The Triumph of Deborah

When I started reading Eva Etzioni-HaLevy's first book, I had no idea what was in store for me. By the time I'd finished the first one, I could hardly wait for the second one. And no sooner had I finished the second one, I could hardly wait for the third one....you get the picture. The Triumph of Deborah is a fabulous story, one that engages you immediately. These characters come alive on each page, and one gets attached to them quickly. I could hardly wait to find out what happens to each one as the story that is woven continues to unfold in a totally engrossing manner. There is excitement, anticipation, and sadness as Ms. Etzioni ties together all of the story lines she has enticed us with throughout the book. I was very sorry to see this book end.... I love that this author chooses strong Jewish women of history to write about. I can't wait for her next book to come along!

Contrary to what the title might lead one to believe, four characters share center stage in this book: Deborah, Barak, Asherah and Nogah. Eventually, I came to appreciate each of them. I saw their faults, felt annoyed and frustrated with them, but in the end I also sensed good in each one. They all possessed certain admirable qualities, even though it was often those very characteristics that led them to behave in less than admirable ways. This novel gave life and texture to a period of time I previously knew very little about. The book begins with a war between the Israelites and Canaanites, in which Israel was victorious. A period of 40 years of peace follwed, and The Triumph of Deborah tells the story of how that peace came about, though the eyes of key players in the peacemaking process. As the plot steadily unfolded, I found it difficult to put this book down. I wanted Nogah, my favorite character, to get the guy - Barak, who she loved desperately and rather blindly. I wanted peace to reign between the Israelites and Canaanites. I wanted happiness for Deborah, because she was so good, so noble, so just, able to look past her personal feelings about people and situations and see the truth. Etzioni-Halevy has written two other novels, about well-known biblical characters Hannah and Ruth, and I look forward to reading both after being mesmerized by her story of Deborah.

My favorite aspect of 'The Triumph of Deborah' was how the illegitimate daughter of the Canaanite king, Nogah, was in constant conflict of who her loyalty should be with, her Jewish mother and her people, or her Canaanite father and his people. The situation was depicted so clearly, to the point where the reader felt Nogah's pain when she realized she could never bring those two worlds together. In the end, Nogah's decision to study Hebrew and the scriptures was rational given that her bond with her mother survived slavery and separation in a very fragile and uncertain world. Nogah's other conflict was disobeying her mother's wishes, and sleeping with Barak, the Israelite warrior, even though he was never loyal to any one woman, and even though he only considered her one of his maids and nothing more. She chose Barak above her pride, her mother's advice and all else, as she loved him with no expectation for anything in return. The reader tries to anticipate what Nogah and Deborah's next action would be throughout the book, and the reader is never disappointed with their choices!

As her husband of sixteen years Lapidoth dumps her, prophetess Judge Deborah finds strength in knowing her people need her as war with Canaan is imminent. She knows her personal sorrow is minor when she expects mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters to soon be grieving for their men-folk, but Deborah rallies the Jews persuading General Barak to lead the sword-bearers to attack the overwhelmingly superior Canaanites. Shockingly he and his forces win, bringing back two special prisoners, the daughters of the enemy's mightiest king Jabin, legitimate Princess Asherah and illegitimate Princess Nogah. Barak is attracted to both. In her third women of the Old Testament novelizations (see THE SONG OF HANNAH and THE GARDEN OF RUTH), Eva Etzioni-Halevy provides a powerful comparative tale of predominately two women, Deborah and Asherah. The story line focuses on their relative influence on their respective countries especially Deborah who understands deeply with a sad heart the cost of sending the warriors to war as some will die. With obvious modern day comparisons, readers will appreciate this biblical fictionalized biography as THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH vividly brings to life a dedicated strong individual who believes deeply in her cause, but truly comprehends the sacrifices she asks of her people. Harriet Klausner