Customer Reviews

The Triumph of Deborah

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Triumph of Deborah tells the story of Deborah, Asherah, and Nogah, three women who must find their true path despite the difficulties that fate has dealt them. Deborah, an illustrious woman from the Bible, is widely known and respected for her role as a prophetess and judge to the Israelites. When Deborah receives a prophecy from the Lord that tells her that she must bring peace to the Israelites, she tries to negotiate peace between them and the Canaanites. But she is met with failure. She decides to persuade the great warrior Barak to form an army and defeat the Canaanites, an endeavor that proves to be successful. Upon his vanquishment of the Canaanites, Barak takes Asherah and Nogah, both daughters of the defeated Canaanite king, as captives in his home. Asherah, the legitimate daughter of the king, detests Barak and wishes to destroy him for killing her people. This is a problem for Barak, as he wishes to make Asherah his wife. Nogah, the illegitimate daughter of the king who was raised as a servant, feels differently about the man who has taken her captive. Despite her lowly position as his housemaid, Nogah falls desperately in love with Barak and must console herself with the fact that she doesn't exactly fit his notions for a wife. Meanwhile, Deborah begins to have problems in her marriage, and turns to Barak for affection and attention. The three women must examine and resolve their feelings for Barak and each other.

Despite the biblical roots of this story, I found that it was not a heavily religious text. Most of the action revolves around the three women and each one's relationship to the man they have in common. Though the book is ostensibly about Deborah, she was perhaps the woman who was least focused on in the narrative. Despite her scarcity, I found her to be the most enjoyable character of the lot. She was the only female able to look at situations in an unguarded and altruistic way. Her legendary composure and forthrightness was refreshing and enjoyable. I found that Deborah had a presence of mind that was not affected by jealousy or pettiness, and she had the ability to draw intelligent conclusions whether she was focused on battle, love, or religion.

On the other hand I didn't really understand Nogah's devotion to Barak. I never really saw good qualities in him. He was a notorious womanizer and seemed very selfish. Where Asherash's feelings of resentment towards Barak were plausible and valid, Nogah's feelings for him didn't seem all that realistic. He had very few positive personality characteristics, and Nogah's all-consuming love for him made her seem weak willed and naive. While I liked her character and enjoyed reading about her, I was silently wishing for her to move on with her life and find a man who would be able to love and appreciate her like she deserved. Despite Barak's prowess on the battlefield and his eventual evening out in temperament, I really didn't like his character. It was never really clear just why he was so attractive to the opposite sex, and despite his kind treatment of the women he bedded, he was shallow and vainglorious. I can't say that he was a total disappointment; there were aspects of his personality that were somewhat intriguing and benevolent, but overall he was a character that was hard to connect to and sympathize with.

One of the things that was great about this book was the way it handled the religious aspect of the story. It was informative but not preachy. It made no judgement calls on the validity of polytheism, and the central focus of the story was not evangelism. Where many biblical fiction books get caught short in sermonizing, this book was just the opposite. It didn't attempt to moralize or judge the situations or characters involved, and the effect was a more even keeled and readable story. Another thing I particularly liked was the level of historical detail. Though I knew the story of Deborah, the author did a great job of explaining the reasons and ramifications of the war between the Canaanites and Israelites, and how this war affected those who were part of it.

Despite finding some of the characters to be quite unsympathetic, I did enjoy the book and thought that the subject matter was handled very well. Though this was a historically accurate book, the main focus was on interpersonal relationships. The author did a good job of creating an enthralling story of three women from very different backgrounds and their struggles with love. I would recommend this book to those who like romance and intrigue in addition to those readers of biblical and historical fiction.

As her husband of sixteen years Lapidoth dumps her, prophetess Judge Deborah finds strength in knowing her people need her as war with Canaan is imminent. She knows her personal sorrow is minor when she expects mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters to soon be grieving for their men-folk, but Deborah rallies the Jews persuading General Barak to lead the sword-bearers to attack the overwhelmingly superior Canaanites. Shockingly he and his forces win, bringing back two special prisoners, the daughters of the enemy's mightiest king Jabin, legitimate Princess Asherah and illegitimate Princess Nogah. Barak is attracted to both.

In her third women of the Old Testament novelizations (see THE SONG OF HANNAH and THE GARDEN OF RUTH), Eva Etzioni-Halevy provides a powerful comparative tale of predominately two women, Deborah and Asherah. The story line focuses on their relative influence on their respective countries especially Deborah who understands deeply with a sad heart the cost of sending the warriors to war as some will die. With obvious modern day comparisons, readers will appreciate this biblical fictionalized biography as THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH vividly brings to life a dedicated strong individual who believes deeply in her cause, but truly comprehends the sacrifices she asks of her people.

Harriet Klausner

Contrary to what the title might lead one to believe, four characters share center stage in this book: Deborah, Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Eventually, I came to appreciate each of them. I saw their faults, felt annoyed and frustrated with them, but in the end I also sensed good in each one. They all possessed certain admirable qualities, even though it was often those very characteristics that led them to behave in less than admirable ways.

This novel gave life and texture to a period of time I previously knew very little about. The book begins with a war between the Israelites and Canaanites, in which Israel was victorious. A period of 40 years of peace follwed, and The Triumph of Deborah tells the story of how that peace came about, though the eyes of key players in the peacemaking process.

As the plot steadily unfolded, I found it difficult to put this book down. I wanted Nogah, my favorite character, to get the guy - Barak, who she loved desperately and rather blindly. I wanted peace to reign between the Israelites and Canaanites. I wanted happiness for Deborah, because she was so good, so noble, so just, able to look past her personal feelings about people and situations and see the truth.

Etzioni-Halevy has written two other novels, about well-known biblical characters Hannah and Ruth, and I look forward to reading both after being mesmerized by her story of Deborah.

"Two women were standing on high places, shielding their eyes from the blazing sun with their hands, peering into the distance in search of the messengers from the battlefield. Each knew that her life depended on the outcome of the battle; but their lives depended on opposite results." ("The Triumph of Deborah" pg 3)

I received "The Triumph of Deborah" by Eva Etzioni-Halvey not too long ago and stuck it on top of my pile of ARCs. It sat next to my bed for a few days. One night I did some serious reading, and finished my LibraryThing May book ("The New Yorkers"). It was late, lol, or early depending on the way you look at it. "The Triumph of Deborah" caught my eye. I figured I'd pick it up and read a couple or pages, or maybe the first chapter, just to get a feel for it. I was rather tired. Well folks, I didn't stop at a few pages. I didn't stop at the end of the first chapter, or even at the end of the next one. I read all 362 pages at once.

If you've read some of my reviews, you know that I love historical fiction. I'm ashamed to admit that I never really considered reading Biblical historical fiction until recently. (Anita Diamant's The Red Tent (Bestselling Backlist) is on by TBR list) I'm not sure why I never tried it. It's not because of the religious aspect, as I love reading about all different types. In any case, I'm glad I picked up this book, and will certainly be on the look out for more in the same genre.

As I mention in the interview with the author (see the customer discussion at the bottom of this page), I was hooked from the very beginning! It's been awhile since I've picked up a book that grabbed me like that. I very much enjoyed the story. The stories of three different women are told, each for at least several pages, and I was never confused as to whose point of view I was reading (in this case: Deborah, Nogah, and Asherah, and at times Barak). I found myself sympathizing with one of them, and then entirely changing my mind and agreeing with another. All three of the women were very strong characters, with Nogah being the most timid- but I think that worked for her. As for the man, Barak, even with all his womanizing he still managed to be oddly attractive. I could see why these women were drawn to him.

So would I recommend this book? Definitely. The good far outweigh the bad. The only problems I had with it, were at times I felt that the dialogue was a bit stiff; but that could just be because I'm unused to reading stories in that time period. I also felt there were a few places where modern phrases were used, like `a cranky child whose toy had been taken away' that didn't sit well for this time period. It was just something that didn't work for me. Both of these things were the reason I gave four stars instead of five. In any case, the story is amazing. Read "The Triumph of Deborah". You won't be disappointed. See below for my interview and giveaway.

If you liked this book, check out the author's other two: The Garden of Ruth, and The Song of Hannah: A Novel.

(Originally reviewed for "Kathleen's Book Reviews")

I've been reading Biblical fiction for nearly 40 years. This book should be renamed "The Sexual Exploits of Barak." Somehow the author manages to let him have sex with the 3 main female characters (and then some) and none of it is "against Torah." Yeah, right... This is a B.C. version of bodice-ripping fiction.

The Triumph of Deborah was really well-written. The historical detail is excellent--the reader gets a good sense of what life was probably like during that time period. The characters are interesting. The story is intriguing and kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next. It is also important to note that this is historical fiction. It is based on a story in the Bible that gives relatively few details about the lives of Deborah and Barak outside of their fight against the Canaanites, so what the author has done is really quite inventive.

That said, I had a hard time with the characterization of Deborah in this book. Knowing her role as a prophetess and judge of Israel, I could accept the idea that her husband could have become dissatisfied with her less-traditional role and headstrong personality and divorced her. But then she had an affair with Barak, which she justifies as not being adultery because she was a divorced woman (admittedly, I'm having a hard time with this concept because I'm not wholly familiar with the way adultery was understood at that time). I don't think it necessarily bothers me that she is portrayed as a passionate woman with human weaknesses, I think it is the justification given for her actions with Barak that leaves me unsettled.

I had a much easier time with the other characters. Barak was a warrior and it was conceivable that he could have been a womanizer. The two fictional daughters of the Canaanite king were fascinating characters, and I found myself sympathizing with Asherah, who was deeply in love with her husband Sisra, but was treated like the spoils of war by Barak. I also really felt for Nogah, the sister who was not as beautiful on the outside, but who loved Barak with all of her heart and was heartbroken by his actions towards her. I liked how even though they had their ups and downs, the sisters' relationship eventually played a part in helping to forge peace between the nations in the end. I was also happy to see how Barak's realization of his love for Nogah changed him for the better.

The Triumph of Deborah is an intriguing historical romance. Even though it has biblical themes, it is not what some readers would call "inspirational" romance (you know, "clean" romance with Christian themes)--there is sexual content in this novel, so if that isn't for you then you should probably pass this one by. And even though this book has aspects of spirituality in it, it is not a book about theology. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a well-written historical romance (which isn't too explicit) and who might have some interest in what life was like for people living during the time period. I ultimately had mixed feelings about the book, but I still think it deserves 4 of 5 stars. It was an easy read, but I also felt like I had a lot to digest when I was finished.

When I received the Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzion-Halevy, I was immediately startled by the fine print, however, once I started reading it, the print was of no consequence. Deborah, a judge, is derived from the bible and while her story is historical it is at the same time very modern. If I were to have any qualms with the book at all, it would have to be that there was not enough of Deborah, although the supporting cast was excellent.

Deborah is at once a powerful woman, but she is also a wife and she has the struggles of many modern women in trying to balance the two. Once Deborah makes certain decisions her marriage is in turmoil, but Barak, the commander of the Israeli Army, becomes important to her. Of course, the fact that he is married to another is of little consequence to her. The other significant women of the story, Nogah and Asherah, Barak's wife, lend many fascinating twists to this story as well. The Triumph of Deborah has quite a few sex scenes, however, none are gratuitous. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-told historical story with current resonance.

I recommend The Triumph of Deborah to all who enjoy well-written historical fiction. I enjoyed it so much I plan to purchase the other works by the author, books about Ruth and Hannah.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

"The Triumph of Deborah" by Eva Etzioni-Halevy, takes place in Old Testament times, as war is about to break out between Israel and Canaan. Deborah, the beloved judge and prophetess of the Israelites, has asked the mighty warrior, Barak, to assemble an army and lead it against the Canaanites. The war takes place and from that point, creates a cast of strong, determined, and impressive characters.

This beautifully written story is centered on three entirely different women and the man they either love or hate. The main characters are Deborah, the prophetess; Asherah, the beautiful daughter of slain King Jabin; Nogah, the illegimate slave daughter of King Jabin; and lastly, the powerful and virile, Barak.

After defeating the Canaanites, Barak falls in love with Asherah, the daughter of the slain king and takes her to his home to make her his wife. Asherah despises her future husband and is determined to find a way back to her people.

Loosely based on the Biblical story of Deborah, this fictional story takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of murderous revenge and unremitting love. Although there are sensuous scenes, the author spins this love story with sensitivity, tenderness, and poetic grace.

The book was mesmerizing, classically melodic, and impassioned. I look forward to reading it again. It's a "keeper."

Deborah was an amazing woman. She is a beloved and honored Hebrew prophet, judge, and leader. She loves God and His people and wants to live in peace with those living around them. Unfortunately, the Hebrew people were seen as intruders. After a shaming encounter with Sisra, the military leader of the Canaanites, where she was attempting to obtain a peace treaty, she determines that not all people are as open to having women participate in politics. It is then that she decides to send the Hebrew army to war with Barak, a young soldier with new ideas. She made the right decision for her people, but at the cost of her marriage. Deborah had to learn to live and lead on her own with only her God as her guide.

I really loved the way in which this novel opened. Deborah, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the war she sanctioned, was juxtaposed against, Asherah, the young wife of Sisra. Both women wanted their commanders to be successful, but only one would get what she wanted. It set the tone of the novel and got me interested immediately. Given the title, the outcome of the war was not shocking to me, but that war wasn't the end. Asherah and Deborah continue to be linked through Barak and both of their lives are impacted by Nogah, a Hebrew slave who was freed from King Jabin after the Hebrew defeat of the Canaanites.

The Triumph of Deborah is not what I would consider a typical of biblical fiction. In this novel, all of the characters were portrayed as true human beings, not superhuman beings powered by God. It is not tame and it does not show always show the biblical characters in the most positive, read moral light. The characters in this novel are sensual beings who find ways to rationalize their sexual behavior. The writing is as uninhibited as the characters, making this a novel that I could not recommend to my mother who would otherwise be interested in fiction with a biblical twist. In that way, however, it may open up the world of the Bible to others.

I was very pleased with my first experience in Eva Etzioni-Halevy's rich early Hebrew world. If I had one complaint about the novel, it was that there wasn't enough of Deborah in it. I loved her character and would have liked to have gotten to know her even more. The action within the story most definitely followed Barak, but I missed Deborah when she wasn't front and center. I would have liked to have been with Deborah more as she planned her victory dance with Barak and felt her regret with her afterward. That being said, I enjoyed Nogah and her story as well. I would highly recommend The Triumph of Deborah and look forward to reading more of Etzioni-Halevy's fiction.

Please check out my other reviews at [...]

As I started to read this book I was surprised to see that a woman held such an esteemed position among the people of ancient Israel. Although it is a work of fiction, many of the aspects are based on events that have been documented on the actual life of Deborah and Barak. This book isn't just about Deborah, the judge and prophetess. Barak, the Israelite warrior, has a major role in this book. I think there were possibly more details on his life, which included his relationship with Deborah, than of Deborah's.

Barak was a handsome, sexy womanizer and at one point was involved with Deborah and both of the Canaanite princesses, Asherah and Nogah, that were part of the spoils won in his battle against the Canaanite King Jabin. I liked watching his character mature from a spoiled playboy to a responsible, respectable man.

The core of this book is based on relationships. To name a few, there are the stormy, deadly relationship between the Israelites and Canaanites, Deborah and her ex-husband, Barak and his many lovers, and the princesses Asherah and Nogah. Some of those relationships made me cringe, because I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to end up in the same situation. Although the book is set in ancient Israel, a modern woman can often sympathise and relate to the tests and trials facing the characters.

The richly described settings really added to this story. It was much easier to picture an event in my mind when the surroundings and clothing were described in detail. I found that I really identified with Deborah and Nogah, imagining what it would be like to be in their situations. As I worked my way through the book it became more difficult for me to put it down because I wanted to see what happened next.