.
Contrary to what the title might led you to believe, the novel has four main characters: the prophetess Deborah, judge and leader of Israel; the Israelite warrior Barak; the Canaanite princess Asherah; and Nogah, daughter of the Canaanite king Jabin and of an Israelite slave.
At the beginning of the book, war is looming between Israel and Canaan. Deborah, the prophetess and judge, coerces the warrior Barak into launching an attack against the Caananites. Against all odds, Barak succeeds and brings back to Israel with him the two daughters of king Jabin, Asherah and Nogah. While he is imemdiately taken with Asherah's beauty and plans to make her his wife, it's Nogah who truly loves him. A complex love triangle develops between the warrior and the two princesses.
Deborah, who has recently been rejected by her hisband Lapidoth, develops a strong affinity with Barak. Yet she has to rebuild her life on her own terms, while at the same time guiding her people towards the peace with the Caananites.
The Triumph of Deborah is a rich, entertaining historical novel, full of details about the life in ancient Israel. Moreover, it's the engaging story of Nogah's love for Barak. Nogah was my favourite character, and I really wanted her to get the man she so desperately loved. At the same time, I wanted Deborah to fulfil her aspirations and reach the peace between the Israelites and Caananites.
This book was a true surprise. I never thought Biblical fiction could be so passionate and full of life! I'd definitely recommend this book.
August 17, 2009
The Triumph of Deborah is the story about Deborah. As the story goes, she was both a prophetess and judge of Israel. She was the only woman in those times to ever hold the title of judge. God wanted his people to live in peace, so he sent Deborah a message to help his people live in harmony. Deborah found just the man to lead an army against the Canaanites. His name is Barak. Barak would only go to battle on one condition…Deborah had to accompany him otherwise he would not go. Deborah agreed but told Barak that he would not be remembered as a great leader. She was right as Deborah was remembered and honored instead.
Something happened during the course of the time, Deborah spent with Barak…she experienced feelings for him, though she was married to someone else. Barak on the other hand had his sights on another woman. After defeating the Canaanites, Barak brought back the two daughters of the Canaanite’s king. Their names are Asherah and Nogah. Barak planned to make Asherah his wife; she on the other hand had no interest in him and despised him as the enemy. Nogah wanted Barak. Even women of the Bible found themselves in ménages.
I have to admit that I was not very familiar with Deborah or her story. After reading this book, I can see why author Eva Etzioni-Halevy chose her story to write. Deborah was an interesting character and a strong woman. Thought I would have liked to have seen her featured more in this book.
She appeared at the beginning and towards the end but it seemed in the middle of the book that it was all about Barak, Asherah and Nogah. I was sad to see Nogah interested in Barak. I thought she was a well-mannered woman who deserved someone better. Barak was abrasive and didn’t seem like he could think for himself.
As much as I did enjoy this story, there were a few times were I started to skim the pages in the middle. This is only because I got turned off by Barak’s attitude and found him uninteresting. I found Mrs. Etzioni-Halevy inspiration for basing her novels on women from the Bible to be uplifting.
Something happened during the course of the time, Deborah spent with Barak…she experienced feelings for him, though she was married to someone else. Barak on the other hand had his sights on another woman. After defeating the Canaanites, Barak brought back the two daughters of the Canaanite’s king. Their names are Asherah and Nogah. Barak planned to make Asherah his wife; she on the other hand had no interest in him and despised him as the enemy. Nogah wanted Barak. Even women of the Bible found themselves in ménages.
I have to admit that I was not very familiar with Deborah or her story. After reading this book, I can see why author Eva Etzioni-Halevy chose her story to write. Deborah was an interesting character and a strong woman. Thought I would have liked to have seen her featured more in this book.
She appeared at the beginning and towards the end but it seemed in the middle of the book that it was all about Barak, Asherah and Nogah. I was sad to see Nogah interested in Barak. I thought she was a well-mannered woman who deserved someone better. Barak was abrasive and didn’t seem like he could think for himself.
As much as I did enjoy this story, there were a few times were I started to skim the pages in the middle. This is only because I got turned off by Barak’s attitude and found him uninteresting. I found Mrs. Etzioni-Halevy inspiration for basing her novels on women from the Bible to be uplifting.
February 2, 2010
Eva Etzioni-Halevy brings the story of the Old Testament's Deborah, renowned judge and prophet of the Israelites alive with her novel The Triumph of Deborah. Deborah is known to many people as the author of the Song of Deborah from the book of Judges. The Triumph of Deborah focuses on this very important time in the history of the Israelites, when their army, led by Deborah and the great warrior Barak defeats the Canaanites and bring about 40 years of peace.Besides giving readers a look into history, the separate, personal stories of Deborah, and Barak give readers a glimpse into agrarian life in the villages of the Israelites. Deborah is amazingly strong and sure of herself, and the wisdom she believes God bestows on her. She looks at situations from all points of view, while constantly following Torah law and the Commandments. Her charismatic yet calm personality and regal disposition, draw people to her and they heed her advice and opinions. Each day, Deborah leaves her husband and five sons to go to work under her special tree to dispense justice to all who come to her. A working woman in the twelfth century B.C.E.!
After his destruction of the Canaanite palace and town of Hazor, Barak frees the Israelites who have been slaves to the Canaanites and takes the Canaanite princess Ashera to his home to become his bride. In the group of Israeli women who Barak hires to wrk in his home is Nogah, daughter of Canaanite King Jabin by on of his Israeli slaves. The story of their complicated love-triangle and how it brings about the peace contract is interesting and amazing.
I know next to nothing about the Old Testament, and other than knowing there was an important woman named Deborah in Jewish history, I had no knowledge of this story prior to reading The Triumph of Deborah. I found it amazingly relevant to our world today, with familiar jealousies, pride, and questions about gender roles.
After his destruction of the Canaanite palace and town of Hazor, Barak frees the Israelites who have been slaves to the Canaanites and takes the Canaanite princess Ashera to his home to become his bride. In the group of Israeli women who Barak hires to wrk in his home is Nogah, daughter of Canaanite King Jabin by on of his Israeli slaves. The story of their complicated love-triangle and how it brings about the peace contract is interesting and amazing.
I know next to nothing about the Old Testament, and other than knowing there was an important woman named Deborah in Jewish history, I had no knowledge of this story prior to reading The Triumph of Deborah. I found it amazingly relevant to our world today, with familiar jealousies, pride, and questions about gender roles.
February 22, 2011
I was blessed to receive a copy of Eva Etzioni-Halevy's latest book, The Triumph of Deborah, directly from the author. This book is fiction, but it is based on the bible story of Deborah, one of the more prominent Israelite judges in the Old Testament. [return][return]The book doesn't just talk about Deborah, though. Barak, the commander of the Israelite forces, worked with Deborah in battles against the Canaanites. And from one of those battles, two Canaanite princesses - Asherah and Nogah - along with many other freed Israelite slaves, are brought into Barak's household. The stories of each of these very fascinating characters are woven together in this delightful novel. [return][return]While I grew up in the church and have heard of Deborah, I did not know what information the Bible gives on her life. And I did not need it. Ms. Etzioni-Halevy gives great details and description on the culture and the laws in place during those times. When she described the times, there weren't lengthy, flowing descriptions of the land, the individual people, etc. Which is wonderful as I tend to get glassy-eyed with that type of writing and just skip over those parts. Rather, the information she included was weaved expertly in little bits within the story so that I didn't even realize I was getting a good historical picture of the times. [return][return]I feel like I know Deborah, Barak, Asherah and Nogah and could relate to the thoughts, actions, and feelings of all of them. I felt like I wanted to spend time with them (except for the fact that I am very happy with all the modern conveniences!). [return][return]I highly recommend this book. It has romance, war, women's friendship, and history all rolled up into one great novel. I think it would also be a great book for book clubs as there are lots of different paths and choices made that would make for great discussion.
October 21, 2009
(SPOILERS BELOW)
The Triumph of Deborah is the story about Deborah. As the story goes, she was both a prophetess and judge of Israel. She was the only woman in those times to ever hold the title of judge. God wanted his people to live in peace, so he sent Deborah a message to help his people live in harmony. Deborah found just the man to lead an army against the Canaanites. His name is Barak. Barak would only go to battle on one condition...Deborah had to accompany him otherwise he would not go. Deborah agreed but told Barak that he would not be remembered as a great leader. She was right as Deborah was remembered and honored instead.
Something happened during the course of the time, Deborah spent with Barak...she experienced feelings for him, though she was married to someone else. Barak on the other hand had his sights on another woman. After defeating the Canaanites, Barak brought back the two daughters of the Canaanite's king. Their names are Asherah and Nogah. Barak planned to make Asherah his wife; she on the other hand had no interest in him and despised him as the enemy. Nogah wanted Barak.
I have to admit that I was not very familiar with Deborah or her story. After reading this book, I can see why author Eva Etzioni-Halevy chose her story to write. Deborah was an interesting character and a strong woman. Thought I would have liked to have seen her featured more in this book.
She appeared at the beginning and towards the end but it seemed in the middle of the book that it was all about Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Overall an enjoyable book, especially for those of us that slept through Sunday school.
The Triumph of Deborah is the story about Deborah. As the story goes, she was both a prophetess and judge of Israel. She was the only woman in those times to ever hold the title of judge. God wanted his people to live in peace, so he sent Deborah a message to help his people live in harmony. Deborah found just the man to lead an army against the Canaanites. His name is Barak. Barak would only go to battle on one condition...Deborah had to accompany him otherwise he would not go. Deborah agreed but told Barak that he would not be remembered as a great leader. She was right as Deborah was remembered and honored instead.
Something happened during the course of the time, Deborah spent with Barak...she experienced feelings for him, though she was married to someone else. Barak on the other hand had his sights on another woman. After defeating the Canaanites, Barak brought back the two daughters of the Canaanite's king. Their names are Asherah and Nogah. Barak planned to make Asherah his wife; she on the other hand had no interest in him and despised him as the enemy. Nogah wanted Barak.
I have to admit that I was not very familiar with Deborah or her story. After reading this book, I can see why author Eva Etzioni-Halevy chose her story to write. Deborah was an interesting character and a strong woman. Thought I would have liked to have seen her featured more in this book.
She appeared at the beginning and towards the end but it seemed in the middle of the book that it was all about Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Overall an enjoyable book, especially for those of us that slept through Sunday school.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2016
The Triumph of Deborah is a book about ancient Israel. The Canaanite army has been threatening to invade Israel and Deborah, a renown prophet and judge, recruits Barak, a young warrior, to lead an army to strike first. The battle is successful and Barak returns to his home with a bunch of liberated Israelite slaves and the Canaanite princess to take as his wife. Barak is a renown womanizer who has many conquests. He has intrigued Deborah with a condition that she sleep with him in return for him leading the army.
I enjoyed reading about the historical period represented in this book. It was uplifting to read about a powerful woman from that time period. I was a little disappointed, however, because from the title of the book I expected it to focus much more on Deborah. Instead it focused on Barak and the drama revolving around the women who loved him or those he wanted to sleep with. The middle of the book began to drag for me because I became bored with all of the women who were pining over him and the book focused on this for quite a while. I was also frustrated with the character of Barak. He was a very selfish character who eventually did grow, but I saw this as his desires changing rather than him growing beyond his self-centered outlook on life. I really liked reading about ancient Israel, and I may seek out other books about Deborah. I would probably read more by this author, but if I was recommending a book about women of the bible to a friend I would recommend the Red Tent first.
I enjoyed reading about the historical period represented in this book. It was uplifting to read about a powerful woman from that time period. I was a little disappointed, however, because from the title of the book I expected it to focus much more on Deborah. Instead it focused on Barak and the drama revolving around the women who loved him or those he wanted to sleep with. The middle of the book began to drag for me because I became bored with all of the women who were pining over him and the book focused on this for quite a while. I was also frustrated with the character of Barak. He was a very selfish character who eventually did grow, but I saw this as his desires changing rather than him growing beyond his self-centered outlook on life. I really liked reading about ancient Israel, and I may seek out other books about Deborah. I would probably read more by this author, but if I was recommending a book about women of the bible to a friend I would recommend the Red Tent first.
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