Permalink The Triumph of Deborah - Review & Giveaway
The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy, is a fictional story stemming out of the Old Testament judge Deborah. It follows the lives of three women through tumultuous times of war, as well as their personal relationships.
After the Israelite army, under Barak the commander Deborah has appointed, is victorious, Barak takes two of the Canaanite king's daughters, and from there you can only assume that a love story is imminent! There are sensuous scenes within the novel, however they are written inoffensively and are refined.
I enjoyed reading this book that Eva sent me to review very much, and since recently our pastor preached on the book of Judges in our Sunday evening services, I was refreshed on the background story upon which the book is based.
The fictional characters and plot line taking place within a historical period was also a learning experience as I re-read the Scripture to substantiate the facts and separate the fiction. Imagining life within that time period is made vivid by the descriptions Etzioni-Halevy uses.
I would consider this along the lines of an epic story. Really, with part of the best selling book of all times as the foundation of the story, how could it not be? Etzioni-Halevy takes you away from the 21st century, drops you smack dab in the hills of Israel and has you visualizing war, peace and love through the eyes of three women with vastly different backgrounds.
I urge you no matter what the book or who the author that when reading any story that merges Biblical themes with fiction to take the time to open the Bible and read the Scriptures. Find that which God ordained as truth and then take the that which He blessed the author with talent to write, as entertainment.
Eva Etzioni-Halevy has added a historical note at the end of the novel explaining her research in developing the story.
If you have enjoyed books in the past based on Biblical characters entwined with fictional plots , I would recommend this book to you. Eva has also written two previous novels The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth.
Please read **About Reviews at the bottom of the page.
Eva has offered to give one of my readers a copy of The Triumph of Deborah.
To enter this giveaway visit Eva's Website and tell me something you learned.
(Required) You can also read some excerpts of her novels there.
For Extra Entries (please leave a separate comment for each one you are eligible for)
1. Comment with another Old Testament woman you'd be interested in reading a fictional novel about besides Hannah or Ruth.
2. Follow my blog publicly.
3. Subscribe to my feed via reader or e-mail.
4. Add my button to your blog.
5. Follow me on twitter, leave your user name
6. Tweet this giveaway, I've made it easy you can simply press the retweet icon in the upper corner of this post! This can be done daily.
7. Blog about this giveaway linking back to my blog and to Eva's Website.
This contest will end on July 25th at 11:50 pm cst, and is open to US Residents ages 18+.
Reader Comments (103)
Eva and her husband live in Tel-Aviv. This looks great. Thanks for sharing~
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I'd love to know how Sarah felt when Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac. What an amazing woman!
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I learned that Eva was born in Vienna, Austria, but was fortunate to escape as a small child with her parents in 1939 where they then spent the war years in Italy, partly in an Italian concentration camp, and after the Germans conquered the northern part of Italy, in hiding.
hawkes(at)citlink.net
I'd be interested in reading more about Esther.
hawkes(at)citlink.net
I'm a follower
hawkes(at)citlink.net
and a subscriber
hawkes(at)citlink.net
Dear Tammy,
Thank you so much for your well taken, incisive and supportive review of my novel THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH.
I am delighted to be writing novels about the Old Testament of the Bible, which Christians and Jews share and if my novel can make people go back and read the Bible, I feel that I have fulfilled an important mission in life.
It's also wonderful that there are so many comments, which shows that your blog is truly popular.
Waiting to find out who the winner will be.
warm regards and blessings,
Eva
Eva wrote many books and articles in Hebrew and in English.
bgcchs@yahoo.com
I'd like to read a fictional novel about Esther or Vashti.
bgcchs@yahoo.com
I subscribe via email.
bgcchs@yahoo.com
I learned that the author studied Sociology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and later received her PhD at Tel-Aviv University.
Hi there...thanks for the contest and info on this book!
1. I follow your blog.
The author lived most of her. life in Israel.
2. I added your button to my blog.
I would like to read one about Delilah.
I follow your blog publicly.
3. I already subscribe to your blog. :o)
I subscribe by email.
I follow you on twitter. (winsome6)
4. I think it would be neat to read a story abour Sarah, and how she went through the agony of being barren for so long; and then her joy of being with child through God's amazing work. :o)
she has two sons and a daughter.and lives with her husband in Tel-Aviv.
born in Vienna, Austria mverno@roadrunner.com
that she lives in israel although born in austria minsthins at optonline dot net
She was born in Vienna, Austria and was lucky to escape in 1939 her family spent the war in Italy but was captured and spent some time in a concentration camp
my name is Eva like hers so I should get an extra entry :) J/k
I learned that Eva had the same realization that I had upon studying ancient cultures - that human nature hasn't changed in thousands of years.
This is a wonderful blog - thank you for hosting this giveaway!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I'm a Follower.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I Tweeted - I'm ASeaOfBooks
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I subscribe in Google Reader.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I follow you on Twitter (I'm ASeaOfBooks)
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I think Noah's wife has a story to tell...
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
She has three grown up children: two sons and a daughter. She lives with her husband in Tel-Aviv.
this is what I learned from her website.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Eva was born in Austria and studied in Jerusalem.
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I'd love to read about Esther... how she dealt with being so beautiful and with having to be brave enough to come into the king's presence without an invitation.
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I publicly follow your blog.
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I'm subscribed via email.
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I follow you on Twitter (HSBSuzanne).
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I tweeted the giveaway for 7/16:
http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2681327568" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2681327568
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I have your button on my blog.
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I tweeted for 7/17:
http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2689010456" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2689010456
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
I learned she writes a lot of articles in Hebrew and in English. Thats pretty neat.
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
I learned that she was born in Vienna, Austria, but was fortunate to escape as a small child with her parents in 1939.
Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com
I blogged about this (including a link to Eva's website):
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Suzanne/708826/" rel="nofollow">http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Suzanne/708826/
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
Eva spent part of her childhood in an Italian concentration camp. asthenight at gmail dot com
Eva was born in Australia but escaped with her parents to Italy at the outbreak of WWII.
www.russianblessings.wordpress.com
I tweeted for 7/18:
http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2706378082" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/2706378082
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
She has three grown up children: two sons and a daughter. She lives with her husband in Tel-Aviv
has wrote many political sociology papers after escaping war as a child
shopannies@Yahoo.com
I can never get enough about Ruth she was my grandmothers favorite and I so love listening to her
shopannies@Yahoo.com
following
shopannies@Yahoo.com
subscriber
shopannies@Yahoo.com