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The Restoration Chronicles #3
On This Foundation
When news that the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire, Nehemiah, Jewish cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Persia, seeks God's guidance. After fasting and prayer, he's given leave to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild the city wall, not anticipating all the dangers that await him on his arrival.
The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and halt the work. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving.
Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is a powerful exploration of faith in the midst of oppression, and hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.
The leaders of the surrounding nations become his fierce enemies, plotting to assassinate him and halt the work. A drought, meanwhile, has left the country impoverished, many families resorting to selling their children as bondservants just to keep from starving.
Capturing the rebuilding of the wall through the eyes of a number of characters, On This Foundation is a powerful exploration of faith in the midst of oppression, and hope that, in spite of appearances, the gracious hand of God is upon those who believe.
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2015
349 people are currently reading
1991 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Austin
69 books5,586 followersFor many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
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October 22, 2015
I'm not sure why, but every time I pick up a Biblical fiction book I somehow expect that I am going to be heading into a slower-paced read. But such is not the case with "On This Foundation" which I honestly found to be so completely absorbing that I read the entire thing in one day (including late into the evening of course!) Lynn Austin has skillfully woven together the story of Nehemiah with a number of supporting characters to create a spell-binding tale that has given me a new appreciation for how the Jews rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem following their exile from the land. The hardship the people endured, the difficult lessons they learned as they turned aside from worldly ways to follow God - all comes to mmarvelous life in this final book of The Restoration Chronicles. The characterization is fantastic, and the plot zooms along with plenty of surprises thrown in. The best part is that the writing is absolutely faithful to the story of Scripture, with some extra sub-plots thrown in to add even more tension and drama to the story. "On This Foundation" is very well written, and though it is over 450 pages in length, not for a moment did I feel that the story was dragging under the weight of its longevity. Rather, I was sad to see the story end, as I wanted to peer further into the lives of these Biblical characters and watch them grow and learn and make the same sort of mistakes that we all do - all while seeking to give God the glory for their lives and his calling upon them.
Lynn Austin continues to be one of my favourite authors to watch, and as this series draws to an end, I am greatly anticipating what tale will next emerge from her fertile imagination. If it's anything like this latest offering, it will be wonderful indeed. 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Lynn Austin continues to be one of my favourite authors to watch, and as this series draws to an end, I am greatly anticipating what tale will next emerge from her fertile imagination. If it's anything like this latest offering, it will be wonderful indeed. 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
December 19, 2021
4 Stars ✨
“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
This series ends with the biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. It was a great story to end the series with. I really was impressed with the series as a whole and Austin’s unique ability to make the Old Testament come to life even more outside of the Bible. If you’re looking for a good Biblical Fiction I highly recommend The Restoration Chronicles. It helped me dive deeper into Gods love for his people and see things from a different perspective without straying from the truth.
“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
This series ends with the biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. It was a great story to end the series with. I really was impressed with the series as a whole and Austin’s unique ability to make the Old Testament come to life even more outside of the Bible. If you’re looking for a good Biblical Fiction I highly recommend The Restoration Chronicles. It helped me dive deeper into Gods love for his people and see things from a different perspective without straying from the truth.
November 29, 2019
This book far exceeded my expectations. I purchased it at least 2 years ago at a massive book sale but hadn’t picked it up until now. Biblical fiction is not my favourite genre mainly because I already know the general story, leaving me with little suspense. But as you read the pages of this book, you can see the thought and research Lynn Austin poured into it. Every character’s story was creatively intertwined with the others and left me wanting to know what would happen to each of them. She was also careful to keep the book in line with scripture (which I’d imagine is a challenge when writing a fictional story around it). I know I already said this, but I was thoroughly impressed 🙂!
May 11, 2020
Low key liked it more than book 2, but definitely not more than book 1. But, still, an awesome book with really great characters and their development throughout the book is phenomenal. Not to talk about the plot, I think it's the most surprising ones in the series.
February 25, 2019
Title: On This Foundation
Written By: Lynn Austin
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Recommended Ages: 15 & up
Introduction:
I had high hopes for this book after reading the first two in the series. Although the book was good, it wasn't amazing like the first two.
Characters: .75/1
I loved the prologue! That was probably the best part of the book. I know it was probably mostly speculation on the part of the author, but I would love to believe that it is true. That being said, the way Nehemiah was introduced was unique and I liked his character most of the time. My favorite character would be a tie between Nava and Shimon, though.
Dialogue: 1/1
The dialogue was realistic to me as with the other books.
Plot/storyline: .5/1
In some ways, I felt like the author wrote this because she wanted to round out the series into a trilogy. It didn't seem quite as complex of a story or as interesting as the other two. There were also less connecting characters which disappointed me. I wanted to see Reuben and his wife and only got Rebbe Ezra!
Overall writing quality: .75/1
There were times when the book dragged a bit too much for me. There weren't as many main characters as in book two which would have helped some of the subplots move along a bit faster except that the author choose not to do so. I think that was a mistake.
Un-put-down-ability: .75/1
I actually found it easy to put this book down until the very end. There was more draggy detail and not quite enough action or something. I honestly can't quite pinpoint the exact reason this book was harder to read than the rest. In some ways there was more action because of the fighting. Actually, that's probably what the problem is. There was fighting mentioned, but never fully described. I would have liked to see more and be told less.
Conclusion: 3.75/5
I enjoyed finding out the end of the story of how Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt. Despite it's faults, this book was good and I really liked the plot line of Nava, Chava, and Malkijah.
Written By: Lynn Austin
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Recommended Ages: 15 & up
Introduction:
I had high hopes for this book after reading the first two in the series. Although the book was good, it wasn't amazing like the first two.
Characters: .75/1
I loved the prologue! That was probably the best part of the book. I know it was probably mostly speculation on the part of the author, but I would love to believe that it is true. That being said, the way Nehemiah was introduced was unique and I liked his character most of the time. My favorite character would be a tie between Nava and Shimon, though.
Dialogue: 1/1
The dialogue was realistic to me as with the other books.
Plot/storyline: .5/1
In some ways, I felt like the author wrote this because she wanted to round out the series into a trilogy. It didn't seem quite as complex of a story or as interesting as the other two. There were also less connecting characters which disappointed me. I wanted to see Reuben and his wife and only got Rebbe Ezra!
Overall writing quality: .75/1
There were times when the book dragged a bit too much for me. There weren't as many main characters as in book two which would have helped some of the subplots move along a bit faster except that the author choose not to do so. I think that was a mistake.
Un-put-down-ability: .75/1
I actually found it easy to put this book down until the very end. There was more draggy detail and not quite enough action or something. I honestly can't quite pinpoint the exact reason this book was harder to read than the rest. In some ways there was more action because of the fighting. Actually, that's probably what the problem is. There was fighting mentioned, but never fully described. I would have liked to see more and be told less.
Conclusion: 3.75/5
I enjoyed finding out the end of the story of how Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt. Despite it's faults, this book was good and I really liked the plot line of Nava, Chava, and Malkijah.
October 16, 2022
Loved this book!
March 29, 2017
Austin has always impressed me with her attention to detail and her careful study of historical settings, so I knew my first venture into the Biblical fiction field would be a safe one with her as my guide, and I was not disappointed.
I’ve studied Nehemiah several times, so I was familiar with the story. But the stories within the story kept it feeling like a fictional novel and were very entertaining.
But I think what shined the most were the lessons on glorifying God, restoring a right relationship with the Lord, letting go of fear and anger, staying committed to a God-given task in the face of opposition, and extending forgiveness.
There was an issue with character development, which I’ve NEVER said about a Lynn Austin book before. I felt like some of the characters fell flat. She did such an amazing job with the historical records that I think she simply wasn’t able to make them breathe on the paper. But the message. The message was beautifully and thoroughly handled. I was so surprised at what I learned here. I have so many quotes marked.
On This Foundation will be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys or is ready to try Biblical fiction. The Biblical messages will be a treat for any Christian. I highly recommend it!
~I received a free copy from Bethany House in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review and all thoughts are my own.
I’ve studied Nehemiah several times, so I was familiar with the story. But the stories within the story kept it feeling like a fictional novel and were very entertaining.
But I think what shined the most were the lessons on glorifying God, restoring a right relationship with the Lord, letting go of fear and anger, staying committed to a God-given task in the face of opposition, and extending forgiveness.
There was an issue with character development, which I’ve NEVER said about a Lynn Austin book before. I felt like some of the characters fell flat. She did such an amazing job with the historical records that I think she simply wasn’t able to make them breathe on the paper. But the message. The message was beautifully and thoroughly handled. I was so surprised at what I learned here. I have so many quotes marked.
On This Foundation will be an excellent read for anyone who enjoys or is ready to try Biblical fiction. The Biblical messages will be a treat for any Christian. I highly recommend it!
~I received a free copy from Bethany House in exchange for a review. I was not required to give a positive review and all thoughts are my own.
March 8, 2020
The conclusion to this series focuses on Nehemiah and the restoration of the walls around Jerusalem. Well written and showing Nehemiah's dependence on God to complete the task to which God has called him, this book definitely shows what can be accomplished when God is behind it no matter the challenges or impediments placed in the way.
Great Biblical fiction series that I highly recommend.
Great Biblical fiction series that I highly recommend.
October 30, 2023
Highly recommend Lynn Austin and the Bible
February 11, 2022
This is the 3rd book in Lynn Austin's Restoration Chronicles. Each book stands alone, but the series as a whole walks with the Jews through their return to Jerusalem following their exile in Babylon. This book is about Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
I really enjoyed this one. I felt like Lynn did an excellent job developing her characters, including an element of mystery regarding one of the main characters that kinda left you uncertain for most of the book as to whether he was a "good guy" or a "bad guy." I thought those dynamics were well developed and well resolved.
Obviously this is historical fiction, but Nehemiah's back story was plausible and effectively supported his personality and character. As far as I could tell, the political dynamics surrounding the rebuilding were true to Scripture. All in all, I appreciated digging in and really "living" through the rebuilding in a way I had not previously done.
I did find one of the subplots (Neva) a bit annoying ... I just really didn't get invested in her (or her cohort) as a character and her immaturity and consistently poor decision making grated on me. She received a lot of wise counsel from other characters yet constantly dismissed and ignored it. 🙄🤦♀️ Anyway. She's the main reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
I really enjoyed this one. I felt like Lynn did an excellent job developing her characters, including an element of mystery regarding one of the main characters that kinda left you uncertain for most of the book as to whether he was a "good guy" or a "bad guy." I thought those dynamics were well developed and well resolved.
Obviously this is historical fiction, but Nehemiah's back story was plausible and effectively supported his personality and character. As far as I could tell, the political dynamics surrounding the rebuilding were true to Scripture. All in all, I appreciated digging in and really "living" through the rebuilding in a way I had not previously done.
I did find one of the subplots (Neva) a bit annoying ... I just really didn't get invested in her (or her cohort) as a character and her immaturity and consistently poor decision making grated on me. She received a lot of wise counsel from other characters yet constantly dismissed and ignored it. 🙄🤦♀️ Anyway. She's the main reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
November 19, 2016
So enjoyed this final book of the trilogy!!
August 13, 2020
This gets a 4.5 star rating! I truly enjoyed this book, but compared to Return to Me I can't give it a solid five star. This was just as beautifully written as the other two books. Not too many nuggets of wisdom for this book, but it was impactful with the few that were included.
I loved Nehemiah and how hard he worked. He didn't allow his enemies to stop him from the work God called him to. He pushed forward to the end. Chana was a headstrong female and loved it! The way she took control and stepped out of the norm of what society believed a woman should and shouldn't do. She was a powerhouse. Nava was such a sweet girl! I loved seeing her faith waver and grow stronger in the end. I was happy to see Ezra and the mention of Devorah.
This focuses on having faith in spite of the hardships and downfalls and trusting God even when things don't look how you expect them to.
Overall, this was a great conclusion to the trilogy and I definitely can see myself re-reading it again.
I loved Nehemiah and how hard he worked. He didn't allow his enemies to stop him from the work God called him to. He pushed forward to the end. Chana was a headstrong female and loved it! The way she took control and stepped out of the norm of what society believed a woman should and shouldn't do. She was a powerhouse. Nava was such a sweet girl! I loved seeing her faith waver and grow stronger in the end. I was happy to see Ezra and the mention of Devorah.
This focuses on having faith in spite of the hardships and downfalls and trusting God even when things don't look how you expect them to.
Overall, this was a great conclusion to the trilogy and I definitely can see myself re-reading it again.
April 4, 2017
Loved this book! One of my first series on historical fiction. I was delighted there were 3 book sin this series because I couldn't stop reading it.
She has a great pace and it was never boring. It kept going from one thing to the next. I loved her character development and the accuracy that followed the Bible. A new author that I love!
She has a great pace and it was never boring. It kept going from one thing to the next. I loved her character development and the accuracy that followed the Bible. A new author that I love!
May 18, 2024
Een maand in blijven hangen. Vandaag in één keer uitgelezen.
“Simon leerde me dat ik anderen moet vergeven omdat God mij vergeeft.”
Verbitterdheid is als een onkruid dat gaat woekeren in je hart. Gun jezelf die vrijheid van vergeving zoals God je ook 7x70 keer vergeeft.
“Simon leerde me dat ik anderen moet vergeven omdat God mij vergeeft.”
Verbitterdheid is als een onkruid dat gaat woekeren in je hart. Gun jezelf die vrijheid van vergeving zoals God je ook 7x70 keer vergeeft.
July 20, 2021
Prachtig! Hou van ditsoort historische Bijbelse romans!
October 15, 2024
It's better than the first two in the series, but still not a 5 star book for me. This book has a much shorter timeline and focuses on fewer characters, so it ends up being more concise, which is good.
Parts of the biblical narrative that you may gloss over are given new life and help understand what was going on in Isreal/Judah at the time, which is helpful for when you are inevitably motivated to read the Books of Ezra and Nehimiah in response to this book.
Parts of the biblical narrative that you may gloss over are given new life and help understand what was going on in Isreal/Judah at the time, which is helpful for when you are inevitably motivated to read the Books of Ezra and Nehimiah in response to this book.
October 25, 2024
Nehemiah has always been one of my favorite men in history. I wish the book would have gone a little deeper into the biblical account of the measures he took when stopping the merchants that came on the Sabbath. My only complaint about this series and it is a small one.
September 14, 2025
I loved this series so much. I felt that God spoke to me so much in the course of reading each book.
August 17, 2018
Another great Biblical Fiction by Austin.
I loved the characters and she does a great job of showing how Biblical Heroes were likely very human and fallible. I really appreciated her portrayal of Nehemiah.
Highly recommend.
I loved the characters and she does a great job of showing how Biblical Heroes were likely very human and fallible. I really appreciated her portrayal of Nehemiah.
Highly recommend.
June 17, 2017
I have never read a Lynn Austin book that I didn't like. This series made Bible stories come alive and I really enjoyed it.
March 24, 2017
I nearly rated this book 3 stars, but in good conscience I couldn't do it. A lot of effort goes into creating biblical fiction, and I liked almost all of the characters that Lynn Austin created. I think she took a little to much liberty with Nehemiah himself, heaping doubts and fears and emotions on him that I don't see in Scripture, but this is fiction and a little alteration is to be expected.
I started out disliking Chana, but ended up admiring her fortitude and how she matured from a stubborn, self-pitying woman to a strong woman of faith. Her marriage with Malchijah is entirely fictional, but I appreciated the reality of it being a second match for both of them, and even though the igniting passion we expect to see in romance is absent, they still grow to love each other. Theirs was a practical match, but just because it is a practical match doesn't mean there can't be love. I appreciated Ms. Austin's acknowledgement that love isn't always about feelings.
As for Nava, I pitied her from the beginning, but as her rage developed, I found myself frustrated with her for the same weaknesses that I myself can exhibit when things don't go my way. God uses our circumstances to grow us, no matter what they might be, and bitterness only serves to destroy us if we let it take root. Thankfully, Nava realizes that she must have faith and return to trusting in God, praying for her enemies and for peace for herself. And God rewards her faithfulness.
However, it's incredible to me how the same issue I had with the 1st book in the series, Keepers of the Covenant is still prevalent in the final book in the series. I appreciate Ms. Austin's dedication to scriptural references. I actually re-read the book of Nehemiah before writing this review, and she's pretty much spot on with historic details and names and events and all that stuff that is so easy to get wrong. But the contemporary dialogue she uses is still off-putting. This is historic fiction, and not just historic fiction but biblical fiction. I don't think they would have used words like "boyfriend." It just doesn't fit, and I'm disappointed in the novel's lack of historic dialogue.
In that same vein, the writing style wavers between being really strong and very weak. Moments of conflict fizzle out because the writing just isn't on par with the events happening. Conversations lack passion and authenticity, as if no one had ever bothered to read them aloud to see if they even sounded real. I found myself getting distracted as I read and counting down the pages in the hopes I was nearing the end just so I could finish it. I always hate it when that happens.
So, what could have been a 5 star book really ends up being somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. For fans of biblical fiction, the series is most likely worth a read. It has some really good points and lessons learned. However, I think biblical fiction is not necessarily for me, and so this may be the last one I read for a good long while, just out of fairness to the authors.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog, Bookshelves and Daydreams.
I started out disliking Chana, but ended up admiring her fortitude and how she matured from a stubborn, self-pitying woman to a strong woman of faith. Her marriage with Malchijah is entirely fictional, but I appreciated the reality of it being a second match for both of them, and even though the igniting passion we expect to see in romance is absent, they still grow to love each other. Theirs was a practical match, but just because it is a practical match doesn't mean there can't be love. I appreciated Ms. Austin's acknowledgement that love isn't always about feelings.
As for Nava, I pitied her from the beginning, but as her rage developed, I found myself frustrated with her for the same weaknesses that I myself can exhibit when things don't go my way. God uses our circumstances to grow us, no matter what they might be, and bitterness only serves to destroy us if we let it take root. Thankfully, Nava realizes that she must have faith and return to trusting in God, praying for her enemies and for peace for herself. And God rewards her faithfulness.
However, it's incredible to me how the same issue I had with the 1st book in the series, Keepers of the Covenant is still prevalent in the final book in the series. I appreciate Ms. Austin's dedication to scriptural references. I actually re-read the book of Nehemiah before writing this review, and she's pretty much spot on with historic details and names and events and all that stuff that is so easy to get wrong. But the contemporary dialogue she uses is still off-putting. This is historic fiction, and not just historic fiction but biblical fiction. I don't think they would have used words like "boyfriend." It just doesn't fit, and I'm disappointed in the novel's lack of historic dialogue.
In that same vein, the writing style wavers between being really strong and very weak. Moments of conflict fizzle out because the writing just isn't on par with the events happening. Conversations lack passion and authenticity, as if no one had ever bothered to read them aloud to see if they even sounded real. I found myself getting distracted as I read and counting down the pages in the hopes I was nearing the end just so I could finish it. I always hate it when that happens.
So, what could have been a 5 star book really ends up being somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. For fans of biblical fiction, the series is most likely worth a read. It has some really good points and lessons learned. However, I think biblical fiction is not necessarily for me, and so this may be the last one I read for a good long while, just out of fairness to the authors.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog, Bookshelves and Daydreams.
March 8, 2017
This has to rank at the top of my list of favorite book series......I will possibly read this series again. It made the Old Testament come alive. We serve a faithful God and a God that loves us dearly!
June 6, 2016
Ever since his parents’ murder, Nehemiah has been obsessed with safety—safety for his brothers, safety for his people, and safety for the king he guards. Now, he has discovered that his brothers and their friends and families are not safe because there are no walls around the city in which they live. One man was robbed and murdered in the middle of the night because there were no gates to keep the criminals out. Disturbed, Nehemiah follows God’s leading and providence to rebuild those walls, despite the enemies that threaten him at every turn.
Reading the book of Nehemiah in the Bible, I never really realized how much intrigue was involved! I mean, I know there were enemies, Sanballat, for instance, who stirred up the people of Jerusalem and plotted to murder Nehemiah, but this retelling puts the story on a much more personal level. In it, the reader witnesses Nehemiah’s struggle to trust God, build the wall, and outsmart his enemies through the eyes of Nehemiah himself, one of Nehemiah’s enemies, and two women living in the area named Chana and Nava.
Nehemiah, Chana, and Nava all have the same problem—they refuse to fully trust God because of the death and misfortune that has happened in their lives. Each struggle against bitterness, anger, and grief in order to fully accept God’s will in their lives, to understand that those trials have a purpose beyond what they can see. It was inspiring to watch the three of them grow and change throughout the novel.
I did not think at the beginning of this novel that it would be romantic, but for a moment, because of the existence of female main characters and their interaction with Nehemiah and others, I thought it might. But, I was correct the first time: it was not a romance novel. However, both Chana and Nava face impending marriages. With Chana, it was not exactly a love match, and I was left thinking that, yes, although they did not love each other romantically, they would do well as a couple and grow to love one another quickly. Perhaps arranged marriages are not all bad, as is commonly perceived?
Again, I thought Nehemiah was intelligent. With God’s help, he pacified the people when they rebelled and outsmarted his enemies’ evil plots. He certainly made for a cunning adversary, although his main purpose was to build the wall to keep the people safe and to honor God. I wonder what kind of man he would have been in reality. Although we cannot entirely know his history or personality from the Biblical account, what we can know is that Nehemiah was God-fearing, honorable, and courageous. Next time I read the book of Nehemiah, I will be reminded of this novel, seeing the account in a more personal, realistic light.
I enjoyed this novel! It could have drawn me in a little more, but all things considered, it was a thoughtful, provoking, excellent novel I would have no trouble recommending to a friend who enjoys Biblical fiction.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for and honest review.
Reading the book of Nehemiah in the Bible, I never really realized how much intrigue was involved! I mean, I know there were enemies, Sanballat, for instance, who stirred up the people of Jerusalem and plotted to murder Nehemiah, but this retelling puts the story on a much more personal level. In it, the reader witnesses Nehemiah’s struggle to trust God, build the wall, and outsmart his enemies through the eyes of Nehemiah himself, one of Nehemiah’s enemies, and two women living in the area named Chana and Nava.
Nehemiah, Chana, and Nava all have the same problem—they refuse to fully trust God because of the death and misfortune that has happened in their lives. Each struggle against bitterness, anger, and grief in order to fully accept God’s will in their lives, to understand that those trials have a purpose beyond what they can see. It was inspiring to watch the three of them grow and change throughout the novel.
I did not think at the beginning of this novel that it would be romantic, but for a moment, because of the existence of female main characters and their interaction with Nehemiah and others, I thought it might. But, I was correct the first time: it was not a romance novel. However, both Chana and Nava face impending marriages. With Chana, it was not exactly a love match, and I was left thinking that, yes, although they did not love each other romantically, they would do well as a couple and grow to love one another quickly. Perhaps arranged marriages are not all bad, as is commonly perceived?
Again, I thought Nehemiah was intelligent. With God’s help, he pacified the people when they rebelled and outsmarted his enemies’ evil plots. He certainly made for a cunning adversary, although his main purpose was to build the wall to keep the people safe and to honor God. I wonder what kind of man he would have been in reality. Although we cannot entirely know his history or personality from the Biblical account, what we can know is that Nehemiah was God-fearing, honorable, and courageous. Next time I read the book of Nehemiah, I will be reminded of this novel, seeing the account in a more personal, realistic light.
I enjoyed this novel! It could have drawn me in a little more, but all things considered, it was a thoughtful, provoking, excellent novel I would have no trouble recommending to a friend who enjoys Biblical fiction.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for and honest review.
November 24, 2015
On This Foundation***** book 3 The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin
I have read many Biblical fiction books over the years, but On This Foundation is my favorite. Lynn Austin has written a fantastic story of the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall in such a way that is very realistic. Not much is known of the main character, Nehemiah, other than he was the cupbearer to the King of Persia. But she has beautifully woven a story of his burning desire—a calling of God—to leave Persia, go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. Of course, he meets with many challenges, some even attempt to stop his endeavors. But God's hand was on Nehemiah as he lead the people to come together as a community and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in an impossibly short time. I loved Nehemiah's humble heart for God and the way he looked to Him to guide him and assure him that he was doing what God had sent him to do.
There are a variety of characters from different stations in life who volunteered to help. And then there were enemies who would stop at nothing—even murder—to stop him. Interspersed throughout are side-stories of families who struggled to produce enough food to keep starvation away and those who had plenty—wealthy. Stories of grief, struggles, romance, love and faith and the history of the Israelites. Some of the characters that captured my heart were Chana, her sisters and their father, and a servant/slave Nava and favorite of all Shimon. I had a hard time deciding if the wealthy nobleman and land owner Malkijah was an honorable man or someone who was up to no good and not to be trusted. This is one of those books that is very hard to put down until the last page.
~I received a copy of this book from TBFN for my honest review~
I have read many Biblical fiction books over the years, but On This Foundation is my favorite. Lynn Austin has written a fantastic story of the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall in such a way that is very realistic. Not much is known of the main character, Nehemiah, other than he was the cupbearer to the King of Persia. But she has beautifully woven a story of his burning desire—a calling of God—to leave Persia, go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. Of course, he meets with many challenges, some even attempt to stop his endeavors. But God's hand was on Nehemiah as he lead the people to come together as a community and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in an impossibly short time. I loved Nehemiah's humble heart for God and the way he looked to Him to guide him and assure him that he was doing what God had sent him to do.
There are a variety of characters from different stations in life who volunteered to help. And then there were enemies who would stop at nothing—even murder—to stop him. Interspersed throughout are side-stories of families who struggled to produce enough food to keep starvation away and those who had plenty—wealthy. Stories of grief, struggles, romance, love and faith and the history of the Israelites. Some of the characters that captured my heart were Chana, her sisters and their father, and a servant/slave Nava and favorite of all Shimon. I had a hard time deciding if the wealthy nobleman and land owner Malkijah was an honorable man or someone who was up to no good and not to be trusted. This is one of those books that is very hard to put down until the last page.
~I received a copy of this book from TBFN for my honest review~
March 26, 2016
I knew the story of Nehemiah from the bible, where he worked for the King of Persia, who noticed that Nehemiah was unhappy and he asked why. When Nehemiah told him he was upset about the destruction of the walls around Jerusalem, his home town, leaving it defenseless - the King gives him permission to go home and rebuild the walls - providing a guard and materials, and making him the governor. What I didn't know was the background on Nehemiah and his brothers that led him to work for the King.
There are other character's lives within the story as well. Can you imagine being put into slavery for 6 years because your family is about to lose their home and land? There was a drought, and people were forced to pay taxes and mortgage their property even though they were starving. For many the only thing they could do was go into bondage to pay their debt - which happens to a young girl.
And then of course Nehemiah is not popular with everyone, and there are plots to remove him. There is another young girl whose family wants her to marry into a political family entrenched in this part of the intrigue. The story is beautifully woven, with fabulous messages of God's faithfulness. This is a book I highly recommend - especially if you think you already know the story!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
There are other character's lives within the story as well. Can you imagine being put into slavery for 6 years because your family is about to lose their home and land? There was a drought, and people were forced to pay taxes and mortgage their property even though they were starving. For many the only thing they could do was go into bondage to pay their debt - which happens to a young girl.
And then of course Nehemiah is not popular with everyone, and there are plots to remove him. There is another young girl whose family wants her to marry into a political family entrenched in this part of the intrigue. The story is beautifully woven, with fabulous messages of God's faithfulness. This is a book I highly recommend - especially if you think you already know the story!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
May 31, 2019
This is a historical fiction about Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. There are many lessons of faith, prayer, trust in the Lord. I enjoyed the story and being able to picture what it would have been like at that time and place. My biggest take away was the importance of trusting God even when our prayers aren't answered the way we think they should be. Here are a few quotes I liked:
"Throughout their history, God's people had always had enemies who tried to wipe them from the face of the earth... Would the children of Abraham ever find peace and rest (p. 16)?"
"Just as the magnificent city of Susa brought glory and honor to the Persian king, so, too, should the city and temple of the one true God bring glory and honor to Him. The lack of city walls and gates meant shame and disgrace (p. 29)."
"'Don't let grief become a way of life, my little Chana. Don't let it define your days and quench your spirit (p. 38).'"
"The Almighty One would be justified in ignoring his prayer. But Nehemiah also knew that the God of his fathers was a compassionate and gracious God, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin (p. 51)."
"If only he could find a way to make Jerusalem--and his brothers--safe and secure. God had redeemed his people from exile, just as He had redeemed them from Egypt by His powerful hand. Yet the restoration seemed incomplete if they remained in danger. He closed his eyes again and continued to pray (p. 52)."
"'No. I'm not a courtier. I'll never be allowed to present a formal petition... But if the Almighty One were to make a way for me... (p. 54).'"
"'I wonder sometimes if we only experience that kind of love once in a lifetime (p. 62).'"
"The gracious hand of the Almighty One had done this! He had answered Nehemiah's prayers (p. 68)."
"Was it possible that the Almighty One had used the pain he had suffered to shape him into the man he'd become--and that the pain had prepared him for this very purpose (p. 70)?"
"Why wasn't the Almighty One helping them? Why didn't He answer their prayers for rain? They were His people, this was His land... Why was God making them suffer this way (p. 80)?"
"'Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (p. 109).'"
"'Don't let anyone or anything discourage you or keep you from your mission. When the Almighty One gives us a job to do, we can expect two things: both strength and wisdom from God and opposition from His enemies. Be strong and very courageous (p. 110).'"
"'Lord, you made a way for me to approach the king with my petition. You gave me favor in his sight. Help me now, I pray. Help me rebuild this wall and make your city and your people and your holy temple safe from our enemies. May Jerusalem's wall stand as a monument to your immeasurable grace (p. 134).'"
"Would they listen to him? Could he convince them to undertake this project (p. 154)?"
"'Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will not longer be in disgrace. Let us rebuild it so the nations will know that our God is with us (p. 155).'"
"We all need to understand the importance of this project, the urgency (p. 157)."
"Now it's time to rebuild what our sins have destroyed. It's time to repair the foundations of our faith and renew our covenant with God. To restore His laws and precepts, and live by them. Rebuilding this physical wall won't do any good unless we also rebuild our lives with the Almighty One at the center (p. 157)."
"'Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings (Isaiah 58:12, p. 161).'"
"Nehemiah explained his plan... The community would work together as one people. Every man in Jerusalem had volunteered to help, and she longed to join in this great work (p. 163)."
"'I'm not here to win a popularity contest, I'm here to rebuild the wall (p. 245).'"
"'As they stand in front of His sanctuary, they may be reminded that God sees their secret deeds and knows their motives (p. 246).'"
"'It was only God's undeserved grace and mercy that made it possible for us to return to our land. Will we now take advantage of that grace? God asks you to show mercy to the poor because He is merciful. Our ancestors owed Him their love and loyalty, their tithes, and their gratitude. Instead, they worshiped idols and forgot His covenant, amassing a huge debt of sin. He could have let us remain in exile. But He did forgive us--and here we are. If He can forgive our mountain of debt, can't we also forgive our brothers' debts (p. 248)?'"
"'Our trust is in the Almighty One. We must all pray for His protection and help (p. 284).'"
"'We knew we didn't stand a chance unless the Holy One helped us (p. 289).'"
"Were he and his men standing guard in vain? Was the Almighty One behind their plans to build and defend Jerusalem's wall, or wasn't He? Where was the balance between trusting God to defend his loved ones and taking the initiative himself (p. 292)?"
"'I stopped praying months ago, Shimon.' He limped over, glaring down at her. 'Now, why would you do a foolish thing like that?' 'Because God hasn't answered any of my other prayers. Nothing in my life has gone the way I wanted it to.' 'You think I chose to spend my life in someone else's goat pen?' She looked up at him. 'Then how can you still pray?' 'How can I not?... The Lord is our shepherd, and we are His sheep. We need Him as much as these animals need us.'... 'Sometimes I wonder if God is angry with me. Why else would He put my family and me through all this hardship? He could send rain, make our crops grow--He can do anything. But He doesn't.' 'So you do believe in Him. You just don't trust Him. And you want your own way.' She looked up again. Shimon was making her angry. 'Isn't God supposed to answer our prayers?' 'Depends on what you're praying for.'... 'These goats sometimes kick and fight and want their own way. When we take them out to graze and make them walk through the hot, dry wilderness they don't like it. But we know it's for their own good to go up into those hills. They'll find what they need there. You can either trust the Good Shepherd, girlie, or kick and fight. Seems to me you're kicking.' Nava was outraged. 'I don't see how letting Master Aaron have his way could possibly be for my own good.' 'That's because you don't see things the way God does. He may not have answered your prayers yet, but that doesn't mean He hasn't heard you (p. 323).'"
"He remembered how he used to rise early in the morning to pray when he lived in Susan, confessing his sins to the Almighty One, relying on Him for strength and discernment. And he also remembered how God had answered his prayers and brought him this far, helping him accomplish the work he had set out to do (p. 335)."
"'We have to trust our heavenly Father the same way. Everything He does is for our good and for His purposes, even if we don't understand it (p. 369).'"
"'Only God can change his heart (p. 376).'"
"'Malkijah believes that if he follows all the rules in the Torah, God has to bless him. He doesn't see that the Almighty One's blessings are a gift that none of us deserve. Blessings aren't earned (p. 388).'"
"'Maybe the Almighty One has you here to teach you to trust Him, to get closer to Him (p. 405).'"
"'Sometimes the Almighty One answers prayers by using other people... Your family prayed for rain during the drought because they didn't want to starve. God answered their prayer--not by sending rain, but by sending Malkijah, who obeyed the Torah and loaned your family money for food. God does answer prayer. You can trust Him for your future... But you need to pray... He can still bring good out of whatever happens (p. 406).'"
"'I'm going to pray anyway and ask God to heal you.'... 'Go ahead, girlie. You do that. God always answers our prayers. But just remember that sometimes His answer is no (p. 407).'"
"'Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you (Psalm 147:12-13, p. 419).'"
"'I was afraid...to trust God and believe that I would have enough if I obeyed (p. 444).'"
"'I should forgive others because God forgives me (p. 457).'"
"'When God forgives our sin, we're so overjoyed that we serve Him willingly in return, don't we? I think we should show our gratitude to Malkijah the same way for forgiving our debts. He didn't have to do it. And it's costing him a lot (p. 458).'"
"'Why did you want to rebuild God's city?' 'To bring glory to Him so His name wouldn't suffer the reproach and mockery of our enemies. With the city in ruins it made the God of Abraham seem powerless to help His people, but I wanted to show His power and might to the nations. I wanted the glory to go to God (p. 461).'"
"The glorious music took Nehemiah's breath away. 'I wish I could sing God's praises like these musicians (p. 462).'"
"'People of God, continue working together as you did while building this wall. Continue helping one another. Continue trusting the Almighty One. He alone is trustworthy. May He prosper and bless you all (p. 464).'"
"Throughout their history, God's people had always had enemies who tried to wipe them from the face of the earth... Would the children of Abraham ever find peace and rest (p. 16)?"
"Just as the magnificent city of Susa brought glory and honor to the Persian king, so, too, should the city and temple of the one true God bring glory and honor to Him. The lack of city walls and gates meant shame and disgrace (p. 29)."
"'Don't let grief become a way of life, my little Chana. Don't let it define your days and quench your spirit (p. 38).'"
"The Almighty One would be justified in ignoring his prayer. But Nehemiah also knew that the God of his fathers was a compassionate and gracious God, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin (p. 51)."
"If only he could find a way to make Jerusalem--and his brothers--safe and secure. God had redeemed his people from exile, just as He had redeemed them from Egypt by His powerful hand. Yet the restoration seemed incomplete if they remained in danger. He closed his eyes again and continued to pray (p. 52)."
"'No. I'm not a courtier. I'll never be allowed to present a formal petition... But if the Almighty One were to make a way for me... (p. 54).'"
"'I wonder sometimes if we only experience that kind of love once in a lifetime (p. 62).'"
"The gracious hand of the Almighty One had done this! He had answered Nehemiah's prayers (p. 68)."
"Was it possible that the Almighty One had used the pain he had suffered to shape him into the man he'd become--and that the pain had prepared him for this very purpose (p. 70)?"
"Why wasn't the Almighty One helping them? Why didn't He answer their prayers for rain? They were His people, this was His land... Why was God making them suffer this way (p. 80)?"
"'Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (p. 109).'"
"'Don't let anyone or anything discourage you or keep you from your mission. When the Almighty One gives us a job to do, we can expect two things: both strength and wisdom from God and opposition from His enemies. Be strong and very courageous (p. 110).'"
"'Lord, you made a way for me to approach the king with my petition. You gave me favor in his sight. Help me now, I pray. Help me rebuild this wall and make your city and your people and your holy temple safe from our enemies. May Jerusalem's wall stand as a monument to your immeasurable grace (p. 134).'"
"Would they listen to him? Could he convince them to undertake this project (p. 154)?"
"'Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will not longer be in disgrace. Let us rebuild it so the nations will know that our God is with us (p. 155).'"
"We all need to understand the importance of this project, the urgency (p. 157)."
"Now it's time to rebuild what our sins have destroyed. It's time to repair the foundations of our faith and renew our covenant with God. To restore His laws and precepts, and live by them. Rebuilding this physical wall won't do any good unless we also rebuild our lives with the Almighty One at the center (p. 157)."
"'Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings (Isaiah 58:12, p. 161).'"
"Nehemiah explained his plan... The community would work together as one people. Every man in Jerusalem had volunteered to help, and she longed to join in this great work (p. 163)."
"'I'm not here to win a popularity contest, I'm here to rebuild the wall (p. 245).'"
"'As they stand in front of His sanctuary, they may be reminded that God sees their secret deeds and knows their motives (p. 246).'"
"'It was only God's undeserved grace and mercy that made it possible for us to return to our land. Will we now take advantage of that grace? God asks you to show mercy to the poor because He is merciful. Our ancestors owed Him their love and loyalty, their tithes, and their gratitude. Instead, they worshiped idols and forgot His covenant, amassing a huge debt of sin. He could have let us remain in exile. But He did forgive us--and here we are. If He can forgive our mountain of debt, can't we also forgive our brothers' debts (p. 248)?'"
"'Our trust is in the Almighty One. We must all pray for His protection and help (p. 284).'"
"'We knew we didn't stand a chance unless the Holy One helped us (p. 289).'"
"Were he and his men standing guard in vain? Was the Almighty One behind their plans to build and defend Jerusalem's wall, or wasn't He? Where was the balance between trusting God to defend his loved ones and taking the initiative himself (p. 292)?"
"'I stopped praying months ago, Shimon.' He limped over, glaring down at her. 'Now, why would you do a foolish thing like that?' 'Because God hasn't answered any of my other prayers. Nothing in my life has gone the way I wanted it to.' 'You think I chose to spend my life in someone else's goat pen?' She looked up at him. 'Then how can you still pray?' 'How can I not?... The Lord is our shepherd, and we are His sheep. We need Him as much as these animals need us.'... 'Sometimes I wonder if God is angry with me. Why else would He put my family and me through all this hardship? He could send rain, make our crops grow--He can do anything. But He doesn't.' 'So you do believe in Him. You just don't trust Him. And you want your own way.' She looked up again. Shimon was making her angry. 'Isn't God supposed to answer our prayers?' 'Depends on what you're praying for.'... 'These goats sometimes kick and fight and want their own way. When we take them out to graze and make them walk through the hot, dry wilderness they don't like it. But we know it's for their own good to go up into those hills. They'll find what they need there. You can either trust the Good Shepherd, girlie, or kick and fight. Seems to me you're kicking.' Nava was outraged. 'I don't see how letting Master Aaron have his way could possibly be for my own good.' 'That's because you don't see things the way God does. He may not have answered your prayers yet, but that doesn't mean He hasn't heard you (p. 323).'"
"He remembered how he used to rise early in the morning to pray when he lived in Susan, confessing his sins to the Almighty One, relying on Him for strength and discernment. And he also remembered how God had answered his prayers and brought him this far, helping him accomplish the work he had set out to do (p. 335)."
"'We have to trust our heavenly Father the same way. Everything He does is for our good and for His purposes, even if we don't understand it (p. 369).'"
"'Only God can change his heart (p. 376).'"
"'Malkijah believes that if he follows all the rules in the Torah, God has to bless him. He doesn't see that the Almighty One's blessings are a gift that none of us deserve. Blessings aren't earned (p. 388).'"
"'Maybe the Almighty One has you here to teach you to trust Him, to get closer to Him (p. 405).'"
"'Sometimes the Almighty One answers prayers by using other people... Your family prayed for rain during the drought because they didn't want to starve. God answered their prayer--not by sending rain, but by sending Malkijah, who obeyed the Torah and loaned your family money for food. God does answer prayer. You can trust Him for your future... But you need to pray... He can still bring good out of whatever happens (p. 406).'"
"'I'm going to pray anyway and ask God to heal you.'... 'Go ahead, girlie. You do that. God always answers our prayers. But just remember that sometimes His answer is no (p. 407).'"
"'Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you (Psalm 147:12-13, p. 419).'"
"'I was afraid...to trust God and believe that I would have enough if I obeyed (p. 444).'"
"'I should forgive others because God forgives me (p. 457).'"
"'When God forgives our sin, we're so overjoyed that we serve Him willingly in return, don't we? I think we should show our gratitude to Malkijah the same way for forgiving our debts. He didn't have to do it. And it's costing him a lot (p. 458).'"
"'Why did you want to rebuild God's city?' 'To bring glory to Him so His name wouldn't suffer the reproach and mockery of our enemies. With the city in ruins it made the God of Abraham seem powerless to help His people, but I wanted to show His power and might to the nations. I wanted the glory to go to God (p. 461).'"
"The glorious music took Nehemiah's breath away. 'I wish I could sing God's praises like these musicians (p. 462).'"
"'People of God, continue working together as you did while building this wall. Continue helping one another. Continue trusting the Almighty One. He alone is trustworthy. May He prosper and bless you all (p. 464).'"
October 14, 2020
Read this read this :) Hands down, I would recommend this whole series to anybody, but especially anybody who loves the story of the Return from Captivity. This series includes even obscure details from and respectfully fleshes out the history of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zachariah, and Haggai. I especially like how she told the Esther story from an outside perspective - helps you realize how bewildering the events must have been to someone not privy to Susa politics. "Inspirational fiction" is usually not my cup of tea, but this is overall impressively faithful to the true story. I'm currently reading the series through for the second time, and it will not be my last. Especially meaningful if you are reading through Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther simultaneously - you'll see some really neat connections the author makes.
July 18, 2016
Full review will be posted soon.
March 15, 2016
The Biblical story of Nehemiah is brought to life in a vivid and fascinating way. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed being a part of their lives for a brief time.
May 1, 2024
DNF - Hate to the the one to disagree but the prose is very simple. It reads like a Junior High level book. Probably intentionally, but I was expecting more.
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