What do you think?
Rate this book
Chronicles of the Kings #5
Among the Gods
Fleeing King Manasseh's tyranny, Joshua leads the faithful remnant to their new home in Egypt. But as years pass, Joshua's desire for vengeance becomes an obsession. Blinded by hatred, he makes rash decisions, placing his loved ones in jeopardy.
Amid Joshua's turmoil comes an unexpected awakening of love--a love that burns so intensely it draws him from the dark inner seclusion where he often retreats. But what will it take for him to grasp the great love his Heavenly Father has for him--and for the chosen people of Judah?
Amid Joshua's turmoil comes an unexpected awakening of love--a love that burns so intensely it draws him from the dark inner seclusion where he often retreats. But what will it take for him to grasp the great love his Heavenly Father has for him--and for the chosen people of Judah?
347 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
359 people are currently reading
2669 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Austin
55 books5,456 followersFor many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
September 24, 2012
This isn't just a story. This truly was a lesson on the forgiveness and love of a Heavenly Father. I'm a visual person and the picture was clearly demonstrated that no matter the depth of our sins God's strong arm of love is long enough to reach us. His desire is not to destroy but to heal.
Another thing I noticed that in each book of this series the author took care in really completing the story leaving you satisfied at the end. So many times I will read a book and it just seems like the author was so done writing and the last chapter is just a "hurry up and get this over with" chapter. Not so with these books, especially the last. Each sentence right up to the end seemed like it had purpose. I felt satisfied - even though I definitely would like to see the story continue on to Josiah.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the whole series. I would recommend reading the whole series though. You could probably get away with reading them each on their own, but you really shouldn't. Each feeds off of the other books before it as the characters develop.
Another thing I noticed that in each book of this series the author took care in really completing the story leaving you satisfied at the end. So many times I will read a book and it just seems like the author was so done writing and the last chapter is just a "hurry up and get this over with" chapter. Not so with these books, especially the last. Each sentence right up to the end seemed like it had purpose. I felt satisfied - even though I definitely would like to see the story continue on to Josiah.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the whole series. I would recommend reading the whole series though. You could probably get away with reading them each on their own, but you really shouldn't. Each feeds off of the other books before it as the characters develop.
April 30, 2023
A lot felt rushed. I felt like Joshua and Manasseh's story could have used one more book. Nevertheless, the topic on revenge and how it can blind you was handled well enough.
September 25, 2019
Joshua is devastated by the execution of his father. He and the remnant of the faithful Jews, along with Prince Amaraia, King Mannasah's brother, have fled to Egypt and are living on Elephantine Island. Every decision Joshua makes is planted in his hatred for Mannasah. Can he find his way back to forgiveness and healing when the long awaited return to Jerusalem comes?
Austin's incredible historical research and Biblical foundation bring to life this part of the Kingdom time period in the life of the Jews as once again, an evil King turns away from God and to idols and immorality with numerous Jews following his lead. Each of her books has led me back to these events in the Bible with more understanding of what took place.
This is the last book in this series. I highly recommend this series for any who are interested in Old Testament Biblical fiction.
Austin's incredible historical research and Biblical foundation bring to life this part of the Kingdom time period in the life of the Jews as once again, an evil King turns away from God and to idols and immorality with numerous Jews following his lead. Each of her books has led me back to these events in the Bible with more understanding of what took place.
This is the last book in this series. I highly recommend this series for any who are interested in Old Testament Biblical fiction.
September 6, 2011
Another great read from Lynn Austin. I must confess when I started the series I wasn't sure she could pull it all together, however I am happy to report, "I LOVE THE ENTIRE SERIES "Chronicles of the Kings"!
November 27, 2012
I feel like there should be a 6th book... *sigh* it's over... Now I have to find something else to read. The series was truly captivating.
September 17, 2013
If you want to learn more about the Old Testament, you will enjoy reading these books. You also experience the not so difference of our hearts with her characters. How hard it is to forgive, to see God's forgiveness and His grace and mercy. This is a continuation of the Kings of the Old Testament. King Manneseh was the King of Israel's history. Unlike his father, his pride lead him to wickedness and lead his people there as well. Joshua recovering from the death of his father and the prophet Isaiah, escaped with his family and a group of Levites to Egypt. I felt like I had a better undestanding of what happened and why. The why is important because it can easily be our why as to our separation from the Lord. You see how Joshua struggled with anger and the anger his adopted son Nathan is not much different than him. Sometimes the Lord gives us people to show the struggle of our heart. This is an opportuntity of a heart cry from our hearts to the Lord to become more like him. We serve the Lord as we become more like His nature. We serve ourselves when we serve our flesh, the struggle is knowing the difference. A great story to show the difference of the nature of God and our flesh!
May 30, 2016
I recommend this series to every Christian out there who likes historical fiction. The author addresses plenty of tough questions that people learning about God face. I appreciated everything she used to make her point that God is a forgiving, loving, and second chance God. He never abandons us even when we abandon him to the darkest of sins.
This last book was hard to read at the beginning. The anger and bitterness that major characters expressed was discouraging to read. Once I got more into the plot, I was totally invested. I was completely content with the ending of the series. I actually wish there were more books to continue the Bible stories.
My favorite book of the series is The Strength of His Hand. The storyline and Christian teaching in this book related to me the most. But every book was good!
This last book was hard to read at the beginning. The anger and bitterness that major characters expressed was discouraging to read. Once I got more into the plot, I was totally invested. I was completely content with the ending of the series. I actually wish there were more books to continue the Bible stories.
My favorite book of the series is The Strength of His Hand. The storyline and Christian teaching in this book related to me the most. But every book was good!
February 7, 2024
Definitely my least favorite of the series. I wish some of the time period was shown in flashbacks rather than needing to write chapters to get “into the scene”. It just became a lot. However, I did appreciate the progression of characters in this book.
Overall, I absolutely loved this series and will definitely be purchasing it so I can read it again.
Overall, I absolutely loved this series and will definitely be purchasing it so I can read it again.
December 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this series. This final book was also a strong one, but for some reason I only enjoyed it. What stood out for me is how our bitterness, hatred and unforgiveness can have a stronghold on us and keep us from a life of abundance.
Another point that stood out is no matter our past and just how much we sinned, God is a God of compassion and forgiveness and if we turn to him with a repentant heart, He will forgive and give us a clean slate.
Another point that stood out is no matter our past and just how much we sinned, God is a God of compassion and forgiveness and if we turn to him with a repentant heart, He will forgive and give us a clean slate.
April 7, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this series; it taught me so much, and reading books like these really helps me to see Bible characters as real people.
March 7, 2022
4.5 stars.
Honestly, I'm slightly conflicted about how to rate this book.
This is the last book in the Chronicles of the Kings series. All the other books before it I had read, but I hadn't finished out the series by reading this one. So I went back and read all the other four again to remember where I was before I read this one.
Quite frankly, I've read books with better prose then this. There was way too much telling and way too little connection to the characters. The first half or third in particular felt stiff and unnatural. It wasn't... Like, really bad. If it had been, I probably would've given it three stars or not finished it at all.
But do you know what really kept me going? Well, for one I was determined to finish out this series but that's not the driving reason. The PLOT was what it was for me.
The plot, guys, was amazing. The devastation that the need for revenge wrecks is portrayed vividly. I love how Nathan was shown to be a type of Joshua, and how Joshua had to work through his hatred of Manasseh and his misunderstandings of how God works. It was a powerful narrative. Manasseh's story especially stick out to me in the Bible, because God HEARD HIS CRY despite the fact that he led Judah into the worst sin it had experienced up to that point, and restored him to his kingdom. In response to this Manasseh reversed his evil ways and cleared out the idols.
Overall, I feel like it's a great story but the execution of it could have been handled a lot better. However, to do so might have meant that the narrative would have to be expanded on, and if that was the case, another book might've been necessary.
Overall, an awesome story, and I think, a fitting end to the Chronicles of the Kings series.
(And yes, I did finish this book in two days. It was the weekend, so I had time to read lol)
Honestly, I'm slightly conflicted about how to rate this book.
This is the last book in the Chronicles of the Kings series. All the other books before it I had read, but I hadn't finished out the series by reading this one. So I went back and read all the other four again to remember where I was before I read this one.
Quite frankly, I've read books with better prose then this. There was way too much telling and way too little connection to the characters. The first half or third in particular felt stiff and unnatural. It wasn't... Like, really bad. If it had been, I probably would've given it three stars or not finished it at all.
But do you know what really kept me going? Well, for one I was determined to finish out this series but that's not the driving reason. The PLOT was what it was for me.
The plot, guys, was amazing. The devastation that the need for revenge wrecks is portrayed vividly. I love how Nathan was shown to be a type of Joshua, and how Joshua had to work through his hatred of Manasseh and his misunderstandings of how God works. It was a powerful narrative. Manasseh's story especially stick out to me in the Bible, because God HEARD HIS CRY despite the fact that he led Judah into the worst sin it had experienced up to that point, and restored him to his kingdom. In response to this Manasseh reversed his evil ways and cleared out the idols.
Overall, I feel like it's a great story but the execution of it could have been handled a lot better. However, to do so might have meant that the narrative would have to be expanded on, and if that was the case, another book might've been necessary.
Overall, an awesome story, and I think, a fitting end to the Chronicles of the Kings series.
(And yes, I did finish this book in two days. It was the weekend, so I had time to read lol)
December 26, 2021
This is the last book in this 5 book series. All are fascinating and I could hardly stop reading. My last ratings don’t actually reflect the interest I had in these books. I just felt that so much was made up due to there not being enough Biblical detail to know how the story went. That makes me somewhat uneasy as I have imprinted much that is not true in my mind. Still Austin stayed true to Bible principles and Godly teaching. It just gives me mixed feelings, particularly for those who have not been exposed to much scripture or are without faith or are young in their faith.
I also felt that Ms. Austin used principles and ideals more from Christianity than the Old Testament Jewish law. They were still under “eye for eye and tooth for tooth.” Though those are the right messages for us today, it’s not true for the time period she is covering. All that is just to reinforce the necessity of researching your Bible to know what is true. That being said, I truly enjoyed Austin’s writing and will certainly read her other works.
I also felt that Ms. Austin used principles and ideals more from Christianity than the Old Testament Jewish law. They were still under “eye for eye and tooth for tooth.” Though those are the right messages for us today, it’s not true for the time period she is covering. All that is just to reinforce the necessity of researching your Bible to know what is true. That being said, I truly enjoyed Austin’s writing and will certainly read her other works.
April 17, 2019
There couldn’t have possibly been a better conclusion to this series than this book right here. “Among the gods” was, above all other four previous books, an amazing story of forgiveness, redemption, anger, parenthood, love, kindness, sins, home and mercy. I had not one not two but quite a few moments in the book that got me crying like a baby. And, at the same time, I was so deeply touched by the way Lynn managed to transpose these historical facts into real tangible events and those historical figures into humans with feelings and battles, people like us, experimenting sorrow or joy or anger or confusion. And, above all, people feeling so deep in their lives God’s love. I’m amazed at how well this out-of-this-world feeling has been put into words and expressed in a way that anyone could understand it.
The most important message of this series and this book in particular? If they received that kind/amount of love from God and from the people around them, then so can we.
The most important message of this series and this book in particular? If they received that kind/amount of love from God and from the people around them, then so can we.
June 11, 2015
Joshua Ben Eliakim fled King Mannaseh’s ruthless reign of terror with a faithful remnant to a new home in Egypt. Yet far away, safe from the terrible tyrant, Joshua is constantly haunted by revenge. It will not leave him alone. As events pulled Joshua into one conflict after another aimed at dethroning Mannaseh’s Joshua keeps digging deeper into his tunnel of isolation, where bitterness, regret and sorrow are about to destroy him. Yet, Yahweh in his mercy and kindness reached down to wrap his loving arms around Joshua. The demons persist and Joshua struggles through the years to make peace with himself, Yahweh, his family and his enemies. As I read this book I couldn’t help but look into the mirror at myself as the characters and actions pulled me along in this incredible story. It will make you evaluate your faith.
February 24, 2012
The lessons in this series are amazing. I have learned so much and wish I could read more... Thanks Lynn Austin for writing this... We want more like this....
November 16, 2014
So good! This is an excellent series! So glad I read them.
October 3, 2023
Discussion Questions
Pg 16
The passover. They were thanking God from delivering them from Egypt while in the heart of Egypt.
Pg17-19 cont. 22
Discuss your thoughts on the union between dinah and prince Amariah.
Was it Gods will or Joshuas?
“But my brother isnt dead.
Hes dead in Gods eyes.”
Did Joshua make any connection between losing his previous love Yeal and forcing Dinah to marry a man she didnt love?
Pg57-58
Discuss hadads time in Manassehs prison and their plan to take down Joshua.
“Joshua is my enemy. I never said I was his enemy.”
Pg84-85
Manasseh killed Eliakim for not telling him the prophecy but Zerah keeps twlling him the signs are unclear and not telling him the prophecy.
Which ways does Zerah manipulate manassah?
Who discovered Hadads trap?
Discuss Miriams bravery. How did she get so wise when she wasnt born into the jewish religion? Pg96/97
Compare Zerah and josha.
Zerah was manipulating for the devil while joshua thought he was manipulating people for God. But was he really?
Pg117
When did joshua finally realize his revenge had gone to far?
Why didnt God punish the evil men instead of hurting Miriam?
Pg185
Manassah realized the men he killed had helped in his father’s success.
How ironic was king manassahs behavior?
Did Manassah think he was still doing Gods will?
Pg186
Manassah trusted Isaiahs previous prophecy but he didnt trust how the prophecy worked.
Discuss the prophecies on pg 187.
Pg189-90
Manassah finally realized he messed up.
Do you think the Urim and thummim were the word of God?
Ch 12
When you give your anger to God, he will do something glorious with it?
Pg341
Discuss the relationship between joshua and nathan.
Nathan was a big part in joshua forgiving manassah.
Discuss joshuas forgiveness towards manassah
Pg 16
The passover. They were thanking God from delivering them from Egypt while in the heart of Egypt.
Pg17-19 cont. 22
Discuss your thoughts on the union between dinah and prince Amariah.
Was it Gods will or Joshuas?
“But my brother isnt dead.
Hes dead in Gods eyes.”
Did Joshua make any connection between losing his previous love Yeal and forcing Dinah to marry a man she didnt love?
Pg57-58
Discuss hadads time in Manassehs prison and their plan to take down Joshua.
“Joshua is my enemy. I never said I was his enemy.”
Pg84-85
Manasseh killed Eliakim for not telling him the prophecy but Zerah keeps twlling him the signs are unclear and not telling him the prophecy.
Which ways does Zerah manipulate manassah?
Who discovered Hadads trap?
Discuss Miriams bravery. How did she get so wise when she wasnt born into the jewish religion? Pg96/97
Compare Zerah and josha.
Zerah was manipulating for the devil while joshua thought he was manipulating people for God. But was he really?
Pg117
When did joshua finally realize his revenge had gone to far?
Why didnt God punish the evil men instead of hurting Miriam?
Pg185
Manassah realized the men he killed had helped in his father’s success.
How ironic was king manassahs behavior?
Did Manassah think he was still doing Gods will?
Pg186
Manassah trusted Isaiahs previous prophecy but he didnt trust how the prophecy worked.
Discuss the prophecies on pg 187.
Pg189-90
Manassah finally realized he messed up.
Do you think the Urim and thummim were the word of God?
Ch 12
When you give your anger to God, he will do something glorious with it?
Pg341
Discuss the relationship between joshua and nathan.
Nathan was a big part in joshua forgiving manassah.
Discuss joshuas forgiveness towards manassah
July 23, 2018
Austin's Biblical kings series is AMAZING!! We can all read the stories of the kings in the Bible, but these books let the readers see and feel the details.
***Themes of this book and series:
1. Yahweh (the Lord, God Almighty, the God of Abraham) is the only true God.
2. God cannot be molded into our image of Him. He is sovereign, regardless of our opinion or understanding of Him.
3. God is both just and merciful. His plans, His way is sometimes impossible for any human to understand, but those who trust Him find peace.
***Favorite Quotes***
1. "I will thank Him for all the He has given me, not curse Him for all that I've lost."
2. "Our God is holy . . . He demands holiness of us because it's the only way we can have fellowship with Him. The Law is there to remind us to be holy in everything we do . . . It's true that other gods don't have laws for people to follow. That's what makes them so appealing. And it's also what proves they're false. Man creates those gods in his own sinful image. People don't want rules and laws; we don't want holy living."
3. "You only see the immediate rewards of sin . . . But if you went out in the world for a while and saw the long-term results of adultery or covetousness or living a life apart from God, you'd see how sin eventually destroys us."
***Themes of this book and series:
1. Yahweh (the Lord, God Almighty, the God of Abraham) is the only true God.
2. God cannot be molded into our image of Him. He is sovereign, regardless of our opinion or understanding of Him.
3. God is both just and merciful. His plans, His way is sometimes impossible for any human to understand, but those who trust Him find peace.
***Favorite Quotes***
1. "I will thank Him for all the He has given me, not curse Him for all that I've lost."
2. "Our God is holy . . . He demands holiness of us because it's the only way we can have fellowship with Him. The Law is there to remind us to be holy in everything we do . . . It's true that other gods don't have laws for people to follow. That's what makes them so appealing. And it's also what proves they're false. Man creates those gods in his own sinful image. People don't want rules and laws; we don't want holy living."
3. "You only see the immediate rewards of sin . . . But if you went out in the world for a while and saw the long-term results of adultery or covetousness or living a life apart from God, you'd see how sin eventually destroys us."
January 22, 2018
I’m trying not to judge this book according to how I understand God’s mercy and the law of justice. Manasseh’s murders and immorality seems too much to be forgiven of. It’s time for me to reread the Bible’s account to know what really happened. That being said, it humbles me to know that I don’t deserve forgiveness either, yet I know Father in Heaven has forgiven me of my past errors and continues to pour out His mercy as I struggle to follow His ways.
June 20, 2022
Joshua has led his family and Levites to the safety of Elephantine Island in Egypt during King Mannaseh reign. He is devastated by his father and Isaiah's deaths. This anger, bitterness, and need for revenge will drive many years for Joshua. Can he find forgiveness of others, himself and feel God's forgiveness before it's too late? An emotional conclusion to Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series.
April 22, 2021
The first three books in this series were great - insightful about the time, great stories, and full of scripture in context of the historical narrative.
The last two books were verrrry long accounts of two incredibly annoying, stubborn boys. The last hour of this book was interesting but not worth the hours of reading about the boys’ lifetimes of huffiness...at least, to me.
The last two books were verrrry long accounts of two incredibly annoying, stubborn boys. The last hour of this book was interesting but not worth the hours of reading about the boys’ lifetimes of huffiness...at least, to me.
March 25, 2024
I enjoyed the stories in this series and felt invested in the characters—it kept me reading. I often felt frustrated, though, by the Western perspectives and actions of the characters—some of the things they said and decisions they made were out of context for the culture the characters were living in.
November 8, 2019
What an amazing series!
Lynn Austin stirred up every possible emotion, while painting beautiful canvases with her rich descriptions.
But most importantly, this series has taught me how to better love and trust in Yahweh, and that in itself is a prayer answered.
Lynn Austin stirred up every possible emotion, while painting beautiful canvases with her rich descriptions.
But most importantly, this series has taught me how to better love and trust in Yahweh, and that in itself is a prayer answered.
February 27, 2020
I did enjoy this book, but it definitely didn’t feel as good as the others. Joshua held onto his anger for so long and it just kept coming back to the surface. This series was good, but I am glad it is over.
December 21, 2020
Loved reading of Isaiah' prophecies and how they go with the stories of the Chronicles kings.
December 26, 2022
Another good book in the series, just very violent.
August 20, 2022
This is a historical religious fiction--the story of King Manasseh's further wickedness, an exiled group of Jews trying to keep God's commandments in Egypt (including Manasseh's younger brother Amariah), and then King Manasseh's repentance and return to God. It's a story of revenge, forgiveness, and learning to accept and do God's will. Here are some good quotes:
"'If Pharaoh allows us to stay in Egypt, we'll be living among these gods all the time' (p. 8)."
"'The land deeded to you is on an island in the Nile River known as Elephantine... It is an important military outpost, and Pharaoh expects it to remain so. The terms of the treaty are these: First, Pharaoh requires all the young men of your community to enter into military training in order to staff Pharaoh's fortress on Elephantine... Second, this Jewish garrison will come to Pharaoh's defense... Third, you will join with Pharaoh's other armed forces if our great god Amon-Ra should decree that the Egyptian empire must expand' (p. 9)."
"'You come to me claiming to be true priests of Yahweh. You ask to build an altar to him in Egypt. I have granted your request. But in return, I ask that Yahweh's military power be made available to me' (p. 10)."
"'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good... his love endures forever... In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free' (p. 15)."
"'Am I the only one who sees how insane all this is?... We're thanking God for delivering us from the Egyptians while living in the heart of Egypt!' (p. 16)"
"'Dinah was once part of King Manasseh's harem... She bore his son. Now she belongs to the House of David. Anyone who marries her will be challenging King Manasseh's right to rule and officially claiming the throne of Judah. She has to marry Prince Amariah' (p. 18)."
"'It isn't revenge. It's the Law' (p. 23)."
"Could it really be God's will for Dinah to marry the prince when she loved Hadad (p. 24)?"
"'You have a tender heart, Miriam. Don't give it away to someone who doesn't deserve it. Or worse, to someone who will poison it' (p. 28)."
"'A boy who carves idols!... We can't tolerate an idolater living under our roof' (p. 47)."
"They couldn't kill someone who was already dead (p. 55)."
"'Yahweh is Manasseh's judge, not us. We should wait for Him to bring justice' (p. 65)."
"'We married each other because of him. I'm supposed to rule this island because of him. You're supposed to have a baby because of him. Our lives still aren't our own, Dinah. No one ever asks us what we want... Why do I have to define my life in terms of filling a need? Can't I have a purpose of my own choosing?' (p. 71)"
"'I know you didn't marry me because you love me. The real Amariah doesn't matter to you. I never did. I'm Manasseh's brother, your means of revenge. That's all our marriage is based on' (p. 71)."
"'Joshua will never love you the way you love him.'... 'I know Joshua can't change. But neither can I' (p. 82)."
"He would take control of his life. He would be the leader God intended him to be. Starting now (p. 99)."
"'The Torah says that children aren't judged for their fathers' sins, nor fathers for their children's' (p. 115)."
"This disaster wasn't Yahweh's fault--it was his own. If this mission had been God's will, Manasseh would be dead and Joshua would be in Jerusalem by now, not huddled at the bottom of a cliff watching Miriam die (p. 117)."
"'All this time you knew I killed our father?.... why don't you hate me, Miriam? How could you risk your life for me again and again if you knew that my mistakes killed him?' 'I forgave you.'... 'I don't deserve forgiveness.' 'No one does, but God forgives us anyway. Your mother taught me that' (p. 118)."
"'We're in Yahweh's hands. Whatever happens to us is His will' (p. 119)."
"'It wasn't until I had no other choice--until the guards disappeared and Miriam left and I was faced with the responsibility of caring for you and our baby all by myself--that I finally decided t put my trust in God' (p. 120)."
"'What I remember most about King Hezekiah was his courage and his faith' (p. 124)."
"'How can they tolerate King Manasseh?'... 'I serve whoever happens to be anointed king of Judah... I don't have the luxury of choosing who that is' (p. 124)."
"'Above all else, guard your heart... for it is the wellspring of life' (p. 126)."
"He was forced to decide whether to trust God or surrender to the Assyrians. This was what leadership was all about--and what Amariah had always tried to avoid. He needed to make a decision. He would have to trust God to help him make the right one (p. 128)."
"They had both faced enormous losses, yet hatred had emerged from his, love from hers. In spite of all she'd been through, her sweet, uncomplaining nature had never changed (p. 129)."
"'It wasn't your life that changed, it was your heart' (p. 131)."
"'Deciding to let go of the anger or hold on to it is a choice you can make every day. Jerusha says that if you give your hatred to God, He'll make something beautiful out of it' (p. 132)."
"'In the past I've depended on you more than on God to make my decisions. It's time I learned to depend on Him' (p. 148)."
"'You don't have to do anything in return. Being father and son isn't a bargain we make. It's a relationship. I'll try to set a good example for you to follow, and I hope that you'll learn to respect me, to cherish the values that are important to me, maybe even to love me' (p. 151)."
"'Do you love me, Miriam? In spite of this? In spite of how crippled I am inside?' (p. 153)"
"'Manasseh did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger. He took the carved image he had made and put it in God's temple' (2 Chronicles 33:6-7, p. 155)."
"Prince Amariah stood before the high priest, cradling his eight-day-old son in his arms. Today his firstborn would be circumcised, receiving the son of God's covenant. Deep contentment filled Amariah, and his heart brimmed with love for the God of his fathers. His thank offering burned on the altar in front of him, sending the fragrant aroma of roasting meat heavenward (p. 157)."
"'Yahweh has given us an heir. His love and His promises to Israel are faithfully delivered from generation to generation. Even in exile, the House of David will continue to reign over Israel as God has promised' (p. 158)."
"'I used to be miserable here in Egypt... but it was because I was resisting God. Once I saw that this is what He wanted me to do, and that He would give me the strength and wisdom to do it... everything changed' (p. 159)."
"'God could root out Manasseh with the flick of His little finger. Why doesn't He do it, Amariah? Why does He allow evil to flourish when it's within His power to change it?' (p. 161)"
"'Take a good look at that temple you've started. Do you have any idea how important it is? How much our community depends on it for our survival? We can't possibly preserve God's remnant and remain faithful to His laws without it' (p. 161)."
"'In a time of exile and uncertainty, God has given all of us new hope for the future in my son' (p. 162)."
"'Love isn't a feeling; it's an attitude, it's actions... Whether you feel it or not, just do the loving thing' (p. 169)."
"'Why won't He help me stand up to them the way He helped my father?' (p. 191)"
"'How can I accept His will when I don't understand it? Why does He keep taking away everything I love?' (p. 198)"
"'Don't you ever wonder what He wants you to learn from all this?' (p. 198)"
"'I prayed that she would live, and God answered me' (p. 209)."
"'Nathan is just like you. Both of you are filled with anger. Both of you rage at circumstances in the past that you cannot change. Both of you mourn and question the loss of your fathers. Both of you are furious with God' (p. 213)."
"'Trust in God. Let His will be done' (p. 215)."
"'Go make a thank offering, Joshua. God answered your prayers' (p. 220)."
"Joshua knelt before God and finally laid all of his hatred, all of his vengeance at Yahweh's feet (p. 220)."
"How had Joshua ever imagined that God could use him to reclaim Judah from idolatry when he couldn't even restrain his only son (p. 231)?"
"'Rebelling was Nathan's choice' (p. 234)."
"'The Evil One wants to enslave us to sin, but God gave us the Law because He wants us as sons' (p. 237)."
"'Only God can fill that place. He's the Father you've longed for all your life' (p. 238)."
"'Allow them to experience God's goodness and faithfulness for themselves. Let them ask difficult questions, then stand back and allow God to work in their lives. Let your children 'taste and see that the Lord is good' Our generation experienced God's deliverance firsthand, and so we have a relationship with Him based on faith. But we can't pass our relationship on to our sons. We can point them in the right direction, but they must experience God themselves and decide whether or not to embrace Him' (p. 239)."
"'God doesn't always give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need' (p. 244)."
"'Everything that happens in our life is under His control and serves His purpose' (p. 245)."
"'Each of us is alone in some way, living with circumstances that no one else can understand' (p. 258)."
"Got not only brought them back to her but had somehow brought them to each other. They were father and son at last (p. 270)."
"'Why did everything fall apart? We prayed! We sought His will! He said yes!' (p. 279)"
"He had refused to pray. But God had been in control all along (p. 291)."
"'Because you have everything all figured out in your mind--what's going to happen, how God is going to work--and if things don't end up exactly the way you think they will, you'll be angry with God again' (p. 298)."
"There was no pride or arrogance in his father's posture as he reigned, only a quiet humility that somehow made him seem more powerful (p. 302)."
"He wondered who he should believe (p. 303)."
"Manasseh didn't blame God for punishing him... He was going to die here, and he deserved it (p. 304)."
"Manasseh was suddenly no longer alone in his cell. He felt God's hand of compassion reaching out to touch him, God's arms of mercy surrounding him. His tears of love washed Manasseh clean. As the power of God's forgiveness slowly transformed him, Manasseh lifted his heart to heaven. 'Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name' (p. 306)."
"'I have a healthy fear of the Assyrians... but I also have faith in Yahweh' (p. 310)."
"Even though God had forgiven him for all that he'd done, Manasseh still had to suffer the consequences of his sins. And that seemed right to him (p. 316)."
"Manasseh couldn't understand what was happening to him. Experiencing God's forgiveness in his prison cell had been a far greater gift than he had experienced or deserved. To be pardoned by the emperor, set free, allowed to return home, was beyond his comprehension. He fell at the Assyrian's feet, weeping at Yahweh's goodness (p. 319)."
"'Everything you see is a gift from God' (p. 319)."
"'Whatever happened to him in Babylon changed him, and not just on the outside' (p. 328)."
"If Abba had forgiven Manasseh, then he would have wanted Joshua to forgive him, too. But Joshua knew that was utterly impossible (p. 336)."
"'Are there limits to God's forgiveness, Joshua? Are there some sins that He'll forgive and others that He punishes?' (p. 337)"
"'Forgiveness is costly, Joshua. We pay the price ourselves when we choose to cancel the debt' (p. 338)."
"'Does that mean that God is also willing to pay the cost and bear the punishment for all of our sins?' (p. 342)"
"'God has led us to examine ourselves and to confess our sins. Now we bring those sins before Him as a nation so we can await His forgiveness' (p. 344)."
"'Forgive me for wanting revenge and justice for my enemy more than I wanted your mercy. I've been angry with you, Lord, because your measure of mercy is as great as your measure of justice. I'm sorry. Now I need your mercy and forgiveness, too' (p. 345)."
"'Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel' (2 Chronicles 33:15-16, p. 349)."
"'I earnestly implore you,
forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me with my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me;...
for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to
your great mercy,' (The Prayer of Manasseh, p. 351)"
"In 1961, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of a temple on the island of Elephantine in Egypt. Aligned to face Jerusalem, it was identical in size and construction to the Jerusalem Temple and had been built by Jewish priests and Levites fleeing the persecution of King Manasseh's reign (p. 352)."
"'If Pharaoh allows us to stay in Egypt, we'll be living among these gods all the time' (p. 8)."
"'The land deeded to you is on an island in the Nile River known as Elephantine... It is an important military outpost, and Pharaoh expects it to remain so. The terms of the treaty are these: First, Pharaoh requires all the young men of your community to enter into military training in order to staff Pharaoh's fortress on Elephantine... Second, this Jewish garrison will come to Pharaoh's defense... Third, you will join with Pharaoh's other armed forces if our great god Amon-Ra should decree that the Egyptian empire must expand' (p. 9)."
"'You come to me claiming to be true priests of Yahweh. You ask to build an altar to him in Egypt. I have granted your request. But in return, I ask that Yahweh's military power be made available to me' (p. 10)."
"'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good... his love endures forever... In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free' (p. 15)."
"'Am I the only one who sees how insane all this is?... We're thanking God for delivering us from the Egyptians while living in the heart of Egypt!' (p. 16)"
"'Dinah was once part of King Manasseh's harem... She bore his son. Now she belongs to the House of David. Anyone who marries her will be challenging King Manasseh's right to rule and officially claiming the throne of Judah. She has to marry Prince Amariah' (p. 18)."
"'It isn't revenge. It's the Law' (p. 23)."
"Could it really be God's will for Dinah to marry the prince when she loved Hadad (p. 24)?"
"'You have a tender heart, Miriam. Don't give it away to someone who doesn't deserve it. Or worse, to someone who will poison it' (p. 28)."
"'A boy who carves idols!... We can't tolerate an idolater living under our roof' (p. 47)."
"They couldn't kill someone who was already dead (p. 55)."
"'Yahweh is Manasseh's judge, not us. We should wait for Him to bring justice' (p. 65)."
"'We married each other because of him. I'm supposed to rule this island because of him. You're supposed to have a baby because of him. Our lives still aren't our own, Dinah. No one ever asks us what we want... Why do I have to define my life in terms of filling a need? Can't I have a purpose of my own choosing?' (p. 71)"
"'I know you didn't marry me because you love me. The real Amariah doesn't matter to you. I never did. I'm Manasseh's brother, your means of revenge. That's all our marriage is based on' (p. 71)."
"'Joshua will never love you the way you love him.'... 'I know Joshua can't change. But neither can I' (p. 82)."
"He would take control of his life. He would be the leader God intended him to be. Starting now (p. 99)."
"'The Torah says that children aren't judged for their fathers' sins, nor fathers for their children's' (p. 115)."
"This disaster wasn't Yahweh's fault--it was his own. If this mission had been God's will, Manasseh would be dead and Joshua would be in Jerusalem by now, not huddled at the bottom of a cliff watching Miriam die (p. 117)."
"'All this time you knew I killed our father?.... why don't you hate me, Miriam? How could you risk your life for me again and again if you knew that my mistakes killed him?' 'I forgave you.'... 'I don't deserve forgiveness.' 'No one does, but God forgives us anyway. Your mother taught me that' (p. 118)."
"'We're in Yahweh's hands. Whatever happens to us is His will' (p. 119)."
"'It wasn't until I had no other choice--until the guards disappeared and Miriam left and I was faced with the responsibility of caring for you and our baby all by myself--that I finally decided t put my trust in God' (p. 120)."
"'What I remember most about King Hezekiah was his courage and his faith' (p. 124)."
"'How can they tolerate King Manasseh?'... 'I serve whoever happens to be anointed king of Judah... I don't have the luxury of choosing who that is' (p. 124)."
"'Above all else, guard your heart... for it is the wellspring of life' (p. 126)."
"He was forced to decide whether to trust God or surrender to the Assyrians. This was what leadership was all about--and what Amariah had always tried to avoid. He needed to make a decision. He would have to trust God to help him make the right one (p. 128)."
"They had both faced enormous losses, yet hatred had emerged from his, love from hers. In spite of all she'd been through, her sweet, uncomplaining nature had never changed (p. 129)."
"'It wasn't your life that changed, it was your heart' (p. 131)."
"'Deciding to let go of the anger or hold on to it is a choice you can make every day. Jerusha says that if you give your hatred to God, He'll make something beautiful out of it' (p. 132)."
"'In the past I've depended on you more than on God to make my decisions. It's time I learned to depend on Him' (p. 148)."
"'You don't have to do anything in return. Being father and son isn't a bargain we make. It's a relationship. I'll try to set a good example for you to follow, and I hope that you'll learn to respect me, to cherish the values that are important to me, maybe even to love me' (p. 151)."
"'Do you love me, Miriam? In spite of this? In spite of how crippled I am inside?' (p. 153)"
"'Manasseh did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger. He took the carved image he had made and put it in God's temple' (2 Chronicles 33:6-7, p. 155)."
"Prince Amariah stood before the high priest, cradling his eight-day-old son in his arms. Today his firstborn would be circumcised, receiving the son of God's covenant. Deep contentment filled Amariah, and his heart brimmed with love for the God of his fathers. His thank offering burned on the altar in front of him, sending the fragrant aroma of roasting meat heavenward (p. 157)."
"'Yahweh has given us an heir. His love and His promises to Israel are faithfully delivered from generation to generation. Even in exile, the House of David will continue to reign over Israel as God has promised' (p. 158)."
"'I used to be miserable here in Egypt... but it was because I was resisting God. Once I saw that this is what He wanted me to do, and that He would give me the strength and wisdom to do it... everything changed' (p. 159)."
"'God could root out Manasseh with the flick of His little finger. Why doesn't He do it, Amariah? Why does He allow evil to flourish when it's within His power to change it?' (p. 161)"
"'Take a good look at that temple you've started. Do you have any idea how important it is? How much our community depends on it for our survival? We can't possibly preserve God's remnant and remain faithful to His laws without it' (p. 161)."
"'In a time of exile and uncertainty, God has given all of us new hope for the future in my son' (p. 162)."
"'Love isn't a feeling; it's an attitude, it's actions... Whether you feel it or not, just do the loving thing' (p. 169)."
"'Why won't He help me stand up to them the way He helped my father?' (p. 191)"
"'How can I accept His will when I don't understand it? Why does He keep taking away everything I love?' (p. 198)"
"'Don't you ever wonder what He wants you to learn from all this?' (p. 198)"
"'I prayed that she would live, and God answered me' (p. 209)."
"'Nathan is just like you. Both of you are filled with anger. Both of you rage at circumstances in the past that you cannot change. Both of you mourn and question the loss of your fathers. Both of you are furious with God' (p. 213)."
"'Trust in God. Let His will be done' (p. 215)."
"'Go make a thank offering, Joshua. God answered your prayers' (p. 220)."
"Joshua knelt before God and finally laid all of his hatred, all of his vengeance at Yahweh's feet (p. 220)."
"How had Joshua ever imagined that God could use him to reclaim Judah from idolatry when he couldn't even restrain his only son (p. 231)?"
"'Rebelling was Nathan's choice' (p. 234)."
"'The Evil One wants to enslave us to sin, but God gave us the Law because He wants us as sons' (p. 237)."
"'Only God can fill that place. He's the Father you've longed for all your life' (p. 238)."
"'Allow them to experience God's goodness and faithfulness for themselves. Let them ask difficult questions, then stand back and allow God to work in their lives. Let your children 'taste and see that the Lord is good' Our generation experienced God's deliverance firsthand, and so we have a relationship with Him based on faith. But we can't pass our relationship on to our sons. We can point them in the right direction, but they must experience God themselves and decide whether or not to embrace Him' (p. 239)."
"'God doesn't always give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need' (p. 244)."
"'Everything that happens in our life is under His control and serves His purpose' (p. 245)."
"'Each of us is alone in some way, living with circumstances that no one else can understand' (p. 258)."
"Got not only brought them back to her but had somehow brought them to each other. They were father and son at last (p. 270)."
"'Why did everything fall apart? We prayed! We sought His will! He said yes!' (p. 279)"
"He had refused to pray. But God had been in control all along (p. 291)."
"'Because you have everything all figured out in your mind--what's going to happen, how God is going to work--and if things don't end up exactly the way you think they will, you'll be angry with God again' (p. 298)."
"There was no pride or arrogance in his father's posture as he reigned, only a quiet humility that somehow made him seem more powerful (p. 302)."
"He wondered who he should believe (p. 303)."
"Manasseh didn't blame God for punishing him... He was going to die here, and he deserved it (p. 304)."
"Manasseh was suddenly no longer alone in his cell. He felt God's hand of compassion reaching out to touch him, God's arms of mercy surrounding him. His tears of love washed Manasseh clean. As the power of God's forgiveness slowly transformed him, Manasseh lifted his heart to heaven. 'Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name' (p. 306)."
"'I have a healthy fear of the Assyrians... but I also have faith in Yahweh' (p. 310)."
"Even though God had forgiven him for all that he'd done, Manasseh still had to suffer the consequences of his sins. And that seemed right to him (p. 316)."
"Manasseh couldn't understand what was happening to him. Experiencing God's forgiveness in his prison cell had been a far greater gift than he had experienced or deserved. To be pardoned by the emperor, set free, allowed to return home, was beyond his comprehension. He fell at the Assyrian's feet, weeping at Yahweh's goodness (p. 319)."
"'Everything you see is a gift from God' (p. 319)."
"'Whatever happened to him in Babylon changed him, and not just on the outside' (p. 328)."
"If Abba had forgiven Manasseh, then he would have wanted Joshua to forgive him, too. But Joshua knew that was utterly impossible (p. 336)."
"'Are there limits to God's forgiveness, Joshua? Are there some sins that He'll forgive and others that He punishes?' (p. 337)"
"'Forgiveness is costly, Joshua. We pay the price ourselves when we choose to cancel the debt' (p. 338)."
"'Does that mean that God is also willing to pay the cost and bear the punishment for all of our sins?' (p. 342)"
"'God has led us to examine ourselves and to confess our sins. Now we bring those sins before Him as a nation so we can await His forgiveness' (p. 344)."
"'Forgive me for wanting revenge and justice for my enemy more than I wanted your mercy. I've been angry with you, Lord, because your measure of mercy is as great as your measure of justice. I'm sorry. Now I need your mercy and forgiveness, too' (p. 345)."
"'Manasseh got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel' (2 Chronicles 33:15-16, p. 349)."
"'I earnestly implore you,
forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!
Do not destroy me with my transgressions!
Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me;...
for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to
your great mercy,' (The Prayer of Manasseh, p. 351)"
"In 1961, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of a temple on the island of Elephantine in Egypt. Aligned to face Jerusalem, it was identical in size and construction to the Jerusalem Temple and had been built by Jewish priests and Levites fleeing the persecution of King Manasseh's reign (p. 352)."
April 15, 2019
This is the fifth and final book in the series. I wish there were more. I wish Lynn Austin would write additional books based on other parts of the Old Testament. She has a way of making the sinners and saints of the Bible feel like people I know, real people, ones who both suffer and rejoice as they make their way through life. These people could be the friends, the preachers, the political leaders, the murderers and the heroes splashed across the current evening news. And God Himself is the main character. Incredible series!
December 14, 2022
I am addicted to this series!
November 16, 2022
In the conclusion to Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series, we see the transformation of Judah - and of Joshua - as Manasseh is caught up in the idolatry and great sins. Joshua's thirst for revenge drives him toward success… but will it come at too great a cost? Austin weaves in the stories of each of the characters we have grown to love, over the course of decades during the exile in Egypt. Sympathy for Manassah does not mar the horror readers will feel as we read about the actions committed during this lawless time. Austin has great talent at weaving history, biblical quotes, and fictionalized drama into a piece that is not only believable but respectful to the events of that time. With a satisfying conclusion, this novel is not worth missing if you are a fan of biblical fiction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews