Hadassah: One Night With the King

This movie provides an excellent overview of the Book of Esther, and does so with only minor extraneous distortions. The scenes are excellent. There is the one-eyed eunuch, and there are the columns of horses, the swordfights, and the apartness of royalty. The look on the face of Haman, as his self-flattering plan backfires and he is forced to publicly extol Mordecai, is priceless. There is a humorous scene of a queen-candidate repeatedly falling off her horse. (This recounts the awkwardness of Cinderella's older sisters as they vainly tried to impress the prince). The apartness of royalty prevents a commoner from even seeing the king or approaching the king without the king's invitation. This helps the Christian appreciate the Lord's teaching about gentiles wanting to lord it over others, while the man esteemed of God instead is a servant of all. It also helps Americans appreciate the fact that their society is based on the premise that "all men are created equal". There is a minimum of overt violence in the film, and there is an absence of bloody scenes. Haman is shown smiting Mordecai with his staff for refusing to bow down to him. One of the king's guards is shown stabbing a conspirator planning to poison the king, but only the downward stroke of the knife is presented. The gallows are shown, but Haman is not shown being hanged. Some of the extra-biblical scenes are as follows: The maidens intended as candidates for the queen (to replace Queen Vashti) are portrayed as being kidnapped by the king's agents. Is this how it was actually done, or was such candidacy more an act of volunteering? While a candidate for the position of Queen, Esther is portrayed as reading the Biblical account of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah to the King. Finally, Esther is shown wearing a jewel that reflects light in the pattern of a series of Stars of David. (In actuality, the Star of David is of relatively recent vintage). All in all, this is an excellent film!

My daughter enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the adult version. It really put the book of Esther to life for you. I would recommend it to anyone.

This version of the adult Hadassah by Tommy Tenney is for girls 10-14, and is age appropriate for them, having the more graphic details of the adult version replaced with less unsettling wording. If you are looking for a book about the life of Queen Esther for the young girls in your life, this is one that would be an excellent choice. The pictures throughout the novel are quite nicely done and go along with the story. Well worth the 9.99 asking price.

The memorable story of Esther in the Bible is now retold through the eyes of Esther. As Hadassah Kesselman prepares for her wedding day, she finds the experience steeped in mystery. Her story is set aside as Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen delve into what is perhaps one of the most ancient fantasies. As women dream of marrying powerful men, men dream of the beautiful woman who worships them in body, mind and spirit. This fantasy is brilliantly woven into the story of Esther and makes for a compelling read. Hadassah Kesselman is required to read the story of Esther before her wedding day and soon learns of Esther's horrifying childhood experiences and mysterious awakenings into womanhood. Tommy Tenney's comforting writing style seems to mask the horror in a way that allows the reader to comprehend each situation without becoming overwhelmed by tragedy itself. He has a talent for capturing moments in time with exquisite attention to detail. The scent of myrrh lingers on the pages as an exciting drama unfolds in moments of sexual tension, suspense and intrigue. Esther's story is truly brought to life in this retelling filled with political conspiracies, wars, longings of the heart and brutal action. In her search for G-d, she also finds her place in the world and begins to understand her true destiny. Must she sacrifice herself to the King of Persia and fall prey to Haman's evil intentions? Even if you remember the biblical details, an entire new world of captivating adventure and romance awaits in Hadassah's journey to One Night With the King. I intended to read this book in two nights, but ended up reading all night. ~The Rebecca Review

HADASSAH is a stunning retelling of one of the best-loved accounts in the Bible, the story of Esther, that will have the reader entranced from beginning to end. Opening with a modern-day introduction, the story then spins back in time to the days when the Kingdom of Persia was at its greatest height. It was during these days that a young Jewish girl was destined to go forth and overcome her own adversity to save the lives of her people, in simple obedience to God without thought for her own life. Readers will come away seeing relationships with God and family with a fresh perspective, be compelled to re-read Scripture in a new light, and have a greater sense of purpose and destiny in their own lives. Such an inspiring novel deserves to become a beloved classic. For those who loved Francine Rivers' REDEEMING LOVE and her Lineage of Grace series, and those who enjoy Gilbert Morris' Lions of Judah series, this novel is a must read. ~~Ellie Schroder, owner of The Christian Fiction Site