Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) - The Prophetess

"The Prophetess" brings to life a character of the Bible that I am sad to admit I have never spent much time thinking about. Deborah's role as judge in a thoroughly patriarchal society is a fascinating one to consider. Why did God choose her to be his mouth piece? Why did he choose her to lead a group of men who must have wondered at times why God made the choice he did? I really enjoyed how the author explores the impact it would have had on Deborah's husband to be married to such a strong leader of a woman.

Although Smith has, of course, had to take much poetic license in fleshing out Deborah's character, she has done so in a way that is faithful to the details and tone of scripture. She has captured the hopeless of the Israelites during that time, and created a host of characters around Deborah that makes for a multi-layered plot that drew me into the story. Now, I did find that the middle of the story dragged for me in some places, perhaps only because I was waiting for God to act and rescue his people, a sentiment no doubt shared by the people of that time! But then the story explodes into action as God speaks through Deborah and gives the order to go to war and to free his people. The battle scenes are vivid but not so violent as to turn away readers who are more sensitive about such things, and the moment of Sisera's death is likewise handled well.

I am so thankful to Jill Eileen Smith for again bringing to life a story from the Bible in a way that leaves me deep in thought about how God will use even the unexpected to carry out his will. It makes me feel that there is hope for me yet, even with all my own flaws! I award this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

For 20 years the oppression of the Israelites by Canaan’s vast army under the rule of Jabin and the fear that ensues because of it, makes the people wonder where God’s promise of deliverance was. The terror of Sisera, the commander, strikes fear into their hearts. Enter Deborah, whom God had called to be both prophetess & judge, who also has seen visons of war & God’s deliverance of Sisera’s armies into the Israelites hands. What ensues is a battle of good & evil in both the hearts of men and between opposing armies!

The author brings visual life to an Old Testament story in the book of Judges. Though not much information is given on Deborah, the text stays true to what scripture says about both her and the times they lived in. It gives flesh to each person mentioned: Barak Isreal’s army commander; Lappidoth, Deborah’s husband and Talya their daughter; Jael wife of Heber the Kenite, and many others. I easily slipped into the story, envisioning each scene as it played out and feeling what the characters did. The terror, fear, struggles, fierce love and devotion, tears, grief and joy were all present in my heart just as it was in theirs. This made me want to read the story over again in the Bible with fresh eyes! For me, the ending was the best! It talks about the joyous song of the bridegroom coming for his bride being heard in the street, the laying of presents at her feet, the love look in his eyes; it made me think of Jesus as the Bridegroom bringing His Bride (the church) His presents and singing joyfully over her and the pure look of love in His eyes…Oh what a day that will be!! This was a story that will catch you up in it riding out all the ups and downs and will have you turning pages faster as the story progresses! I highly recommend this to fans of Biblical fiction and who love to see the old stories brought to life.

**This book was provided complimentary to me by both the author and Revell publishing company for my honest review to which I have provided here. Thank you Jill for a wonder-filled story of God’s redemption and deliverance of His people! I look forward to many more from you. **

I read this while I was studying through Judges in the Bible. I love to compliment bible study with historical fiction. I find it breathes new life and perspective into a text that can sometimes seem boring. It helps me to remember that these people we are reading about in the pages of Scripture were real human beings with emotions and fears and struggles much like my own.

This book is book 2 in a series by Smith entitled “Daughters of the Promised Land,” and after reading it I will probably read the rest of the series. She writes interestingly and did an impeccable job of telling Deborah’s story with biblical accuracy and a ton of side research on the cultural context. As such, the story of Deborah truly comes to life and sparked a lot of curiosity and fresh perspective for me in thinking about this intriguing, powerful woman used mightily by God in a time when the people of God were far from Him, entangled in idolatry. I especially liked the way she imagined and depicted Deborah’s visions and gift of prophecy, as well as Deborah as a woman–both strong and outspoken, yet battling her own fears and humanity, growing in faith and dependence on God, struggling to love and respect her husband and yet ultimately finding her way. Smith’s imaginative biblical fiction reminded me of Francine Rivers’ Lineage of Grace series. Surely a story to get lost in and one I highly recommend!

Set in the book of Judges, Israel is under oppression from King Jabin of Hazor. His military commander Sisera constantly terrorizes the Israelites with his 90 iron chariots. During this time, Deborah has been appointed as judge to hear cases between the Israelites. As a little girl, she used to hear the voice of Yahweh, but lately he has grown silent. As she convinces the Israelites that they must turn from worshipping idols back to the true God, she hopes that they will be delivered from their oppression. She fears for her family’s safety and a sudden vision makes her realize that she must convince Barak, the commander of Israel, to gather the men and fight against Sisera.

I have read the story of Deborah in the Bible several times and have always thought that she seemed like a strong confident woman. Most of the people that God has used in the Bible appear to have some strong character flaws, such as Gideon, who continually put God to the test. Jill Eileen Smith really brings the character of Deborah to life by showing her conflicting emotions with her marriage and even her relationship with her daughter. Although we won’t know the true story of Deborah, this rendition really appears to have captured a likely image of the woman.

The story flowed smoothly and hit all of the high historical points that we know about Deborah, Barak, Jael, and Sisera. From the 90 iron chariots to the immoral practices of the Canaanites. Even the events that happened between the characters were built into the story with the appropriate amount of suspense and intrigue. If you are a fan of biblical fiction, then you should continue on with this series. The next one is set to be written on Ruth, who is one of my favorite biblical characters. I can’t wait!

This was a wonderful story that really brought the Biblical Deborah to life! I always enjoy the author's writing and the characters were so vivid and truly felt like real people with hopes and dreams, failures and problems. I loved the multiple story lines, from Deborah to her daughter to Jael to Barak. It's likely that Deborah struggled with knowing what God wanted her to say and do and feeling unworthy. It was unheard of for a woman to have such an important place in society back then. It was fascinating to think of what Deborah's relationship with her husband and daughter could have been like, especially assuming Deborah was a strong woman and that a daughter of hers could have followed in her footsteps. Jael, the woman who ended up killing a Canaanite leader, was fleshed out and given a backstory and Barak was fighting for his people and still not over the death of his wife while starting to have feelings for Deborah's daughter, Talya. There were some romantic moments between the different couples. I really liked seeing Talya's growth from a spoiled and manipulative girl to a mature young woman. Forgiveness and keeping God first were important themes. It was hard to imagine how horrible it would have been to live back then as the cruel Canaanites' were always attacking and the Israelites were wondering when they would be rescued. There was a great blend of historical, spiritual and personal elements in the story. This is a complete stand-alone, though it's within a series. I highly recommend this book for men or women who like historical and Biblical fiction!

I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

I have known that Jill Eileen Smith writes biblical fiction, but I've never convinced myself to read one of her books. The Prophetess is a great book to read for an introduction to this author. She has woven the historical customs into her interpretation of the years of Deborah's stint as a judge of Israel and used them to make a seamless story woven of whole cloth.

Deborah is portrayed here as one who listens to God and tries to follow His dictates. In her dreams all she sees is war, and she knows why God is showing her these thing--because the Israelites have gone after foreign gods and forsaken Him. Deborah's right hand man, Barak is given a mission to find and take out two cruel enemy kings--Sisera and Jabin. Because he wouldn't go into battle alone, Deborah told him that a woman would be given the honor of killing Sisera.

Jill has added a family and all the dynamics that go with children who are growing up and stretching their wings, especially a daughter for Deborah who wants to marry Barak. Talya, the daughter, often goes toe-to-toe with her mother, especially when her skills with a bow or a sling are in question. Talya especially wanted to be the one to take Sisera down, but there was another woman God had in mind for that job. When Talya sees what her willfulness has done, she repents. There are other conflicts that Jill works into her novel that aid the plot in keeping the reader involved and caught up in the action of the story.

This is a FIVE STAR book that I cannot recommend highly enough.

My thanks to Revell Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Jill Eileen Smith expertly brings the intriguing Old Testament character of Deborah to life in The Prophetess. As a young woman in 1126 BC Israel, Deborah expects to live a typical life taking care of her home, a husband, and children. When the male members of her family are killed by the ruthless Caananite Sisera, she finds herself married to a man she never would have chosen, and with the special, God-given gift of prophecy. Will Deborah find the courage to let go of her expectations and become the wife, mother, prophetess, judge, and leader of Israel that God has called her to be?

While relying on what little narrative is available about Deborah in Judges, Smith masterfully paints her protagonist— who can easily be perceived as perfect and untouchable— as a woman who struggles with the doubts and insecurities that plague most women. Can she learn to love and respect her husband as the man he is, rather than what she wishes he would be? How should she deal with a daughter who displays the same stubbornness and fearlessness she herself has been accused of? Why would God choose her to judge His people?

In addition to Deborah herself, Smith tells the compelling stories of many other Israelites. The leader of Israel’s army, Barak, fights for justice and healing after his young wife’s brutal death at the hands of the Caananites. Deborah’s daughter, Talya, gradually learns to trust the wisdom of her parents, rather than her own impetuous desires. Fellow Israelite Shet struggles with bitterness and pride after his wife’s betrayal. And Deborah’s own husband waits with excruciating patience and kindness to finally win his wife’s whole heart.

Along with a beautifully realistic cast of characters and entertaining story-telling, Smith also prods her readers to delve into the very nature of God’s character, His promises, and His unfailing love for His people.

I received a copy of this novel for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or judge over God's people, but she can't deny His voice or the visions He gives her. In the short story of Deborah found in Judges 4-5, we learn that she is the wife of Lappidoth and that she told Balak he would defeat Sisera in battle. Because Balak said he would only go into battle if Deborah went with him, she told him that victory would come through a woman.

Jill Eileen Smith tells a colorful tale of romance, danger and adventure. She draws our imagination into what could have been Deborah's story--a reluctant prophetess who married a man she didn't love or respect and had children, one of whom was a daughter as stubborn as she was.

Until I read Jill Eileen Smith's "The Crimson Cord" about Rahab, I would never have purposefully chosen an historical fiction novel based on a biblical character. With her flare for the dramatic and suspense, Smith has brings short Bible stories to life.

Although we can't be sure what Deborah's life story is, through Smith's characterization, we learn about the history and culture of that particular time in biblical history. Smith does an excellent job of capturing our imagination and pulling us into the lives of Deborah, her family and the history of Israel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wow. Just Wow.

This book was incredible. I highly recommend The Prophetess by Jill Elieen Smith.

Please remember that Biblical fiction is just that - fiction. It's based on hours of laborious research, but it's just one person's point of view and insight on a story that we know so little about.

But again. Wow.

There were actually five points of view in this novel - Deborah, Lappidoth, Jael, Barak, and Talya who was Deborah's daughter in the story. Jill Eileen Smith truly made Deborah come alive. I loved seeing Deborah as a wife and mother who questioned her destiny and struggled with her family. She is very relatable!

I loved how the author added Talya as Deborah's daughter. Talya's storyline was expertly crafted, and added so much to the story. By the end of the story, she had grown tremendously, but she wasn't perfect. She was still human, selfish, stubborn, and a dash impertinent. However, I can't imagine the story without her.

We read so much in the Bible about the Israelites oppression, but I think we gloss over the words. We don't think about the pain and agony. The questions during the persecutions. The cries for deliverance. The depth of the victory afterwards. There was so much heartache, triumph, love, uncertainty, and destiny in this novel. Despite being set in the days of old, this novel is very relevant today.

I was given a copy of The Prophetess by Jill Eileen Smith from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

"The Prophetess" is an in-depth fictional depiction of chapters 4 and 5 from the book of Judges in the Old Testament of the Bible.

Jill Eileen Smith had her work cut out for her to stretch these two chapters into a 300-plus page novel depicting the life and time of Deborah, a prophetess and judge of the Israelite people. There are characters that were actually real: Deborah, Lappidoth, Barak, Sisera, Jael. All mentioned in the story from Judges. However, Smith adds sons, daughters, daughter's in law, and friends to these real-life people to flesh them out even though they've been gone from us for centuries. True some "poetic license" occurs, but the main core to the biblical account is fairly solid.

The story line seemed a bit slow for me at first. But the middle half of the book moved well. I felt the ending was a bit slow as well.

Smith weaves suspense and some romance to the story line, which made me want to keep reading to see how things shook out between Talya and Barak. I already knew how the main story ended because of reading the biblical account. I guess part of me too wanted to see just how Smith was going to accomplish it all.

The names of some of the characters were a bit of a mouth full, but didn't detract from the overall story line.

I felt that Smith did her homework and definitely achieved making Deborah and her family and Israel's struggle real. If anything, I have a face in my mind's eye of who Deborah was. I don't think that what Smith accomplishes in this work was by any means easy. I applaud her efforts.

Overall, it wasn't my usual fare in books. Some of the wording felt a bit stilted and was sparse on description, but overall a good read. 4 out of 5 stars.

(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

As always, Jill Eileen Smith brings the story of Deborah to light with wonderful detail and vision. The story of the judge Deborah is only two chapters long in the book of Judges, with one chapter being the song that she sang after Barak's defeat of Sisera and the Canaanite army. Using the little information provided and her masterful imagination, the author does an excellent job creating characters that her readers can relate to and understand. Deborah is reluctant to act as a judge, being that she is only a woman, but is quickly admired and sought out for her godly wisdom. Barak still grieves for his wife that was killed years earlier by the Canaanites and is determined to fight to free Israel from their grasp. There are many other characters that come to life and really help fuel the story. Heber the Kenite, Jael his wife, their daughter Daniyah, Deborah's husband Lappidoth, their daughter Talya all make this biblical story seem like it happened exactly this way. It also helped me better understand this period of judges ruling the province and the idol worship that kept God's blessings at bay and the cruelness of terrorism on their doorsteps.
As always, if you've never read a book by Jill Eileen Smith, you need to pick this one up, along with all of her others. Even though this is the second book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series, it is a complete stand alone. Make sure you check it and her others out.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

I grew up reading the Bible and attending Sunday school quite regularly. As is the case, I know a decent amount of stories from the Bible, including Deborah's, whose life this book is based on. Jill Eileen Smith brings us The Prophetess: Deborah's Story, which tells of the female prophet Deborah's life. Let us start with the pros. I enjoyed going more in depth into Deborah's personal life, including her marriage and children, as I had never given them much thought. Sometimes it is easy to forget that Biblical characters had normal lives outside of the extraordinary circumstances that were recorded in the Bible. Secondly, I though Ms. Smith did an excellent job on character development. I felt that by the end of the book, I knew quite a bit about the players in this story and I appreciated that. Deborah's husband and Barak were excellently developed and their growth over the book was good. The con is pretty simple. I did not like Deborah. She is rude and disrespectful towards her husband and does not see any of his positives. She seems to think kindness and a sense of amiability is weakness, and does not love her husband until he does exactly as she pleases. Maybe I am misreading the situations, but I never grew to like her. The other characters are great and it was a bummer that Deborah remained so unflinchingly set in her ways for the entirety of the book. I give this book 3.5 of 5 stars.

This book was provided to me by Revell in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jill Eileen Smith writes some of the best Biblical fiction I've read. I enjoy her storytelling and appreciate that she always lets the reader know, at the end of her stories, which parts are true and which parts are fiction. She brings well-known, as well as lesser-known, Biblical characters to life.

"The Prophetess" is about Deborah, but major players from the Bible are also Barak and Jael. Considering someone at church once introduced me as the woman most like Jael from the Bible (long story) ... I found her part in this story intriguing.

Deborah is the only woman judge to serve the nation of Israel. She serves at a dark time in the nation's history, when Canaanite terrorists are a constant threat. In her heart she knows this is the result of her people turning away from Adonai to the false gods of the people of Canaan. She hears the cases brought before her and counsels the people to destroy their idols and return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even so, it takes twenty years of oppression until Adonai answers her prayers and liberates her people.

I enjoyed this story. Deborah is fleshed out as both a wife and mother, as well as judge. Her relationships with her family and friends bring the story to an intimate level with the reader. There are a few places where the story drags a bit, but after all, they had to wait those twenty years. There is some violence, as there is in the Biblical account, so this story is best for older teens on up.

“The Prophetess” by Jill Eileen Smith takes us to 1101 BC Israel and into the world of the prophetess Deborah. The story starts with Deborah as a young lady going about her daily life until her life is forever changed in a big way when the Lord speaks to her. Her life is changed again when her father and brothers are killed and she has to marry a man she does not love. The book then takes us forward several years to an adult Deborah who not only has to deal with being a mother and grandmother but also as the one God has chosen to lead His people back to Him. The Canaanites are an evil people who are out to destroy the Israelites. No one is safe as the Canaanites make their way across the lands killing, raping, and kidnapping. Deborah has the help of a young Israelite man named Barak to finally put an end of the Canaanite terror. What Barak did not count on is dealing with the attentions of Deborah’s young daughter Talya. Will Barak’s past keep him and Talya apart? Will the Canaanites finally be stopped from destroying God’s people?

Jill Eileen Smith does an amazing job of pulling us into a world many of us only know from the Bible. This book is well written and has many different story lines that all tie in together to make for a wonderful read. This book shows us that no one is perfect and we all have doubts but when we listen to God and follow His word He will take care of His children. I received a complimentary copy to review from Revell.

Jill Eileen Smith brings ancient OT Biblical history as alive as current events on TV News in-depth reports. She inspires OT reading. Israel fights against Canaan’s Commander Sisera and his Gestapo tactics. Weakly manned and armed, Barak and the Israelite men use gorilla hit-and-hide strikes. Even so, Deborah’s family and especially daughter Talya, become a target. True, my review words are not historically accurate, but the book is era perfect.

Scriptural history becomes expanded with Jill Eileen Smith’s rich characterizations and fictional filling of the gaps of everyday life in 1100BC. Prophetess Deborah is the center of the attempt to follow God’s will and thus save a nation and its people yet once again. Israel history of the chosen people is explosive, yet so well written in this 21st century format, it becomes enjoyable education—up close and personal.

Jill Eileen Smith turns the life of Deborah into one of adventure and suspense, while using in-depth research of the people and era well beyond the “begets.” “The PROPHETESS” quickly becomes a captivating page-turner. That’s typical of this author with notability for novels about strong Bible-land women. “The PROPHETESS” is multi-themed (including forgiveness, peace, & hope), “Hope was such a fragile thread…” (quote).
Yes, even a Biblical romance element, or two, nay, thrice.

As finely written a story as:
The Crimson Cord (Daughters of the Promised Land Book #1): Rahab's Story
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Daughters Of The Promised Land (2 Book Series)

Jill Eileen Smith is a Christian author I am very familiar with as I have read a number of her other books, including the "Wives of King David" series. This particular book is the 2nd of Smith's "Daughters of the Promised Land" series and while I did not previously read the first book about Rahab, you can easily pick up any book in Smith's series in any order.

The Prophetess is the story of Deborah, the only female prophet in the Bible. Very little is known about Deborah but as this is a work of fiction based on a Biblical figure, Smith takes liberties to weave an amazing story about this woman God used to help defeat the cruel and oppressive enemy of Israel, the Canaan General, Sisera. The story also weaves historical facts into the fictional account of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite.

Smith always does such an amazing job pulling the reader into the story. This book was no exception. While Smith admits that very little is known about Deborah other than what is written in Judges 4 and 5, she presents a vivid picture of what might have been going on behind the scenes beyond Deborah and Barak's fight against Sisera. I highly recommend this book, along with any of Smith's other writings.

Once again Jill Eileen Smith has brought a beloved story from the Bible to life. As the title of the book implies, this is the story of the Prophetess, Deborah. It details how she led the battle along with Barak and the Israelites against King Jabin of Hazor with Sisera, an incredibly cruel warrior who brutally slaughtered and enslaved many.

The author has done an outstanding job making this story a page turning novel. She also followed the information that is in the Bible carefully. Although little is known about most of the characters, she has researched this ancient time and place and woven a believable tale. She has added characters that are not mentioned in the Bible to make the story more credible. All her characters are fully developed and realistic.

I have fully enjoyed all of Ms. Smith’s novels and this is no exception. Her stories bring the people to life and do exactly what she has wishes which is to pick up the Bible to read and compare. This story can be read and thoroughly enjoyed by all ages.

I requested and received this book for review from NetGalley.

The Prophetess is the second in the “Daughters of the Promised Land” series by one of my favorite authors, Jill Eileen Smith. It follows the outstanding book The Crimson Cord, which brought the Biblical harlot-turned-heroine Rahab to life.
In The Prophetess, Smith once again has vividly painted a plausible back story for a Biblical woman we know little about, except – in this case – what we can glean from Judges 4 and 5. She weaves a tale that takes us back in time to gain a sense for what life may have been like for the wife of Lappidoth and respected judge over Israel.
The story begins in 1126 B.C., when Deborah, at the age of just 15, receives a message from God. We then fast-forward a decade to find Deborah married with two sons and another baby on the way. She begins to receive more messages from God and discerns that the reason He is allowing her people to suffer at the hand of the Canaanites is that people are worshipping other gods.
Though clearly a woman who is called by the Almighty, the strong-willed Deborah deals with human struggles that make her very relatable. These include, among others, tension both in her marriage and in her relationship with her daughter.
The story is set in an extremely challenging time in Israeli history, but Smith was clearly up to the challenge of writing about it. This is a wonderful addition to her newest book series, and I can’t wait to meet the next Promised Land daughter!
I received this book from the author for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is a very Interesting book. I really enjoyed the writing and all of the different characters. This book is Biblical Fiction so I knew it was going to be enlightening and interesting, but I had trouble staying into it at times. I'm not sure why it was hard for me to get into. It could have been my reading mood or that I wasn't able to concentrate. I sincerely enjoyed the book but I never really had that aha moment, were I fell in love with it.

If Biblical fiction is your thing then I think you will like it. It really made me think hard about the struggles the Isrealites went through while Sisera was terrorizing their land. The author does well in making Deborah seem like a real person and not a fictional character. I have always enjoyed Biblical fiction because it has a way of making the Scriptures come to life. I am very interested to read other books by the author.

Overall this book was very interesting and I would recommend it to those who enjoy Biblical fiction.

Thank you to Revell for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my review. A positive review was not required.

Deborah's life was touched with tragedy when her father and brothers was slaughtered by the enemies of the nation of Israel. In this very dark time period of her life, she is called to lead God's people back to him. Deborah never asked to be the one to lead her people or to be the one sitting as a judge for them. As she sees visions with a voice she feels compelled to be there for them. Will her family ever be able to see that the work she is doing will lead them to the freedom they are longing for. Will her people trust her to hear the word from God calling them to turn from the idols they have set up.

Another beautifully written story about a very strong woman in the bible, that is mentioned as a judge of the nation Israel. It shows that God not only chose men to do his will, but also a woman who was chosen to do a very big job in a very hard time period. Jill Eileen Smith artfully crafts a story out of a small account in the bible with the research she has done of that time period.

This book was given to me for free for a honest review from Revell.

The Prophetess: Deborahs Story by Jill Eileen Smith is an eye-opening story following Deborah's life. Deborah is an Israelite woman who just wants to serve the Lord and raise a family. But God calls her to judge the people of Israel. This book will take you to a time where Israel was struggling with false gods. Their enemy, the Canaanites, have been terrorizing the Israelites for twenty years. And God has called Deborah to deliver His people.

This book really brings the Bible story to life for me. To be honest I haven't thought much of Deborah's role in delivering the Israelites from oppression. But this book shows us what Deborah could have been thinking, or even going through at the time. I absolutely loved the book, and will recommend it to my friends and family to read. It helps you get a better glimpse of an ordinary women who God called to do extraordinary things.

*I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. *

This was a very interesting novel. There are very few novels in this time period I can enjoy and relate to, but this was one of them. Ms. Smith made ancient times not only believable, but natural.

I could also tell it was very well researched.There were interesting details throughout the story, but not awkwardly forced into the writing. I really enjoyed learning a bit about their culture, but not having those facts interfere with the plot.

However, one problem with having an accurately written novel is the unfortunately accurate events are included in the story. There was amazing cruelty talked about in the book. This cruelty, though events like it undoubtedly took place, was extremely disturbing. You don’t normally expect to encounter such gore and suffering in a romance novel.

Even though there was more cruelty than I expected, there were also loving, warm people who filled the book. One of the things I appreciated most about The Prophetess is that it wasn’t only told from Deborah’s perspective. The story wasn’t told by a person, or even a couple. It was told by a community, a people, and this made the story much more enjoyable.

This book had its ups and downs, but I enjoyed it overall. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Smith’s books.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it.

Jill Eileen Smith knows how to make the Bible come to life.
She has written several stories about the life and times of women in the Bible, and she is a master of historical fiction.
Deborah, the prophetess and judge of Israel, has always been an intriguing character. She was the only female judge named in the Bible, and she ruled during a deadly time. How did she, as a woman, get the respect of the Israelite people to fill this difficult role? How did that play out in her daily life?
Smith has done a ton of research -- so much so that the reading of the book flows as smoothly as if the reader were watching the action live. She has created life-like relationships between Deborah and her family/community that fleshes out the little information we find in the book of Judges.
This book will help the reader understand biblical history, life during the tough times of war, and the blessings of following God's lead no matter the cost.

THE PROPHETESS is Biblical fiction inspired by Judges 4 and 5. Not much is known about Deborah, but you wouldn't know that by reading THE PROPHETESS. Deborah's era comes to life with comprehensive research Jill Eileen Smith is known for. The book is vivid and emotional, I always thought one-dimensional with Deborah. I just assumed she was always a leader and it came naturally. THE PROPHETESS displays her as a slow growth in confidence and leadership, one where she had to balance needs from her family. Where women today are raising awareness about fair treatment for our gender, Deborah's story made me admire her all the more. She's a pioneer in a man's world, and she used her giftings with boldness and confidence with glory to God in a way that we still talk about her.

If you love history, especially Biblical fiction, THE PROPHETESS is for you.

I received THE PROPHETESS from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This second Daughters of the Promised Land novel takes a look into the life of another well-known, biblical woman: Deborah. In a time when the Canaanites relentlessly terrorized the Israelites, the assertive, outspoken, and intelligent Deborah becomes the prophetess Israel desperately need to bring them into the life God wants for His people. Her story contains controversy, conflict, and challenges within a detailed historical context and a cast of interesting characters, and I really loved how Jill Eileen Smith brings it to life. Fans of biblical fiction will not want to miss The Prophetess - I would recommend it and now can’t wait to read more from Smith in the future.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of The Prophetess and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

I was introduced to this author’s talent through her Wives of King David series. Of all the biblical novelists, Jill Eileen Smith is my favorite. Jill Smith brings the Bible to life with her research, attention to cultural detail, and exciting adventure she gleans from the pages and stories found in God’s Word.

This novel’s focus is Deborah’s family, her visions, and her work with Jael and Barak, found in Judges 4 and 5. The constant persecution of God’s people by wicked Sisera and his ultimate demise brought excitement and insight into this story from the Old Testament.

The theme that God will protect, provide, and win is woven throughout each dilemma, and it is an awesome reminder to every reader that the God of the Old Testament is the same today! You will enjoy reading this exciting story of a powerful woman of God!

I received this book from Revell Publishing company in exchange for a review. This is the first book by this author I have read, and I hope it is not the last. It was a great biblical fiction read. Cannan has ravaged the people of Israel for hundreds of years by Sisera and King Jabin. God raised up a prophetess named Deborah, who was fed up with Sisera and Cannan. You could say she was raised for a time such as this. Barak, the head of Israel's army, wants to make this right by attacking Sisera, but only if Deborah goes into battle too. This is a story of the redemption of the nation of Israel back to their one and only true God. It is well written and crafted. Smith makes you fall in love with the characters as well. I hope to read plenty more of her books. So get this book, and sit back and read of what a mighty God we do serve.

When you read this story you discover how wonderful, awesome and amazing God is. How He puts people in our lives who understand our calling and willing to help us be our best.

To me this story was about trust, Deborah trusting God that He had given her right husband when they seem so out of sync with each other. Deborah, trusting and believing God that He had given her a husband who knows her worth and the calling she had on her life. Trusting that God had not forgotten about her even when she thought He did and trusting that He could deliver the people of Israel from their enemy.

I loved Lappidoth, here is a man that was content and confident about himself and loved his wife. He knew her worth and that was very beautiful.

The Prophetess by Jill Eileen Smith is the newest in her Daughters of the Promised Land series.
The story of Deborah, the only female prophet of the Old Testament, has intrigued me since my mother first told me the biblical story many years ago. I've studied the prophetess in detail, so I was eager to read this account of the biblical narrative and ancient history told with this author's tremendous storytelling ability. The result is spectacular. Deborah's story is bigger than blockbuster cinema and Jill Eileen Smith brings it to life in the reader's imagination, perhaps better than CGI could.
You will come away from this book in awe of the Hand of God, just as Deborah would want it.

An historical fictionalized account of the life and family of the Prophetess and Judge Deborah from the book of Judges in the Old Testament. The characters are very real and mostly likable except the villain. You'll meet Barak, a military commander; Talya, her fictionalized daughter, who adds challenges to her mother's busy life; Deborah's husband, sons, the enemy commander and his atrocities. those who made weapons for both sides, and many others involved in the plot. You'll be challenged by the struggles Deborah encounters and fall in love with her and some of the other characters. I really enjoyed this book and learned so much about the culture of the time of the Judges​.

In the historical fiction novel The Prophetess: Deborah’s Story, Jill Eileen Smith tells the story of the prophet Deborah. Smith uses vivid description to craft her tale, and the dialogue has a good flow. You can tell that Smith has done a lot of historical research to write this book. Deborah’s character is multi-faceted and realistic. She is thoughtful and empathic, and we see her role both as a prophetess and mother to her daughter Talya. This book is the second in the Daughters of the Promised Land series; I adored the first book in the series, The Crimson Cord: Rahab’s Story, and the story of Deborah did not disappoint.

*I received this book for review*

This author always surprises me with the complexity of her characters, the richness of her research, and her ability to draw the reader into the Bible in a whole new way. I will be completely transparent and say I love all of Jill's books. She hasn't written one yet, that left me feeling disappointed at the end. The character of Deborah appeals to my independent and adventurous spirit. God made women like Deborah for a purpose and my heart sings with joy. I love women who aren't afraid to lead, who speak their minds, yet always manage to put their families first, and show grace lots of GRACE. That is the kind of woman I strive to be every day.

Although very little information was given about Deborah in the Bible, I believe Jill Smith has done an excellent job of filling in the details of what might have been. She portrays Deborah as a very human woman, with human failings. But through good times and bad Deborah remains faithful to Adonai. This book is well written and fast paced. The characters are strong and the details put you right in the story. The Prophetess stays true to the little we know of Deborah.
I was given this book by netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m rather disheartened to say that while book two in the Daughters of the Promised Land series, The Prophetess was a competent book, it simply did not live up to my expectations. I found the plot to be somewhat monotonous and it took a lot of effort to get through the story; thus, it was just okay for me.
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WHAT I LIKED
+ Featuring one of the most renowned female prophets in biblical history, I truly admired the original perspective and take on depicting Deborah’s story, and despite my quibbles below, this is a story that gives hopes and dreams to all women alike. That is to say, no victory is too big or too small for any woman and I am certain that many female readers will glean inspiration from the book.

+ A few of my favorite scenes in the book were when Deborah drifted into a vision or encounter with God. They were breathtaking, to say the least, and her wrestling with the Lord was just as affecting too.

+ At the conclusion of the story, Jill Eileen Smith personally address the reader, giving an account of her bittersweet experience in penning Deborah’s story. This is where she won my respect and appreciation, because, despite my resultant reaction, I laud her achievement in fulfilling such a daunting task.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- With a large preface concerning the overall plotline, I’d like to clarify that as a longtime lover of both Christian Fiction and Biblical Fiction I do understand that there is a lot of speculation on what is factual and what is fictional when it comes to these narratives. To boot, while I do not know firsthand the amount of time, effort and dedication it takes for authors such as Jill Eileen Smith, Lynn Austin and Francine Rivers (to name a few) to pen stories such as The Crimson Cord, Keepers of the Covenant, and Voice in the Wind, I do know that their good intentions and ambitions are always to stay true to the original stories.

Having said that, taking on Deborah’s story is no easy feat; namely because she is mentioned only briefly in Scripture. Thus, what muddled my overall experience with The Prophetess were the surrounding sub-plots that didn’t allow me to truly appreciate Deborah’s character arc. There was Jael, the Kenite woman who played a more significant role in the prose than that of Deborah; Talya, Deborah’s audacious daughter whose reckless haste habitually challenged Deborah’s parenting style ; Barak, the Israeli warrior chosen by God for such a time as this; and Sisera, the antagonist who was underdeveloped and simply overlooked.

- The storytelling was sluggish and there wasn’t enough driving force to keep things interesting for me. It stands to reason that, the battle scenes and antagonistic elements in the plotline were vague and resolved all too quickly.

- There’s no denying Smith’s extensive research and study. There were plenty of Jewish traditions and customs, and Hebraic expressions that were peppered throughout the story which in turn gave the book a taste of authenticity; however the one aspect of the book that was jarring, at least for me, were the Jewish names that were given to a few characters; particularly, Deborah’s son Shet and Barak’s right man Keshet. It could just be my ignorance, (and I’m betting it all on that), but am I the only who found these names rather peculiar?

AFTERTHOUGHTS
The honest truth is when it comes to historical fiction―particularly, biblical historical fiction―there plainly needs to be some level of entertainment to fully embrace the story. For this reason, The Prophetess fell short for me. Will I continue with the series? Absolutely! In fact, I am extremely eager to see who the next Daughter of the Promised Land will be!

Rarely does a book blend so completely what we know from the Bible with historical fiction. The well paced plot kept me intersted because despite knowing Jael's role, I was eager to see how the minor characters' storylines played out. Even more so the heart of Deborah! What would the ending bring for her? Jill kept me guessing until the end. The characters are round, interesting and believable, the setting true to the life and culture of the times. I can wholeheartedly recommend this to grandmother, granddaughter or any woman. Thanks for a winner. I can't wait to read the rest.

The Prophetess…by the title, anyone who is biblically literate can guess that this book is about Deborah, the Old Testament prophet — a prophet given to Israel as a judgement against their sin.
The book is well-done, dramatic, action-packed and illuminating. The author has fleshed out Deborah’s life, added dimension with well-defined and imaginative characters. What a calling this must be to be true to scripture, yet add fictional details. Some might not approve of doing that at all, but we can still admire this author’s creativity.

Little is told us in the Bible about the prophetess, Deborah, except that she was a judge of Israel who went to war with the men of Israel to defeat Sesera, the evil commander of Jabin’s army. Only two chapters, Judges 4 and 5 tell of Deborah’s story. However, through careful research, vivid imagination and excellent writing Jill Eileen Smith brings Deborah to life. Jill’s newest book, “The Prophetess: Deborah’s story” shows us a very believable woman who deals with life’s problems while trying to do God’s work. It’s a book that draws the reader in to a time where problems much like our own time are faced. It was a world of terrorism and struggle, but where moments of love and family are of utmost importance. It was a book that sent me to the Bible to read Deborah’s story again. If you’ve never read Biblical fiction I ask that you try Jill’s book, “The Prophetess” because I think you’ll like it. If you’re already a Biblical fiction fan, I know you’ll like it!

An interesting book that shows how the Prophetess Deborah grew to become the woman she was. She had faith in God, but really struggled to gain her full potential. She strove to be a good wife and mother and to fulfill the plan that God had for her. It was fascinating to see Deborah in a different way and to see how she became the woman that she was. It took great courage for her to step up, especially during this time period.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review.

Riveting story of the Israelites and their conflict with Sisera. I loved this story of Deborah and all that took place. The whole Bible account of this story has become real. The terror they felt at the hand of Sisera. I love the way Jill Smith writes and portrays the Biblical Fiction. Taking this story and making it come alive for readers and yet following very closely to the Biblical account. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

I loved everything about Jill Eileen Smith's newest book. I felt like I was actually there. There were so many women in the Bible that God used for his purpose. To think Deborah was used in a mighty way is astonishing! Smith is one of those talented Biblical authors that make you want to dive in more, to thirst to learn more of her characters, or those in the Bible. It makes me want to dive into my Bible to know more, to absorb more of the story!

This was a wonderful example of biblical fiction. Jill Eileen Smith took a small story in the bible and made a person real. She took the story of Deborah and gave her a family and a life. At times I wasn't sure I really liked Deborah but then she would do something that every wife and mother would do. This flows very well and I did not want to put the book down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion.

Another excellent book written by Jill Eileen Smith. I love her style and this book didn't disappoint ! I love learning about people in the old testament and Jill Eileen Smith makes them come alive in her books, Thank you Ms. Smith

Jill, in her fantastic manner of writing, has created a beautiful retelling of Deborah, The Prophetess. Jill weaves together masterpieces - so accurate to Scripture - while using a Holy imagination of her own to hold a reader's attention. I have loved all of Jill's books, but this one is my favorite so far by this gifted author whose love for the Lord is prevalent in all of her writings. A highly recommended read!

i was pleasantly surprised by this book. i loved the story of Deborah! The author opens our eyes of how it might of been living the life of this Prophetess of the old Testament. While there is not a lot written about Deborah in the bible this book revealed a woman we could understand and know.
i look foreword to more book by this author.

I received a copy of this book in exchange of my review.

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story is the second installment to the Daughters of the Promised Land series. I cannot tell a reader how much I love Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical Fiction and this book is no exception. I enjoy her vision of how it was during Deborah's time and what she was like. Deborah comes to life. This is my favorite book by this author to date.
Highly recommended!
5 plus stars.

Little is told us in the Bible about the prophetess, Deborah, except that she was a judge of Israel who went to war with the men of Israel to defeat Sesera, the evil commander of Jabin’s army. Only two chapters, Judges 4 and 5 tell of Deborah’s story. However, through careful research, vivid imagination and excellent writing Jill Eileen Smith brings Deborah to life. Jill’s newest book, “The Prophetess: Deborah’s story” shows us a very believable woman who deals with life’s problems while trying to do God’s work. It’s a book that draws the reader in to a time where problems much like our own time are faced. It was a world of terrorism and struggle, but where moments of love and family are of utmost importance. It was a book that sent me to the Bible to read Deborah’s story again. If you’ve never read Biblical fiction I ask that you try Jill’s book, “The Prophetess” because I think you’ll like it. If you’re already a Biblical fiction fan, I know you’ll like it!

An interesting book that shows how the Prophetess Deborah grew to become the woman she was. She had faith in God, but really struggled to gain her full potential. She strove to be a good wife and mother and to fulfill the plan that God had for her. It was fascinating to see Deborah in a different way and to see how she became the woman that she was. It took great courage for her to step up, especially during this time period.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review.

Riveting story of the Israelites and their conflict with Sisera. I loved this story of Deborah and all that took place. The whole Bible account of this story has become real. The terror they felt at the hand of Sisera. I love the way Jill Smith writes and portrays the Biblical Fiction. Taking this story and making it come alive for readers and yet following very closely to the Biblical account. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

I loved everything about Jill Eileen Smith's newest book. I felt like I was actually there. There were so many women in the Bible that God used for his purpose. To think Deborah was used in a mighty way is astonishing! Smith is one of those talented Biblical authors that make you want to dive in more, to thirst to learn more of her characters, or those in the Bible. It makes me want to dive into my Bible to know more, to absorb more of the story!

This was a wonderful example of biblical fiction. Jill Eileen Smith took a small story in the bible and made a person real. She took the story of Deborah and gave her a family and a life. At times I wasn't sure I really liked Deborah but then she would do something that every wife and mother would do. This flows very well and I did not want to put the book down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion.

Another excellent book written by Jill Eileen Smith. I love her style and this book didn't disappoint ! I love learning about people in the old testament and Jill Eileen Smith makes them come alive in her books, Thank you Ms. Smith

Jill, in her fantastic manner of writing, has created a beautiful retelling of Deborah, The Prophetess. Jill weaves together masterpieces - so accurate to Scripture - while using a Holy imagination of her own to hold a reader's attention. I have loved all of Jill's books, but this one is my favorite so far by this gifted author whose love for the Lord is prevalent in all of her writings. A highly recommended read!

i was pleasantly surprised by this book. i loved the story of Deborah! The author opens our eyes of how it might of been living the life of this Prophetess of the old Testament. While there is not a lot written about Deborah in the bible this book revealed a woman we could understand and know.
i look foreword to more book by this author.

I received a copy of this book in exchange of my review.

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story is the second installment to the Daughters of the Promised Land series. I cannot tell a reader how much I love Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical Fiction and this book is no exception. I enjoy her vision of how it was during Deborah's time and what she was like. Deborah comes to life. This is my favorite book by this author to date.
Highly recommended!
5 plus stars.

The Prophetess is a wonderful book that draws you into the story of Deborah. Jill does an amazing job of opening your eyes to what Deborah may have been feeling when advising others & going into war with Barak. I love how Jill creates a fictional storyline about Deborah's daughter & several other characters to help tell the story of "what if..." but also manages to tell the truth of the verses as well. I highly recommend reading this book as well as checking out her other books about women in the Bible. She has truly been given a gift of creative writing. Reading her fictional books makes me want to re-read the Bible stories they're based on. What an inspiration they are!

A story about Deborah, the judge, in the Bible sounded intriguing – I’ve never read a fiction adaption of that account before, so I was interested.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really ‘click’ with the book, and didn’t like the portrayal of Deborah. All throughout this book, there were the “strong females” who were shown as better than the men – they were all headstrong, and disobedient, and it was portrayed as if it was a good thing. It disappointed me greatly.
I know everyone’s perception of Biblical accounts are different, but my personal thoughts are that if God chose Deborah for a judge, it was because He saw Himself in her – yes, she would’ve been human like the rest of us, but she would’ve had a heart after God, and would have been obedient to her husband as that is one of the traits God has desired in us.
There were several parts that had me rather appalled…
“She fought the urge to awaken Lappidoth and complain profusely to him. Complaining did no good….but she could complain in her prayers,” – she complained to her husband constantly, and was very discontent in all things. And though I know we do it, God instructs us not to complain – He doesn’t encourage it. Yes, we can bring all things to Him in prayer, but He does desire for us to make an effort to “give thanks in all things”. Now, I’m not saying I’ve never complained (I sadly do, too), but the way it was shown in the book…it was more like nagging. And Biblical book characters should be encouraging and uplifting, not frustrating.
“If God were a Canaanite goddess, Deborah would have her answer. Anat the warrior goddess stood behind Sisera’s success. Asherah stood behind Canaan’s fertility. Baal stood behind Canaan’s king.” – This did not sit well with me at all. She was comparing God to the fake goddesses, and making it sound like God was inadequate and not as strong as those goddess’.
“You push too much, Jael.” “It’s a wife’s job to do so, my lord.” – No. This saddened me. The overall theme of this book screamed of headstrong women and their disregard for their heads. Every one of them. We should not encourage this in books.
As the verse says “Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not soon depart from it” – that verse applies to all of us. In our endeavor to write Christian fiction, it should be our goal to help train others up in the way of God – in every way. Not giving the opposite message.
Therefore I cannot recommend this book. :(
There were also a few historical inaccuracies – one of the things I’ve seen many times in different Biblical fiction is “she forgot her headscarf” – a Hebrew young maiden would certainly not have forgotten this. It was a sign of her purity, her modesty, her respect.
Also, in this book, Deborah quoted a piece of scripture that David wrote in Psalms, and she wouldn’t have had that in her time.
But really, my main concern and dislike for this book was the head-strong-ness and disrespect.

I just finished reading this wonderful book. It brings to life the story of Deborah the Prophetess. It is a very enjoyable and believable book. I highly recommend it to everyone. It presents a human side to Deborah as a teenager and again as a wife and mother.

Jill Eileen Smith does it again! Yet another great book that takes you back to biblical times into the story of Deborah, the prophetess. I can't say enough good things about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There hasn't been a book of hers that I haven't liked, but I can honestly say this is one of favorites!

A very good book based on the bible scripture. Jill stuck right with the verses in the bible , I like that part !! I can always remember that chapter from now on, I heard my dad preach on this very story !!

Loved it! Jill Eileen Smith is careful to keep the biblical account accurate while also fleshing the story out with believable customs of the time period and inspiring thought processes. Highly engaging. Made me want to live closer to God.