The Wives of King David: Abigail-Book Review
I just finished reading about The Wives of King David Book 2: Abigail, by Jill Eileen Smith. It was enjoyable to see the pages of scripture come to life in a novel such as Abigail, where the main character faces many trials of faith. This novel about Abigail is fiction based on biblical facts and includes many scripture verses throughout the story. I
t’s fascinating to read about a character in the bible, from a novel perspective. From the clothing on her back, to the food on her table and the dust in the street-every detail of living in a Biblical times is described in this book of Abigail.
The author has a way of taking the ordinary and creating something beautiful, such as the uncomfortable moment on page 199 where Abigail waits for an answer from David. “Crickets and the whisper of wings moved in the air around them, breaking the silence” writes Jill Eileen Smith. Can you just imagine this type of silence…wow!I could just envision little flying insects and the stillness of the night. Great writing!
In one chapter of the book, King David is singing a Psalm about his child, with words pulled right out of scripture. While reading this novel, I often felt myself in the middle of the setting, watching David sing, and waiting for the next line in the story.
In another memorable chapter, the author writes “David lifted his hands toward heaven, his lashes glistening with unshed tears” (page 261). These words soften my feelings towards David. Like many readers, I too was offended by his numerous wives and practice of polygamy. Yet the author wrote her novel based on scripture, and David’s addiction to women was part of this story. More importantly than his fault, is Abigail’s attitude and approach to his actions. That, my friends, is the essence of this story!
Abigail is the second book in the series The Wives of King David. I’d recommend reading the first book Michal, before you read this one. There are references to the life of Michal in this book, and this book Abigail, details the future of his first wife. I’m now going back to read the first book. If it’s anything like Abigail, I’ll be excited to see the book arrive and will not put it down until I’ve finished it! Once I started reading this book, I was unable to stop!
I would permit teen daughters to read these books, because they demonstrate relationships based on Biblical values. The author, Jill Eileen Smith, has homeschooled her sons and her writing style reflects a nonthreatening approach to teach young women about the value of placing God first in their lives.
I received an advance copy from Revell Books for review. The book is available from Revell Books or your favorite bookseller.
