The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith {Historical Fiction Review}

The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith

Book Review Disclosure

Daughters of the Promised Land
Jill Eileen Smith
Historical Fiction

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition. Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity--and a permanent place in your heart.

Read an excerpt.
READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

If you've read any of Jill's Wives of King David or Wives of the Patriarchs series you already know that you are in for a real treat with this first book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series. My book club has read several of her books so I was thrilled to get my hands on  The Crimson Cord.

The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Jill pens a what if scenario of Rahab's life before the Biblical account. She fills in the blanks of all those questions that we have about this infamous woman. How did she become a prostitute in the first place? What type of relationship does she have with her family that they would be willing to come to her house of ill repute to be saved? I enjoyed Jill's suppositions and thought that the situations that she came up with were very plausible. She fleshed out Rahab and allowed the reader to see what Rahab's life must have been like. 

The second and third parts of the novel are made up of the Biblical account sprinkled with some more maybe this could have happened scenes to fill in the gaps of the complete story. This portion of the book was particularly moving for me. To watch a woman go from being a self-loathing wretch of a person to a beloved wife in the lineage of Christ was just beautiful. It was also a wonderful reminder that no one is ever too far away from God to be redeemed.

I highly recommend this book for personal reading. I also think that it would make a wonderful novel for your book club. The discussion would be interesting. I personally can't wait to read it with my club. 

Connect With The Author

Jill Eileen Smith
Photo Credit: © Amanda Matilla Photography



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