Review in Library Journal
February 2008

Etzioni-Halevy, Eva. The Triumph of Deborah. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2008. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-452-28906-2. pap. $14. F

** - means that it is a starred review

In her third novel depicting women of the Old Testament (after The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth), Etzioni-Halevy, professor emeritus at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, turns to Deborah for inspiration, portraying her as the wise Jewish prophetess that she was in history. In ancient Israel, Deborah convinces the warrior Barak to proclaim war against the Canaanites. Against all odds, he succeeds in overpowering the much larger army, and Deborah is hailed as a true visionary. At the same time, a romantic triangle develops between Barak and his two female captives, one the recognized daughter of the King of the Canaanites and the other, the illegitimate daughter. Etzioni-Halevy breathes fresh life into a time period when women ruled both by spiritual force and by feminine wiles. Deborah, recently cast off by her husband, must struggle to not only provide for herself but also to carry the mantle of legal mediator for the tribes of Israel. This novel will be devoured by lovers of historical fiction and romance alike.

—Marika Zemke, Commerce Twp. Community Lib., MI