Jerusalem's Hope (Zion Legacy) [Hardcover]

Bodie Thoene (Author), Brock Thoene (Author)

Book Description

Series: Zion Legacy | Publication Date: October 24, 2002

Sales of more than seven million copies have taken Bodie and Brock Thoene's historical fiction to the top of bestseller lists and built them a fervent following. Jerusalem's Hope, the final volume in their superb Zion Legacy series, continues the story-within-a-story of The Jerusalem Scrolls and Stones of Jerusalem. Israeli strategist Moshe Sachar has taken refuge in a secret tunnel, beneath the Temple Mount, from the battle chaos of the 1948 war of independence. Now, he opens another of the temple's ancient scrolls and plunges into the supreme drama of the first century A.D. As word spreads of the miracles performed by a charismatic but mysterious prophet, Yeshua, people whose lives he has touched are caught up in destiny. A Roman centurion-in love with a Hebrew beauty-is torn between admiration and duty. Three "sparrows," ragamuffin orphan boys in hiding with Yeshua, are his vital messengers to a shepherd in Bethlehem. As all these characters converge on the dangerous road to Jerusalem at Passover, Jerusalem's Hope delivers the timely and sweeping climax fans have been waiting for.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Thoenes conclude their epic "Zion Legacy" series with another story-in-a-story, much like the previous The Jerusalem Scrolls and Stones of Jerusalem. Moshe Sachar is hidden beneath the Temple Mount during Israel's 1948 war of independence. When he opens another of the temple's ancient scrolls, the action shifts to first century CE. Word is spreading of the miracles performed by a mysterious prophet named Yeshua. The unlikely people Yeshua has touched--a Roman centurion, three orphan boys, and a rabbi from the high council--are all conflicted, wondering whether Yeshua is the Messiah. Only the head shepherd in Bethlehem is confident of Yeshua's true identity. As Passover approaches, an unruly mob in Jerusalem provokes Pontius Pilate to violence against them, and rumor spreads that Yeshua will spend the holiday there. Unfortunately, the novel never returns to the framing story set in 1948, so readers have no idea what happens to Moshe and his family. How satisfied readers will be with the inconclusive ending is debatable, but all libraries will want to complete the series.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This is the sixth and supposedly last entry of the ZionLegacy series, following Stones of Jerusalem [BKL Ja 1 & 15 02]. Yeshua appears briefly and with none of the majesty of Stones of Jerusalem, sending his Sparrows--three street urchins--to carry a message to the shepherd Zadok in Bethlehem. Their journey is entertaining, though their message hardly seems vital. They become apprentice shepherds for Zadok in some winning but irrelevant scenes. Miryam is barely onstage in this installment, but she appears long enough for the Thoenes to hint of Nakdimon's love for her. Miryam's old love, Marcus Longinus, is more in evidence than Miryam, but the Thoenes jerk him around with their version of New Testament history, rendering him weak, or at least ineffective. Though events drift toward a violent climax, and Yeshua appears once more, this volume really doesn't go anywhere and leaves many plot strands dangling. If this is truly the end, it's a dreadfully disappointing one. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670030848
• ISBN-13: 978-0670030842
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Scroll About Yeshua, January 1, 2003

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jerusalem's Hope (Zion Legacy) (Hardcover)

The sixth volume in the series picks up exactly where the last (STONES OF JERUSALEM) left off. Yeshua sends the three "Sparrows," Emet, Ha-or, and Avel, off with a message for Zadok, who takes them in and begins to teach them the ways of a shepherd in Bethlehem. Meanwhile, the political situation in Jerusalem over the use of temple money to build a Roman aqueduct heats up, trapping the shepherds as well as Marcus and Nakdimon in the cross fire. Will the situation erupt during Passover? Will Yeshua show up? If so, will he be in danger? And exactly who is he anyway?

This is the third break in the 1948 storyline in the series. While I've enjoyed the look at 1st century Israel, I still want to know more about Moshe, Rachel, and the other characters we started the series with. But that's my only complaint.

The books set in the 1st century are different from normal Thoene books because the focus is more on emotional struggles and the political battles take a back seat. As always, the historical research is outstanding, transporting the reader completely to another time and place. The Thoene's once again weave powerful word pictures from the story that clearly show what Jesus did for us.

While I'm sorry to leave the 1948 storyline behind, I'm anxious for their new series to start as it continues the story of Yeshua and his followers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope of Jerusalem, December 11, 2002

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"mlm27" (New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerusalem's Hope (Zion Legacy) (Hardcover)

The Thoenes have done it again with another superb book. Although Yeshua does not appear as often in this book as he does in the previous books, the message that the authors are trying to convey is still clear: to show why the picture of Christ as a lamb was so important to the Israelites. The point at which little Emet realizes that the lamb must die to atone for sins is amazing, and again brought tears to my eyes, as have so many passages in the previous books. This book does leave the reader hanging at the end, because not much mention is made of what is going to happen to Yeshua. Yet, I think this provides an excellent segue for the next series which the Thoenes will be writing, the A.D. Chronicles, which will tell the story of the last year of Yeshua's ministry here on earth. Another job well done, Brock and Bodie!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gimme the rest of these books!, March 16, 2010

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Anna (carson city, MI, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jerusalem's Hope (Zion Legacy) (Paperback)

This was the first book I read by these authors and I have now read 4-5 and still going! If you don't have a prayer life you will when you begin to see "Thy kingdom come..." as it comes ALIVE in these series! All the bible stories become personal as the authors Brock and Bodie Thoene develope rich and vibrant characters layer upon layer as the story builds and you simply cannot put down your book! The characters do carry from one book to the next and then you must begin reading the A.D. Chronicles to find out what happens to them. I have a much deeper understanding of the old testament and how every word, every act, every letter and every number pointed to the coming Messiah! Nothing ever happens by accident! God's will does come about even if we are disobedient or we loose faith! Don't think for a moment that he doesn't KNOW YOU!