The Shadow of God: Stories from Early Judaism

by Leo Dupree Sandgren

Using the medium of historical fiction, The Shadow of God covers six centuries of Jewish history, from the Babylonian exile to the destruction of the Second Temple. Fifteen stories, each centered on a historical event, explore typical Jewish characters of the era. Women and men, some historical, some fictional, grapple with changing views of God, Torah, and the attraction of Hellenism. The narrator, Leontius, weaves the stories into an organic saga that answers the ancient call to be a Jew and worship the Most High God. Here, students will unearth up-to-date scholarship on early Judaism, teachers of Bible backgrounds will discover a supplemental text that engages while it instructs, and lovers of fiction will be delighted by the good story of The Shadow of God.

330 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[lica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite professor in College, and he is truly a genious. This book is skillfully and beautifully written. It weaves many stories into one book, and one walks from this reading with much knowledge without realizing how one learned so much. It is a true joy to read. I LOVE this book.

[Anja Noordam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour through a part of Jewish History. Every chapter plays in a different era.

Sometimes there is so much history that needs to be explained at the beginning of a chapter that it takes a while before the story can begin.
Chapter 13 was my favourite.
I will likely read it again in a few years