I was kinda disappointed with this book. While it was a modern day read, it wasn't realistic! Rahab in the bible was a prostitute, and in the book she wasn't.

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This Scarlet Cord is the story of Rahab, who helped hide two Israelite spies before the battle of Jericho, and through her faith, became one of the women named in the genealogy of Jesus. Rahab's story in the Bible is only a few paragraphs long, so the author had lots of room to imagine what Rahab's life was like before and after the fall of Jericho. I understand that authors can take fictional license with characters, but I found the author's supposition that there was a group of Israelites who didn't leave Canaan during the famine while Joseph was in Egypt, but stayed in Canaan, to be very far-fetched. The Bible says that all members of Jacob's family went to Egypt where Joseph and the Pharaoh took care of them. This is how Sala, an Israelite living in Canaan, was able to save Rahab from her kidnappers, early in the book. Thus their meeting in Jericho, a couple years later, wasn't their first meeting. I'm also not sure I agree with the supposition that 14 year old Rahab wasn't married, but still living with her parents, during the fall of Jericho. Nonetheless, it was an interesting take on what Rahab's life may have been like.

With thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers, via NetGalley, for my review copy.

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"The Scarlet Cord" by Joan Wolf, book review

I read this book on my new Kindle Fire, and as I am still getting used to the electric format, I was a bit distracted by that, but this is a great novel. We are all familiar with Rahab in the Bible as the harlot who saves Caleb and Joshua, but this story tells her story.

She a daughter and sister. Her family is traveling to sell their wine when she is captured and taken captive. She escapes while in the city and runs into a young Israelite teen who brings her home. His father is a wealthy, influential man, and arranges for her to be reunited with her family. But Rahab learns about the God of Israel and this never leaves her.

The story is light and easy reading, but the names make it a bit difficult to keep all the characters straight. And the city names are unfamiliar to me, so that also added a little tough to understand the travels that are a big part of the plot. But great insight into the woman who God used to save the 2 spies and later you see her in the line of Jesus.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from Thomas Nelson as a member of their book sneeze program. All opinions expressed are my own.

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