The Prophetess: Deborah's Story

Daughters of the Promised Land #2

by Jill Eileen Smith

Outspoken and fearless, Deborah has faith in God but struggles to see the potential her own life holds. As an Israelite woman, she'll marry, have a family, and seek to teach her children about Adonai--and those tasks seem to be more than enough to occupy her time. But God has another plan for her. Israel has been under the near constant terror of Canaan's armies for twenty years, and now God has called Deborah to deliver her people from this oppression. Will her family understand? Will her people even believe God's calling on her life? And can the menace of Canaan be stopped?

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2016

About the author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam's Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, Daughter of Eden, and The Ark and the Dove. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Bible times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable cats Kody and Kaelee. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

Reviews

[Mesu · Rating 5 out of 5]

To write a great novel about a story from the biblical book of Judges requires a strong stomach, grounded theology, and intense research. Jill Eileen Smith has proven all three with her new release, The Prophetess: Deborah’s Story.

The stories in Judges depict some of the most graphic violence in Scripture and prompt some disturbing theological questions. With grace and skill, Jill allows her characters to struggle through this horrendous time in Israel’s history, asking hard questions and exploring God’s fathomless depths in the process.

The complete humanness of her characters is shocking—and refreshing. Deborah shows no hint of a formulaic, because-the-Bible-says-so female judge of Israel. We’re given an intriguing and plausible storyline of how a woman in this ancient Middle-Eastern culture could have risen to a prominent role of respect among men. Deborah’s strong spirit spills over into her marriage relationship—also realistic—and, as we might imagine, causes no small amount of conflict. Add to the marriage tension a daughter, who the father coddles, and we have a fascinating study on the modern-day mother/daughter battles we see in our culture today.

Deborah’s family relationships aren’t the only multi-layered relationships Jill has so masterfully painted in this most recent masterpiece. Jael is a third spirited female character. Both she and Deborah display a balance of wisdom, courage, and strength that belies their maturity. Their daughters, Daniyah and Talya, show us what must be the younger version of the older/wiser women—still in the bloom of feisty, rebellious youth, making decisions on good intentions and passionate certainty. The exploration of young love and mother/daughter relationships is phenomenal—from an author who has two sons! She shows us the emotions of courtship from both the male and female heart—beautifully done.

As far as the story goes, I must admit I liked Jill’s first book in this series, Crimson Cord, better. However, because she made such a compelling story despite the “believability obstacles” she faced—I give this book my highest recommendation. I am utterly convinced Deborah’s story could have happened as Jill Smith describes it. From the geography to the Kenite involvement to the savagery of King Jabin…it works. It was an ugly time for Israel, beautifully written.

[Shantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I wonder why I read Biblical retellings; every time it seems all my sensors are on, looking for something to criticize. I just have an issue with authors taking so much liberties with Bible stories! The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith wasn't so bad, actually. I didn't like it as much as the first book in the series, but by the end, I wanted to give it a 3 star rating.

This book retells the story of Deborah, a prophetess from the Old Testament in the Bible. (You can read the real account of some of her life in Judges chapters 4 and 5.) She lives in a time when an enemy of Israel is terrorizing the land; secret idol worship lurks; and Deborah herself must lead due to her visions from the Lord.
In a time of strife, Deborah also battles her headstrong daughter, and wishes she had something different than what her relationship with her husband is right now.

So, I couldn't really get into this book at first. I didn't particularly like how the characters were acting, and was wondering where some of the themes were going to go. As I mentioned above, I was all alert for misinterpretations of the Bible! Ah. So that made a good part of The Prophetess: Deborah's Story unlikable for me. Deborah and her daughter could seem to have little respect for men. A man is filled with hatred toward his wife and hits her, because she was found to be worshiping an idol. As terrible as the act she committed was, he was trying to justify his hatred toward her as righteous almost. So yes. I was just like, Where is this all going?

However, by the end of the book, all that was well resolved, I feel. And some poignant lessons learned! Though the majority of the novel is quite loosely based on Deborah's life, I'm pretty sure the really big parts did not differ from what the Bible says happened. So it wasn't a hugely enjoyable read for me, but I did love the ending. There was so much healing, beauty, and restoration.

Overall, it's a nice Biblical retelling from Jill Eileen Smith.

I received a copy of The Prophetess from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda Geaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biblical portrayal of Deborah paints the picture of a courageous and wise woman, renowned prophetess, and honored judge over Israel. In her latest novel The Prophetess: Deborah's Story, Jill Eileen Smith captured every bit of Deborah's scriptural essence while penning a character to whom modern woman will relate. The Prophetess is the story of an ordinary woman called and equipped by God to lead a nation.

This novel found it's strength in three artfully braided storylines. Much like the account in Judges 4, Barak and Heber the Kenite play large roles in the war against Israel's oppressors, the Canaanites. The manner in which Smith fleshed out Deborah, Barak, and Heber's backstories and brought them together cohesively proves she's mastered her craft.

Jill Eileen Smith, for the purposes of my review I dub thee the "Queen of Conflict." All joking aside, I found this story to be laden with fear and discord — the fallout of sin. In the wide scope, we see the effects of Israel's struggle with idolatry (spiritual) and God's judgement as delivered by the hand of Sisera (flesh and blood). Then on a more narrow scope, individual characters battle pride, grief, bitterness, and unforgiveness. To my relief, Smith is also adept at conflict resolution.

That being said I want to disclose how, for a majority of the book, I felt a niggling irritation over Deborah's regard for her husband. Having turned the final pages of the book I now can appreciate the author's choice for a few reasons. First of all, it established the preponderance of arranged marriages during the time period — some were made for love while others were not. Second, it served to highlight Deborah's human fallibility and gave her character an area for growth. Finally, it allowed the author a means to deliver valuable Christian messages on love, marriage, parenting, and forgiveness.

For readers a world away and millennia removed, Jill Eileen Smith brings the Old Testament account of Deborah to life. I believe this tale of repentance, rescue, and restoration will resonate with a broad audience. The Prophetess: Deborah's Story is available now from Revell Books.

4 Stars/Very Good

I received this book from the author for my honest review. 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.”

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

This second Daughters of the Promised Land novel takes a look into the life of another well-known, biblical woman: Deborah. In a time when the Canaanites relentlessly terrorized the Israelites, the assertive, outspoken, and intelligent Deborah becomes the prophetess Israel desperately need to bring them into the life God wants for His people. Her story contains controversy, conflict, and challenges within a detailed historical context and a cast of interesting characters, and I really loved how Jill Eileen Smith brings it to life. Fans of biblical fiction will not want to miss The Prophetess - I would recommend it and now can’t wait to read more from Smith in the future.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of The Prophetess and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

After twenty years of terrorism - generally translated as "cruel oppression", but that doesn't really have the same impact - the Israelites are calling out to God to save them from Sisera and Jabin. Deborah has been their judge and leader, and it is she who must rally them to action at the right time.

But this isn't really a book about Deborah. She's certainly one of the main characters, but the central theme is how Israel caused her own testing by failing to drive out the Caananites and then fell prey to the temptation of idol worship, along with some interesting social issues regarding the expected roles of both men and women.

Readers may be disappointed to know that there are no Biblical records of Deborah's children, nor we do know her ancestry, but that was the only disappointment for me. The words of Deborah's victory song are taken directly from Scripture, as are many other phrases, as Jill Eileen Smith has managed to take the few verses that mention Deborah and weave them into a compelling historical tapestry.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

After much debate I decided to give this a 4.5 star rating. I truly enjoyed the writing of the story, though I do love Jill's more recent novels over her older written ones. Writing was well done. I love how close the scriptures it stuck while still giving some fun fiction to the story.

Deborah was headstrong and stubborn. She was set in her ways when it came to what she wanted. I didn't care for her attitude towards her husband. I felt like she ignored him because she had her own plans in mind. As a leader, she was excellent.

Lappidoth was such a loving husband. He definitely seemed to be a "yes man" at first, but as the story went on you could see how much respect and love he had for Deborah as a woman and as God's prophetess. I enjoyed him a lot!

Talya was just like her mother but a bit more fiery. She wanted to fight for her people and be the one to kill Sisera. She was headstrong and stubborn. When it came to men she annoyed me just like her mother.

Deborah and Talya were two peas in a pod. Their bickering was comical and yet frustrating all at once. I loved seeing them bond toward the end.

Barak was pretty laid back to me. I felt sad for him when he allowed himself to be trapped in the past with his wife. Losing a loved one is never easy, but having to see him as such was heartbreaking. It took him a long time to move forward, but when he did he became a teddy bear.

Jael is my favorite! I love her in the Bible so I knew I would love her in the book. She is a woman of few words. She seems to be a compliant person, but she moves in silence. I enjoyed seeing her take down Sisera the way she did. I loved her!

Overall, this was a well done story and I'd definitely recommend it to someone looking for a biblical fiction featuring Deborah, Jael and Barak.

[Claudia {SparrowHawk} · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m rather disheartened to say that while book two in the Daughters of the Promised Land series, The Prophetess was a competent book, it simply did not live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be somewhat monotonous and it took a lot of effort to get through the story; thus, it was just okay for me.
___________________________________
WHAT I LIKED
+ Featuring one of the most renowned female prophets in biblical history, I truly admired the original perspective and take on depicting Deborah’s story, and despite my quibbles below, this is a story that gives hopes and dreams to all women alike. That is to say, no victory is too big or too small for any woman and I am certain that many female readers will glean inspiration from the book.

+ A few of my favorite scenes in the book were when Deborah drifted into a vision or encounter with God. They were breathtaking, to say the least, and her wrestling with the Lord was just as affecting too.

+ At the conclusion of the story, Jill Eileen Smith personally address the reader, giving an account of her bittersweet experience in penning Deborah’s story. This is where she won my respect and appreciation, because, despite my resultant reaction, I laud her achievement in fulfilling such a daunting task.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- With a large preface concerning the overall plotline, I’d like to clarify that as a longtime lover of both Christian Fiction and Biblical Fiction I do understand that there is a lot of speculation on what is factual and what is fictional when it comes to these narratives. To boot, while I do not know firsthand the amount of time, effort and dedication it takes for authors such as Jill Eileen Smith, Lynn Austin and Francine Rivers (to name a few) to pen stories such as The Crimson Cord, Keepers of the Covenant, and Voice in the Wind, I do know that their good intentions and ambitions are always to stay true to the original stories.

Having said that, taking on Deborah’s story is no easy feat; namely because she is mentioned only briefly in Scripture. Thus, what muddled my overall experience with The Prophetess were the surrounding sub-plots that didn’t allow me to truly appreciate Deborah’s character arc. There was Jael, the Kenite woman who played a more significant role in the prose than that of Deborah; Talya, Deborah’s audacious daughter whose reckless haste habitually challenged Deborah’s parenting style ; Barak, the Israeli warrior chosen by God for such a time as this; and Sisera, the antagonist who was underdeveloped and simply overlooked.

- The storytelling was sluggish and there wasn’t enough driving force to keep things interesting for me. It stands to reason that, the battle scenes and antagonistic elements in the plotline were vague and resolved all too quickly.

- There’s no denying Smith’s extensive research and study. There were plenty of Jewish traditions and customs, and Hebraic expressions that were peppered throughout the story which in turn gave the book a taste of authenticity; however the one aspect of the book that was jarring, at least for me, were the Jewish names that were given to a few characters; particularly, Deborah’s son Shet and Barak’s right man Keshet. It could just be my ignorance, (and I’m betting it all on that), but am I the only who found these names rather peculiar?


AFTERTHOUGHTS
The honest truth is when it comes to historical fiction―particularly, biblical historical fiction―there plainly needs to be some level of entertainment to fully embrace the story. For this reason, The Prophetess fell short for me. Will I continue with the series? Absolutely! In fact, I am extremely eager to see who the next Daughter of the Promised Land will be!

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[Sam B · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I must say that Jill Eileen Smith did a great job with this book. With so little information about Deborah, I can only imagine the huge challenge writing this book must have been. Of course, she took lots of liberties with the characters and their background, but who could blame her!

I think this book actually was my first biblical fiction ever. I loved how this book threw me back in time and depicted the lives of the people living in the Promised Land at the time of king Jabin's reign. The characters are very believable and realistic. As the author says in a note at the end of the book, Deborah can appear a little too perfect in Judges, but her novel really shows her as a human being with her flaws as well as her strengths.

I think that even if we don't necessarily imagine Deborah the same way Jill Eileen Smith does, the book can be highly enjoyable for everyone. Of course, none of us knows for sure how her life was, but this version is a great inspiration and gives us a glimpse of what her life might have been.

Thanks to the author for providing me a copy of the book. It did not affect my review.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

He feels the need to either reprove me or command me. He does not speak to me as an equal. When a man exasperates you, perhaps it is because he brings out both the best and worst in you. That can be a good thing. It makes you weed out the things that need to change and keep the things that don't.

Bibical historical fiction can frustrate me at times but this account was encouraging as well as insightful to the history of God's people. The story of Deborah is very small but with great impact in the history of Jews. Deborah was a prophetess and gave the word of God to the people of God. What kind of woman is she? How did the people respond to a woman in such tribulation in their history when other nations were out to destroy them. Deborah had called her people to repent and turn back to God and in doing so; lead the people to victory to one of their greatest enemies that was out to destroy them.

I liked how this progressed - that Deborah had a high value on the word of God. Her marriage and the implications of her marriage to a scribe. Her children and a daughter that reflected Deborah's own weakness and strengths. This made the story personal if you have children of your own and see yourself in them.

Deborah's account also reflects the mercy of God and His justice. With restoration, justice is given but many times if at all times can be very painful. It is a story that when a people fully trust God, their is no fear of evil.

A Special Thank You to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me great insight into what life was like, particularly for women in the times of the Old Testament. I’ve read the stories in the Bible but didn’t reflect on how difficult and scary life was for the Israelites who spent their lives being terrorized. This book focuses on Deborah, who is in the book of Judges. She judged people by explaining the law to them and solving disputes according to the law, as well as received visions of prophecy from God.

I liked Deborah’s character, she was strong and assertive, which I imagine was a rare trait in women at that time. I also liked that she was respected by men and women in the city. The story takes place at a time when the Canaanites were terrorizing Israel and going into towns and kidnapping and raping the women as well as killing the men. A war was brewing and Deborah was waiting on the Lord’s instruction of what to do.

There were a lot of subplots to the story and I found that I enjoyed the subplots a bit more than the main story. Towards the end, during the battle scenes, I found myself getting a little bit bored as I don’t usually enjoy battle scenes. I realize that these scenes were very necessary to the story but I didn’t find them entertaining.

Overall, it was a very interesting story and I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

I received this book from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prophetess (Daughters of the Promised Land Book #2): Deborah's Story by [Smith, Jill Eileen]The story of Deborah, in the Bible, is a story that some pass over. I find it fascinating. In this book she is one of the characters in the book who are calling to God to help save the Israelite from the oppression of Sisera and Jabin.

Deborah is called on to lead them but the story is about Israel and how they face worshiping of idols and other issues.

The author did research Deborah in the Bible and stayed true as far as the biblical story goes. I enjoyed this book as it helped me to see Deborah from a different angle.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[ClaraBelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I loved the other books in this series, this was my least favorite!
The good: I loved how Deborah and her family was brought alive and made real in this novel
The bad: Deborah was annoying in how she never loved her husband until the last few chapters of the book. Her daughter(Talya)was too forward and spoiled for my tastes. The author went overboard to show how creepy Sisera was and how unlikely Jael was as a savior of her people!
Caution: Sisera sexually threatens every woman in the book. Some of the battle scenes are graphic or scary.
Recommend: for older teens to adults
Rating: 5.5 out of 10 stars

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story is the second installment to the Daughters of the Promised Land series. I cannot tell a reader how much I love Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical Fiction and this book is no exception. I enjoy her vision of how it was during Deborah's time and what she was like. Deborah comes to life. This is my favorite book by this author to date.
Highly recommended!
5 plus stars.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oohh...Deborah this time around!! Jill is writing about my favourite women of the Bible in this series!

[quiltingbeautyandbooks ~ Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25🌟

[Nay Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

After much debate I decided to give this a 4.5 star rating. I truly enjoyed the writing of the story, though I do love Jill's more recent novels over her older written ones. Writing was well done. I love how close the scriptures it stuck while still giving some fun fiction to the story.

Deborah was headstrong and stubborn. She was set in her ways when it came to what she wanted. I didn't care for her attitude towards her husband. I felt like she ignored him because she had her own plans in mind. As a leader, she was excellent.

Lappidoth was such a loving husband. He definitely seemed to be a "yes man" at first, but as the story went on you could see how much respect and love he had for Deborah as a woman and as God's prophetess. I enjoyed him a lot!

Talya was just like her mother but a bit more fiery. She wanted to fight for her people and be the one to kill Sisera. She was headstrong and stubborn. When it came to men she annoyed me just like her mother.

Deborah and Talya were two peas in a pod. Their bickering was comical and yet frustrating all at once. I loved seeing them bond toward the end.

Barak was pretty laid back to me. I felt sad for him when he allowed himself to be trapped in the past with his wife. Losing a loved one is never easy, but having to see him as such was heartbreaking. It took him a long time to move forward, but when he did he became a teddy bear.

Jael is my favorite! I love her in the Bible so I knew I would love her in the book. She is a woman of few words. She seems to be a compliant person, but she moves in silence. I enjoyed seeing her take down Sisera the way she did. I loved her!

Overall, this was a well done story and I'd definitely recommend it to someone looking for a biblical fiction featuring Deborah, Jael and Barak.

[Vicki Andrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is not only Deborah's story coming from the talented imaginative Jill Eileen Smith, but the story of her daughter and family. I loved it! It is a very humbling story, with God's grace all through it. Loved it! I'd totally recommend it!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. In my note pad, I wrote a couple fabulous quotes from the book to help in life. 😊 Very good series. On to book three.

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author's writing style! She writes these biblical fiction books in a way you could never think of. It's so cool to see Deborah in a different perspective especially since there isn't a lot written about her in the Bible. I can't wait to read more of her books!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biblical fiction is a newer genre for me. I have avoided it until recently because I felt weird having an author write about a real person from the Bible and give them a fictional story which surrounds what we know of them from the Bible. I have found that I really enjoy biblical fiction however. And I really enjoyed learning more about the time of Israel when Deborah was judge. It was a well told story and I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Deborah's story! At first the plot seemed a little hard to follow, as I was listening on audiobook and there were five point of view characters to keep track of. I also questioned the inclusion of the plot with Deborah's cousin, as that did not seem to have much to do with anything. However, in the end the cousin's storyline turned out to be one of the most powerful parts of the novel.

I quite liked this take on Deborah, Barak, and this portion of Israel's history. Smith really brought a lot of nuances to this story, particularly in Deborah's relationship with her husband and children. Would recommend to fans of Biblical fiction.

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5
A story about Deborah, the judge, in the Bible sounded intriguing – I’ve never read a fiction adaption of that account before, so I was interested.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really ‘click’ with the book, and didn’t like the portrayal of Deborah. All throughout this book, there were the “strong females” who were shown as better than the men – they were all headstrong, and disobedient, and it was portrayed as if it was a good thing. It disappointed me greatly.
I know everyone’s perception of Biblical accounts are different, but my personal thoughts are that if God chose Deborah for a judge, it was because He saw Himself in her – yes, she would’ve been human like the rest of us, but she would’ve had a heart after God, and would have been obedient to her husband as that is one of the traits God has desired in us.
There were several parts that had me rather appalled…
“She fought the urge to awaken Lappidoth and complain profusely to him. Complaining did no good….but she could complain in her prayers,” – she complained to her husband constantly, and was very discontent in all things. And though I know we do it, God instructs us not to complain – He doesn’t encourage it. Yes, we can bring all things to Him in prayer, but He does desire for us to make an effort to “give thanks in all things”. Now, I’m not saying I’ve never complained (I sadly do, too), but the way it was shown in the book…it was more like nagging. And Biblical book characters should be encouraging and uplifting, not frustrating.
“If God were a Canaanite goddess, Deborah would have her answer. Anat the warrior goddess stood behind Sisera’s success. Asherah stood behind Canaan’s fertility. Baal stood behind Canaan’s king.” – This did not sit well with me at all. She was comparing God to the fake goddesses, and making it sound like God was inadequate and not as strong as those goddess’.
“You push too much, Jael.” “It’s a wife’s job to do so, my lord.” – No. This saddened me. The overall theme of this book screamed of headstrong women and their disregard for their heads. Every one of them. We should not encourage this in books.
As the verse says “Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not soon depart from it” – that verse applies to all of us. In our endeavor to write Christian fiction, it should be our goal to help train others up in the way of God – in every way. Not giving the opposite message.
Therefore I cannot recommend this book. :(
There were also a few historical inaccuracies – one of the things I’ve seen many times in different Biblical fiction is “she forgot her headscarf” – a Hebrew young maiden would certainly not have forgotten this. It was a sign of her purity, her modesty, her respect.
Also, in this book, Deborah quoted a piece of scripture that David wrote in Psalms, and she wouldn’t have had that in her time.
But really, my main concern and dislike for this book was the head-strong-ness and disrespect. It grieved me a great deal.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Eileen Smith in her new book, “The Prophetess” Book Two in her Daughters of the Promised Land series published by Revell gives us Deborah’s Story.

From the Back Cover: Canaan has ravaged Israel. The people are in hiding. All that stands between surrender and hope is one untested woman.

Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord’s tabernacle–or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates. The memories of Canaan’s cruelty haunt her and all of Israel. Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him.

Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God’s people. Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it. Will her family ever understand? Will her people even believe God’s calling on her life? And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?

With her trademark impeccable research and her imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel’s most powerful woman in a novel that is both intriguing and inspiring.

You can find the story of Deborah and Barak in The Bible in the book of Judges chapters 4 & 5. It is very dramatic and exciting but I think the focus is primarily on Israel and there is a lot of back story on Deborah that is completely left out from The Bible. Jill Eileen Smith to our rescue. Wow, the depth of information that Ms. Smith presents to us is quite interesting and captivating. Because of all this research and information we are given quite a picture of this woman that makes her very interesting and someone to really care about. Ms. Smith makes Deborah come alive and we get a chance to walk with her and share her adventure intimately. We see what she sees, we feel what she feels simply because Ms. Smith is such a great storyteller.

If you missed the interview for “Abigail” book two in the Wives of King David series, a different series from Jill Eileen Smith, and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. 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.”

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do we actually know about Deborah the prophetess? She is featured in Judges 4 and 5, but little is known of her backstory. We know she was the wife of Lappidoth and that she mediated disputes. Primarily, she is known for leading Israel to victory over a Canaanite enemy. Jill Eileen Smith now continues her Daughters of the Promised Land series with an imagining of this amazing woman.

The story begins on an ordinary day in 1126 B.C. Fifteen year old Deborah is fetching water from the local well when she receives a message from God. She puts it out of her mind because, just three days later, her life is turned upside down when her father and brothers are found murdered. We next meet her ten years later, when she’s married with two sons and another child on the way. The picture presented of her is one of a well-respected woman, whose husband loves and respects her, and recognizes her intelligence. When God does speak to her again, it’s in a public setting. We experience her confusion as she comes out of the vision. Why has He chosen her to be His messenger? As the years pass, Deborah continues to receive messages. She and her fellow villagers also find their lives increasingly restricted by the merciless campaigning of Sisera, the Canaanite military leader. Whenever Deborah asks God why He won’t end their suffering, He tells her that it’s because His people are worshiping other gods. During this time, we also meet Jael, the woman who is ultimately responsible for Sisera’s downfall, and Barack who leads skirmishes against the Canaanites.

Smith’s story of Deborah has many depths. We get to see how the Hebrews lived in a time long before Jerusalem became Israel’s capital and King Solomon built the first temple. It’s a love story between Deborah and her husband and a coming of age tale of their only daughter. Despite Deborah leading the army over Barack, Smith never emasculates him. We learn that God will show His mercy when we are faithful because He is a jealous God and we are a stubborn people, and that during Old Testament times He occasionally used Gentiles to fulfill His promises. If you’ve never read Biblically-based fiction or a Jill Eileen Smith novel before, The Prophetess is as good a place as any to start. It’s definitely a book I recommend.

Thank you to Jill Eileen Smith for my complimentary copy of The Prophetess, which I received in exchange for my honest review.

[Brandi (Rambles of a SAHM) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember way back in my early Sunday School days learning about Deborah. I was so fascinated by her story. Up until this point most of the women in the Bible were ordinary but suddenly there was Deborah, chosen by God to be a judge for her people Israel. That's exciting type stuff for a young bossy flossy type girl like me.

When I received Jill Eileen Smith's new book The Prophetess: Deborah's Story I couldn't wait to dive in. I knew it would be good but I wondered how she was going to expound on the little we know about Deborah from Scripture. Deborah's story is riveting but it is told in two chapters, Judges 4:1-5:31.

Jill begins Deborah's story by introducing us to Deborah and her eventual husband Lappidoth when they are young teenagers. I appreciated how she set the stage by letting us imagine with her how their personalities were. Eventually we meet Barak and others that are also mentioned in Scripture.

As I said earlier I am familiar with Deborah's story but it has been a while since I have read through the book of Judges so some of the details were a bit foggy. After I finished the book I grabbed my Bible and reread the story of Deborah. Jill nailed it. Every detail mentioned is told in her story exactly. Yes she added new characters and dialogue but the basics of the story are the same. She masterfully took the skeleton of Deborah's story in Judges and added muscle and flesh and in essence breathed life into the characters.

I have a high standard for Biblical fiction. I have no use for a book that deviates from the original story just for the sake of heightening the story line. In my opinion it must be accurate above all else. As with all of her other stories The Prophetess meets and exceeds my expectations.

If you are looking for an accurate account of Deborah's story this is it. Through the telling of this period of Israel's history we're reminded of the cost of turning away from God. But the best part is that we also see the joy of repentance and restoration. There is much to be learned from the life of Deborah.

If you happen to be in a book club I would highly recommend this book to your group. You can find a Reading Group Guide on the Baker Publishing Group's website.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Prophetess" brings to life a character of the Bible that I am sad to admit I have never spent much time thinking about. Deborah's role as judge in a thoroughly patriarchal society is a fascinating one to consider. Why did God choose her to be his mouth piece? Why did he choose her to lead a group of men who must have wondered at times why God made the choice he did? I really enjoyed how the author explores the impact it would have had on Deborah's husband to be married to such a strong leader of a woman.

Although Smith has, of course, had to take much poetic license in fleshing out Deborah's character, she has done so in a way that is faithful to the details and tone of scripture. She has captured the hopeless of the Israelites during that time, and created a host of characters around Deborah that makes for a multi-layered plot that drew me into the story. Now, I did find that the middle of the story dragged for me in some places, perhaps only because I was waiting for God to act and rescue his people, a sentiment no doubt shared by the people of that time! But then the story explodes into action as God speaks through Deborah and gives the order to go to war and to free his people. The battle scenes are vivid but not so violent as to turn away readers who are more sensitive about such things, and the moment of Sisera's death is likewise handled well.

I am so thankful to Jill Eileen Smith for again bringing to life a story from the Bible in a way that leaves me deep in thought about how God will use even the unexpected to carry out his will. It makes me feel that there is hope for me yet, even with all my own flaws! I award this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I believe when reading a biblical narrative one needs to be careful. This is a book where being aware of the original text is important. I recognize that the story of Deborah in the Bible provides little detail in regards to her personal life, but I felt that Smith allowed her fictionalized characters (e.g. Talya the daughter, who is a little like Katniss Everdeen) too much importance in the novel that they change the perspective of the original and true story. I thought Smith handle this delicate balance in the Rahab story she wrote, yet in this novel I did not feel the same. It is the for this reason I would not recommend this story, particularly to someone who has not studied Deborah in the Bible. This is just my opinion.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author always surprises me with the complexity of her characters, the richness of her research, and her ability to draw the reader into the Bible in a whole new way. I will be completely transparent and say I love all of Jill's books. She hasn't written one yet, that left me feeling disappointed at the end. The character of Deborah appeals to my independent and adventurous spirit. God made women like Deborah for a purpose and my heart sings with joy. I love women who aren't afraid to lead, who speak their minds, yet always manage to put their families first, and show grace lots of GRACE. That is the kind of woman I strive to be every day.

[Sharon Paavola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never know whether I'll like a book written about a Biblical person. Once I started I didn't need any convincing. I loved it. Jill Eileen Smith created a beautiful story around what the Scripture reveals about Deborah. It's engaging and compelling. She included suspense, romance, and faith. Her characters that surround Deborah are strong and add to the harmony of the storyline. The prophet's life will always stand out to me whenever I encounter her again in the Bible.

I highly recommend The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith. I received a copy of this book by Net Galley and the author for my honest review. I thank them for this delightful opportunity.

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favourite woman from scriptures, the judge and prophetess, Deborah, has always intrigued me. Her position of honour amidst her Hebrew people, being sought out to accompany the army to battle, and the victory won over their twenty years of hiding from Canaan's horrors. Such a story of faith and strength as Adonai directed and empowered the woman of Adonai's own choosing to lead Israel back from foreign gods to the One true El ELyon.
History dramatised in village and family life, character conflicts, colourful settings - a book that delighted and enlightened me.