Five Fall Favorites Day One

Welcome to Day 1 of the Five Fall Favorites Party hosted by Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page! As fall brings its usual evening chill to the close of the day, it’s a treat to gather around the bonfire to talk about your favorite books. Or, if you’re able, you can use the tricky, flickering light to read your favorite passages aloud. 

The favorite books I’m going to tell you about are in a specific genre: historical fiction set in Bible times. I’m picky about my Biblical fiction (we probably all are in one way or another!); I want to read something that’s as historically accurate as possible and that doesn’t contradict the Biblical account. Imaginative filling-in is okay with me as long as it helps me understand the Bible instead of undermining it. Ancient times were hard and extremely different from our own, so although I know violence and mistreatment of women were common, the novels I prefer don’t dwell on those aspects.

So here’s my list!

Dahveed by Terri Fivash

This is the first book in a series about David. Fivash paid great attention to Biblical and historical detail, even spelling the names the way they are pronounced in Hebrew. This told the story of Dahveed’s youth, weaving together what we know about him from the Bible with plausible and exciting additions that flesh out his life. Check out my full review on Goodreads.

Joseph by Terri Fivash

Terri Fivash also wrote about Joseph, another young man who lived through adventures and hardships that molded him into a vessel fit for God’s use. This was a long book, but it moved quickly. As with Dahveed, the Biblical characters are developed into people we feel we know, and we’re brought to a deeper understanding of what’s behind the Biblical account. Find on Goodreads.

First Light by Bodie & Brock Thoene

Fiction during Jesus/Yeshua’s time on earth is especially tricky, but this book handled it extremely well. Yeshua is a side character, and from what I can recall, the only words He speaks are those recorded in Scripture. Something I don’t like in fiction about this period is that Jews are often misrepresented, but First Light depicted Jewish characters and their way of life with great accuracy and respect, showing just how beautiful their traditions are and how those beliefs work with faith in Yeshua. Find on Goodreads.

Within the Palace Gates by Anna P. Siviter

This is a children’s novel about how Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall. I read this book a long time ago, but I remember liking it a lot. It brought a somewhat obscure yet exciting Biblical story to life (Nehemiah isn’t one of the most famous books in the Bible!). I remember really liking the characters. It’s definitely time for a reread, though. Find on Goodreads.

Day of Atonement by David A. deSilva

This book depicted the inter-testament period and what led to the Maccabean revolt and eventually the events celebrated at Hanukkah. The author is a scholar, so the historical details are the focus and taught me quite a bit about an era that I was pretty unfamiliar with. This one, and, come to think of it, Dahveed, Joseph, and First Light, as well, are books for teens/adults (but there was nothing overly graphic in any of them). Read my full review on Goodreads.

What are your favorite novels set in Bible times?

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