Sunday, February 9, 2014

Rachel by Jill Eileen Smith

About the book:

Beautiful Rachel wants nothing more than for her older half sister Leah to wed and move out of their household. Maybe then she would not feel so scrutinized, so managed, so judged. Plain Leah wishes her father Laban would find a good man for her, someone who would love her alone and make her his only bride. Unbeknownst to either of them, Jacob is making his way to their home, trying to escape a past laced with deceit and find the future God has promised him.

But the past comes back to haunt Jacob when he finds himself on the receiving end of treachery and the victim of a cruel bait and switch. The man who wanted only one woman will end up with sisters who have never gotten along and now must spend the rest of their lives sharing a husband. In the power struggles that follow, only one woman will triumph . . . or will she?



About this author

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of the Wives of the Patriarchs series featuring Sarai, Rebekah, and upcoming Rachel, (Releases 2-1-14) as well as, the bestselling author of Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all part of The Wives of King David series published by Revell (Baker Publishing Group.)

Her writing has taken her from the Bible to Israel and she loves learning how women lived in Old Testament times. When she isn't writing she can be found hanging out with family and friends, reading, bike-riding, testing new restaurants with her husband, or snuggling one of two adorable kitties. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan. 

You can learn more about her and her books on her website  


My Thoughts:



Jill Eileen Smith’s interpretation of Rachel is spot on. From the first page you are submerged into a rich story, full of vivid colors, and more drama than a house full of teenage girls. I guarantee you will be going to your Bible to refresh your memory on the story.

When Jacob arrives to find a wife at his Uncle Laban’s home, he is immediately drawn to Rachel. Laban agrees to let Jacob marry Rachel after he works for him for seven years. After Jacob worked for the seven years, Laban pulls a wedding day switcheroo and Leah was the one he married. Because of the custom Jacob didn’t realize it was Leah until the next morning. Furious he tells Laban that he wants Rachel, to receive Rachel who he was already betrothed to, which is being married in their time, Laban gives Rachel to Jacob, yet he has to work another seven years.

If that isn’t bad enough, Rachel is unable to conceive and Leah conceives with ease. Talk about sister-wives, here is our first glimpse of sister-wives and why God told His people to not have more than one wife. As we see through Jill’s text, Leah and Rachel compete, are jealous to the point that like their relative Sarah, they get their maids involved in sleeping with Jacob for more children.

I have to say, that had Jacob not taken Esau’s birthright he would’ve had Rachel all to himself, which would of course mean that Esau couldn’t have married a Canaanite.
It made me think how many times we get in God’s way and not receive the full blessing from God.

This is a must read, and I highly recommend it!



     

                                                       






1 comment:

Emily said...

I loved it too! Jill is hosting a terrific giveaway in celebration of the book's release. Details available here. The giveaway ends February 15th so enter soon for your chance to win!

First Line Friday Featuring Riot (A Breed Apart: Legacy #3) by Ronie Kendig and JJ Samie Myles

  Happy Friday!! Welcome to the weekend!!! Today I am featuring one of my favorite authors, Ronie Kendig. I loved A Breed Apart series and I...