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2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A very confusing biography of Bar Kochba, June 11, 2003
Amram Whiteman has written this historical novel for young readers about an important saga in their heritage: the career and mission of Bar Kochba. I think the author has confused things for his readers. I'm acquainted with information about Bar Kochba because I exhaustively researched everything I could find about Bar Kochba in preparation for "Revelation and the Fall of Judea."Whiteman's novel confuses things by having Bar Kochba hear God's voice telling him that ". . . you are the Messiah the Jews have been longing for. I am charging you with the mission of freeing them from the Romans." Whiteman also has Rabbi Akiba hearing God's voice. Akiba tells Bar Kochba that he heard God's voice telling him he should: ". . . listen to you (Bar Kochba). It said you were a true Messiah, and that I must help you in every way I can to throw off the tyranny of the Romans." This surprises me. It's not supported by history. I personally believe these statements are not true nor are they believable. Even in a novel, these are not wise claims to make. If Bar Kochba really is God's chosen Messiah, the reader would wonder why Bar Kochba and the Judean people were defeated so disastrously, as we all know happened. I think the notion that God abandoned the chosen Messiah will confuse the faith of young readers. After all, God did not abandon David, Gideon, Joshua, or Moses. Only when any of these men had offended God would God withdraw support. Bar Kochba, in this novel, remains to the end a brave and God-fearing man. When it becomes obvious that the Romans are winning, Bar Kochba begins to doubt that he truly heard God's voice. In the novel, Akiba tries to encourage Bar Kochba because Akiba also heard God's voice and did not doubt it. Confusing isn't it? I wouldn't want to be a young person cherishing my heritage, believing God really exists, and try to wrestle with this dilemma.
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