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Title: Judah's Wife

Subtitle: A Novel of the Maccabees

Author: Angela Hunt

Narrator: Rachel Botchan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-02-18

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Romance, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The miraculous story of the Maccabees told through the eyes of a woman who learns that love requires both courage and sacrifice. Seeking safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries a strong and gentle man of the nation of Judah. But when the ruler of the land issues a life-altering decree, her newfound peace - and the entire Jewish heritage - is put in jeopardy.

Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.

Judah's father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight - or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision - what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long?

The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage...and sacrifice.

Members Reviews:

Just as she begins to trust that God has delivered her from a marriage like her mother's

Having grown up with an abusive father, Leah sees her marriage to Judah Maccabaeus as a means of escape. Determined to please her strong, yet gentle, husband, Leah works hard and eventually finds a level of peace, safety, and contentment outside of her father's home and the walls of Jerusalem. Just as she begins to trust that God has delivered her from a marriage like her mother's, however, Judah's devout family becomes embroiled in a rebellion against Antiochus IV. Leah struggles to rationalize the need for violence against their oppressors and even fellow Jews who have turned away from the Law. How can she love a man who leads a violent revolt? Why did God choose her, of all people, to be the wife of a commander?

Angela Hunt brings to life yet another fascinating piece of history in Judah's Wife. Much as she did in Egypt's Sister-- the first in her Silent Years series-- Hunt uses the historical fiction genre to tell stories about people and places most modern Christians know very little about. Hunt's portrayal of the Maccabean revolt from an insider's perspective was masterfully accomplished. Leah's inner struggle to come to terms with God's will in her life and for His people, as well as her own journey to understand the nature of real love were equally beautiful. While the love story between Judah and Leah was more satisfying than the virtually non-existent one in Egypt's Sister, I still could have done with more. I realize that history-- rather than romance-- play the larger role in Hunt's works, but the amount of time Leah and Judah actually spend content in their marriage was short, and a bit rushed. While I understand their importance, and appreciate the historical accuracy involved, I also admittedly grew tired of-- and even resorted to skimming through-- the many, many battle scenes depicted in the novel.