Deborah

by Margit S. Heppenstall

Rough Syrian voices shouted, and strong arms grabbed her, holding her fast. Deborah tried to scream, but a soldier's rough hand slapped across her mouth. "Why did I disobey Mother?" Deborah thought. "What will happen to us now? They'll kill us!" But instead of being killed, Deborah and her maid, Tirzah, were marched across the stifling Syrian desert and ended up in the slave market, where general Naaman bought them both. The slave master?a sneaky, fat man called Obal?made their existence almost unbearable. And an undercurrent of bitter competition between Tirzah and Deborah turned affection into hostility. Shortly after Naaman's lovely wife, Shelomith, promoted Deborah to serve as her personal maid, the general became incurably ill with leprosy. Young Deborah remembered Elisha's miracles back home and reported his powers to Shelomith.

Deborah, based on the Biblical account in 2 Kings 5, is authentic and true to life. Margit Storm Heppenstall has traveled extensively in the Holy Land and contributes to the story a flavor of realism that will delight readers, young and old.

122 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[ULeena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book several times, the first time when my grade school teacher would read this in school. A great novel that takes a deeper dive into the slave girl who ended up being a witness to Naaman. Bad things may happen in our lives either because of our bad choices or events beyond our control. But when we continue to trust in God, He will be by our side during adversity and bring us blessings that we may never had expected.
A great read.

[Jaclyn Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written & believable, matching the main details of the Biblical account - a dramatization of the story of Naaman’s little maid.

[Elisabeth Niederman]

Deborah disobeys her parents, and end up as a prisoner and slave in the house of Naaman. By clinging to her faith she leads her master, who is a leper, to Samuel the prophet. This is an amazing re-telling of a favorite Bible story: as told by the little servant girl. Margit Heppenstall embellishes a very stiple story and you easily lose yourself inside the time of the Judges of Israel.

This book is probably one of the first books I read that was a fictionalization of a bible story. It had a lot to do with inspiring the style of my own work, and the type of writing that I like to do.

[Deborah Ljung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been curious about Deborah the prophet, from the bible and initially thought this book was about her. When I found out it wasn't, I almost didn't buy it. I am glad that I didn't make that mistake! The book is based on the story of a maid servant whose name was apparently not know, but in this book, the author chose to say that she was named after the prophet, Deborah.
An inspiring story and testament to what strong faith can achieve.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very well written, I have enjoyed reading it several times over the years.