Status
Call number
Series
Publication
Description
In ancient Israel, at the crossroads of the great trading routes, a man named Benaiah is searching for a fresh start in life. He has joined a band of soldiers led by a warlord named David, seeking to bury the past that refuses to leave him. Their ragged army is disgruntled and full of reckless men. Some are loyal to David, but others are only with him for the promise of captured wealth. While the ruthless and increasingly mad King Saul marches hopelessly against the powerful Philistines, loyal son Jonathan in tow, the land of the Hebrew tribes has never been more despondent-and more in need of rescue. Over the course of ten days, from snowy mountain passes to sword-wracked battlefields, Benaiah and his fellow mercenaries must call upon every skill they have to survive and establish the throne for David-if they don't kill each other first. Day of War brings to life the exploits of the Mighty Men of Israel, a rag-tag band of disgruntled warriors on the run with David, the soon-to-be King. Their legendary deeds are recorded in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11.… (more)
User reviews
I can't wait for my sons to be old enough to delve into this gripping story of war and honor, of struggle and victory. David's Mighty men are brought to life and their story is highlighted within the pages of this book.
Very masculine in it's themes it is still an enjoyable read for women. In fact I read it purely out of a curiosity of this biblical fiction piece. My question being - Could anyone truly do justice to the untold and often overlooked impact that these trusted men of David had on the course of history. My answer - ABSOLUTELY. Cliff Graham has done an exceedingly good job.
In each page the reader can feel the tension of the political climate and the cost of the sacrificial lifestyle of these men. They fought alongside and under the leadership of one of the greatest kings in history. Come along for a very personal journey into their lives and discover for yourself the magnitude of their service and impact on history as we know it.
Thank you Zondervan for this review copy.
I was, however, very impressed with the novel as an example of historical fiction. In every chapter you could see evidence of the meticulous research that went into the tale, from the food they ate to the armor they wore, right down to their opinions about women. The story holds faithful to the accounts in the Hebrew scriptures, embracing the scant details provided there and elaborating on them in a way that makes you think, "yes, it really could have happened like that." The characters come alive and draw you in so that you are there with them, hoping and suffering and celebrating.
The story manages to incorporate the aspects of religion without sounding preachy, which strikes me as a very difficult task when your source material comes directly from the Bible, but it is handled in a delicate, even fascinating manner that should allow readers to either take side with David, strongly believing that this Covering is the answer that will win the day, or take the side of Benaiah, who isn't quite sure whether to believe this isn't all just wishful thinking.
The single most startling moment in the entire book, from my perspective, was when Keth's Hebrew name is revealed. My heart breaks a little, even so early in the tale, to realize what his final fate will be. Very cleverly done.
The final, somewhat unexpected thing I appreciated about this novel was the love the author obviously has for the subject. Historically, religiously, and even personally. I do not know his family, but from the way the tale is written, I almost feel like I can sense the author's love for that family in the telling of it. Passion like that cannot, in my experience, be simulated.
I will be recommending this book to a lot of my male friends, who will appreciate the story AND the testosterone that practically oozes from every paragraph.
I can't wait for my sons to be old enough to delve into this gripping story of war and honor, of struggle and victory. David's Mighty men are brought to life and their story is highlighted within the pages of this book.
Very masculine in it's themes it is still an enjoyable read for women. In fact I read it purely out of a curiosity of this biblical fiction piece. My question being - Could anyone truly do justice to the untold and often overlooked impact that these trusted men of David had on the course of history. My answer - ABSOLUTELY. Cliff Graham has done an exceedingly good job.
In each page the reader can feel the tension of the political climate and the cost of the sacrificial lifestyle of these men. They fought alongside and under the leadership of one of the greatest kings in history. Come along for a very personal journey into their lives and discover for yourself the magnitude of their service and impact on history as we know it.
Thank you Zondervan for this review copy.