What do you think?
Rate this book
Jabez: A Novel
The word has witnessed a publishing phenomenon this year. The Prayer of Jabez, a little book about a bible character who takes up one verse of the Bible, has hit 10 million copies and sits consistently week after week at the top of the US bestseller lists. This book has taken the world by storm and has become essential reading here in the UK as well. And now here is the novel!
Jabez was a man who didn't have much going for him so he prayed to God for blessings and protection and God granted him his prayer. It's a simple story of grace. And here is the novel to fill out the story and deepen our understanding.
A great read, it's about pain and struggle and courage leading to a life-changing experience.
Jabez was a man who didn't have much going for him so he prayed to God for blessings and protection and God granted him his prayer. It's a simple story of grace. And here is the novel to fill out the story and deepen our understanding.
A great read, it's about pain and struggle and courage leading to a life-changing experience.
129 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2001
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 12, 2022
I’m an avid reader and lover of books, and I give thanks to God for the wonderful books He continually places in my path. Not long ago, I came across, The Prayer of Jabez written by Bruce Wilkinson. I thoroughly enjoyed what he shared about the prayer of Jabez and how it has impacted his life and that of others. I’m still reading it as I took up the author’s challenge to read the book each week over the course of 30 days. It’s amazing how new insights keep coming forth.
I enjoy historical fiction so I was delighted to come across Jabez – A Novel written by Thom Lemmons. A note of interest. Thom Lemmons and Bruce Wilkinson wrote these books on Jabex over 20 years ago, I can only imagine how many hands held these books before they reached mine.
I appreciate the time and effort required by Lemmon to research the culture, dialogue, and era being written about. It enables the reader to imagine what occurred before Jabez prayed the simple prayer for God’s blessing, that is still impacting millions of lives, thousands of years after he prayed it!
The Bible doesn’t give much details about Jabez. We know that his mother called his name Jabez saying, “Because I born him in pain”; that he was more honorable than his brothers; and that he prayed a specific prayer God which was recorded in I Chronicles 4:10, “Jabez prayed to the God of Israel saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed, that You were enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me; that You would keep me from evil; that I may not cause pain.”
So God granted him what he requested.
Thom Lemmons did phenomenal l job is taking the reader into the time of Judges, especially Chapter 3, verses 12-15 and 17:6, which give the account of King Eglon and how he was defeated by Ehud. And it was during this time period that Jabez lived.
As the Bible does not give the complete story of Jabez’s life nor of other biblical figures mentioned in the novel, the author took artistic license in adding events, dialogue, and additional characters. This enabled the story come to life, while maintaining scriptural and historical accuracy,
The book was well written and easy to read. After I finished the book, I read through Judges, Chapter 3 in my Bible. Yes, Jabez certainly lived in one of the Bible’s most turbulent eras. I will not forget I Chronicles 4:9-10 either. The simple prayer by Jabez that God granted, is forever etched in heart and mind too.
Jabez – The Novel was the first book I’ve read by Thom Lemmons. I look forward to reading more books by this best-selling author of biblical era fiction.
I enjoy historical fiction so I was delighted to come across Jabez – A Novel written by Thom Lemmons. A note of interest. Thom Lemmons and Bruce Wilkinson wrote these books on Jabex over 20 years ago, I can only imagine how many hands held these books before they reached mine.
I appreciate the time and effort required by Lemmon to research the culture, dialogue, and era being written about. It enables the reader to imagine what occurred before Jabez prayed the simple prayer for God’s blessing, that is still impacting millions of lives, thousands of years after he prayed it!
The Bible doesn’t give much details about Jabez. We know that his mother called his name Jabez saying, “Because I born him in pain”; that he was more honorable than his brothers; and that he prayed a specific prayer God which was recorded in I Chronicles 4:10, “Jabez prayed to the God of Israel saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed, that You were enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me; that You would keep me from evil; that I may not cause pain.”
So God granted him what he requested.
Thom Lemmons did phenomenal l job is taking the reader into the time of Judges, especially Chapter 3, verses 12-15 and 17:6, which give the account of King Eglon and how he was defeated by Ehud. And it was during this time period that Jabez lived.
As the Bible does not give the complete story of Jabez’s life nor of other biblical figures mentioned in the novel, the author took artistic license in adding events, dialogue, and additional characters. This enabled the story come to life, while maintaining scriptural and historical accuracy,
The book was well written and easy to read. After I finished the book, I read through Judges, Chapter 3 in my Bible. Yes, Jabez certainly lived in one of the Bible’s most turbulent eras. I will not forget I Chronicles 4:9-10 either. The simple prayer by Jabez that God granted, is forever etched in heart and mind too.
Jabez – The Novel was the first book I’ve read by Thom Lemmons. I look forward to reading more books by this best-selling author of biblical era fiction.
January 18, 2021
Jabez (whose name means "Pain") is, for reasons he does not completely know or understand, an outcast to his mother, brothers, and village. When Eglon of Moab subjugates Jabez' land, starving them by demanding most of their best crops, Jabez joins the fight against him. Here, Jabez meets Ehud, a promising warrior who might be able to lead the lands back to their former prosperity. Through the fight and its aftermath, Jabez finds meaning to, and comes to peace with, his life's suffering.
I heard about this book around the time it first came out but this is my first time reading it. I was reminded of it recently when I saw the name Jabez at church, and when I saw it in a bookshelf I pulled it out to read. The copy I had had a note to my mother from her mother encouraging her to read and pass it on. From the note, it didn't sound like my grandmother's kind of book at the time but I am glad I found it when I did!
There is much suffering on the way to the book's resolution. So much that for a time I thought the book more resembled literature (like The Brothers Karamazov) than scripture. And I feel this was the author's intended effect. One of the questions the book wrestles with is "Can all this pain really be what God wants?"
Friendless and in a way orphaned, Jabez is told to fight for his enemy Eglon and a prisoner of war when he meets Ehud. An agnostic in a land who has forgotten its God and turned to others, Jabez is inspired by Ehud's example to seek the Nameless One. In some ways, this unknown deity parallels Jabez' own father, whom he learns is not the man his mother was married to. Hardship after hardship befalls an already hurting mother and family, and there is no small price to the battle against Ehud.
However, in addition to a comforting message of "This too shall pass," the book also suggests that trials provide us with an opportunity to make a better future for those who come after us. In a way, perhaps, the simple yet difficult act of persevering through our pain allows us to mirror or echo Christ's sacrifice for us on Calvary. The story also promotes helping each other through our pain, when Jabez' mother lovingly shares with him the meaning she found in her sorrow.
There are only a handful of verses of Jabez in the Bible; it's easy to gloss over the name as just another "begat." I feel the author did a very good job of fleshing out this story, reminding us that these names also had their own lives with difficulties and griefs and joys.
I heard about this book around the time it first came out but this is my first time reading it. I was reminded of it recently when I saw the name Jabez at church, and when I saw it in a bookshelf I pulled it out to read. The copy I had had a note to my mother from her mother encouraging her to read and pass it on. From the note, it didn't sound like my grandmother's kind of book at the time but I am glad I found it when I did!
There is much suffering on the way to the book's resolution. So much that for a time I thought the book more resembled literature (like The Brothers Karamazov) than scripture. And I feel this was the author's intended effect. One of the questions the book wrestles with is "Can all this pain really be what God wants?"
Friendless and in a way orphaned, Jabez is told to fight for his enemy Eglon and a prisoner of war when he meets Ehud. An agnostic in a land who has forgotten its God and turned to others, Jabez is inspired by Ehud's example to seek the Nameless One. In some ways, this unknown deity parallels Jabez' own father, whom he learns is not the man his mother was married to. Hardship after hardship befalls an already hurting mother and family, and there is no small price to the battle against Ehud.
However, in addition to a comforting message of "This too shall pass," the book also suggests that trials provide us with an opportunity to make a better future for those who come after us. In a way, perhaps, the simple yet difficult act of persevering through our pain allows us to mirror or echo Christ's sacrifice for us on Calvary. The story also promotes helping each other through our pain, when Jabez' mother lovingly shares with him the meaning she found in her sorrow.
There are only a handful of verses of Jabez in the Bible; it's easy to gloss over the name as just another "begat." I feel the author did a very good job of fleshing out this story, reminding us that these names also had their own lives with difficulties and griefs and joys.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2020
This is a fictional story based on the brief description of a man named Jabez in Chronicles 4:9-10. I Lemmons does a good job of telling a story that could have realistically surrounded this person while sticking to the biblical facts we are given in Chronicles. It's a fast read and kid appropriate.
July 22, 2024
This was a great book! The sadness of Jabez’s mother that trickles into every aspect of his life. Most men would be hard and angered by this, but it had made him a very respectful, honest man. He questions so much, but lives many years before he receives the blessing he greatly desires. A story of much suffering and heartache, but also of true love and compassion.
August 6, 2023
A fictional novel of Jabez, who was made famous by Bruce Wilkerson's "Prayer of Jabez" bible study series. I think the author was leveraging off that marketing because this book is just a made up average story with little significance or import.
May 28, 2017
Great, brief, Biblical historical fiction.
February 17, 2018
A short and beautiful story.Thom lemmons has the ability to paint pictures in your head. Nothing spectacular about the story but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
July 1, 2011
"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (New International Version)
This one mention in the entire Bible of a man named Jabez has inspired two published works. The first was a book called The Prayer of Jabez written by Bruce Wilkinson and first published in 2000. It was a work that called Christians to make Jabez's prayer their own and to wait and see how God would bless.
In 2001, Thom Lemmon released a short work titled Jabez: A Novel that took a closer look at what kind of life Jabez may have had. Since he is only mentioned in the one scripture in the Bible, Lemmon's story is obviously fiction. However, it is written based on historical facts known about Israel at the time of Jabez's prayer.
http://www.examiner.com/christian-fic...
This one mention in the entire Bible of a man named Jabez has inspired two published works. The first was a book called The Prayer of Jabez written by Bruce Wilkinson and first published in 2000. It was a work that called Christians to make Jabez's prayer their own and to wait and see how God would bless.
In 2001, Thom Lemmon released a short work titled Jabez: A Novel that took a closer look at what kind of life Jabez may have had. Since he is only mentioned in the one scripture in the Bible, Lemmon's story is obviously fiction. However, it is written based on historical facts known about Israel at the time of Jabez's prayer.
http://www.examiner.com/christian-fic...
July 19, 2015
this book is well written, flows, not wordy and a great story. you don't have to be a Christian to appreciate this book, in fact you may appreciate it more if you are not. it is not preachy nor a stereotypical view of what we think the Judeo-Christian god to be like. the focus is more from the man's point of view of his relationship to his god. I wish I could describe that relationship and how real and unique it is compared to the up-bringing I had but I don't have the words. read it and you will know what I'm wanting to say. this is a easy quick but rewarding read that made me think of Deity in a new way.
September 5, 2012
I like books written based on a person in the Bible. I did not know much of Jabez other than "The Prayer of Jabez. The website: Bible Gateway:
1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-11 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 4 (Whole Chapter)
I was not thrilled with all the events the author ad libbed but the overall story was good and reasonable from the small part of scripture we have on Jabez.
1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-11 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 4 (Whole Chapter)
I was not thrilled with all the events the author ad libbed but the overall story was good and reasonable from the small part of scripture we have on Jabez.
September 2, 2008
I read this by mistake thinking it was the same thing as "The Prayer of Jebez" and then made a fool of myself when trying to discuss it with others who had actually read "The Prayer of Jabez"..
Personally, I didn't think the book was very good anyway...
It's certainly not as good as "The Prayer of Jabez"...
It's an attempt for some one to fleece the "Ja-Buzz" that was going on in 02 and 03....
Personally, I didn't think the book was very good anyway...
It's certainly not as good as "The Prayer of Jabez"...
It's an attempt for some one to fleece the "Ja-Buzz" that was going on in 02 and 03....
July 9, 2011
A short and simple novel, its amazing how much could be made from a short reference to a character within the bible. I really liked the way this story was told, it sort of felt as if someone was sitting infront of me speaking the story. There's nothing particularly amazing about this book, but its simplicity is what makes it nice. Worth a go if you want a relaxing Christian read.
November 3, 2008
Story based on a person mentioned in the old testament during the wicked reign of Eglon and the rescue of Israel by Ehud. Will never read 1 Chronicles 4:9 or Judges 3 without remembering this story. I recommend it to my scripture reading friends!!
Read
September 2, 2014a fictional story, the autor goes to great lengths to take the reader on Jabez' journey...great pain, scorned, rejected, lacked respect and love, but God saw something great in him and granted his prayer...blessed beyond measure...
November 2, 2007
I actually read the book version (not the audio) - quick, but powerful read!
July 26, 2011
Read JUN 2002
September 4, 2011
This was a really good book. It was written in story form, telling of Jabez.
February 23, 2012
An short fiction work based on just a few short verses. An interesting perspective on someone so well known while being almost completely unknown!
July 24, 2012
Really made me realize that families never were perfect. Jabez had his struggles in a culture where Our true God was forgotten. But
October 21, 2012
An excellent fictional but historically accurate account of who Jabez was and the events of his life that led up to his prayer of blessing.
June 30, 2023
Historical fiction about a biblical character-Jabez. Short, quick read. I liked it.
August 28, 2015
Short, entertaining reading (just took a few hours). Interesting fictional account of a man mentioned once in the Bible. I enjoyed it.
September 30, 2015
In Jabez, we follow a compelling story of two pain-stricken people: a young man and his mother, in one of the Bible's most turbulent times.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews