Gods and Kings
by:Lynn Austin
Bethany House Publ: 2005, 316pp.
Carefully interweaving well-researched facts with imaginative conjecture, Lynn Austin retells the stories of King Ahaz and his son, Hezekiah from Hezekiah's growing up years until his rise to assume the Judean throne. With historical accuracy and a suspenseful story line Austin brings to life the Kingdom of Judah during its decline into idolatry and foreign oppression under Ahaz. Her writing is based on the actual record given in II Kings and II Chronicles, and on the contemporary prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah, using the actual words of Scripture when quoting the prophets. Such details as Hezekiah's mother being the daughter of a priest are expanded to show that likely this priest was the man who mentored Hezekiah so that he did not follow in his father's footsteps.
Idolatry, child-sacrifice, and the politics of both the temple and the king's court are brought to life in this retelling, making the history of this time unforgettable. The reader gets to weather the siege of the Assyrians, face the abominable 'god' Molech, and witness the moral decline of the priesthood and temple service. Austin uses fictionalized conversations to draw subtle parallels between the temptations and compromises faced in these times, with our own.
I would highly recommend Gods and Kings to anyone who prefers fiction reading that teaches as well as entertains. Romance is kept to a minimum here. While offering both suspense and hints of romance the story line thought-provokingly delivers lessons from history about real people serving (or opposing) a living God and reaping the consequences. My only disclaimer would be to ensure that you know what's truth and what's conjecture by reading the Scriptural account for yourself in II Kings16-18 and II Chronicles 26-29. You'll be surprised how names of people you've never noticed before now stand out as real people at a real time in Judah's history!
Gods and Kings is Book One in Lynn Austin's 5-volume "Chronicles of the Kings" series.
--LS
