Keshub, a young shepherd boy, lives adventure every day as he defends his flock from predators and proves himself among older brothers. But tales from caravanners who stop at his family’s way-station evoke a longing for adventure beyond the horizons of his own valley in the midst of Canaan. Is he ready for the danger he will encounter when he meets the unloved son of the evil king of the Amorites? Can he deceive his own family to hide the rescued son and a member of the king’s harem? Live the tension of imminent invasion as the Hebrews approach. Too young, by far, he becomes a spy keeping watch over the Hebrew’s movements in the Jordan Valley. Is the greater enemy the ones across the Jordan River or their neighbor, the despicable king? True to scripture and authenticated by archeological research, this tale of God’s grace puts flesh and blood on the enigmatic Gibeonites who make a treaty with Joshua.
Shepherd, Potter, Spy―And the Star Namer looks at Joshua’s story from a new point of view. In the end, Keshub becomes a major player in the life of the leader of the Hebrews.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Peggy Consolver was born a Miracle, the third of six, and grew up on a wheat farm in southwest Oklahoma. She cooked for wheat harvesters by age twelve. Graduated from Grandfield High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, she has been married to the love of her life for 48 years. Two children and five grandchildren live nearby. She has taught Sunday School for 37 years and is now president of ninety-five-member Plano Garden Club, State Chairman of Flower Show Schools for Texas Garden Clubs, Inc., NGC Master Flower Show Judge and Texas Design Consultant.
I received this book from the author and bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to review it positively.
My Thoughts:
When I first saw this book, I judged the book by the cover. Honestly, I kind of thought it was a Christmas story, maybe about the wise men. I am not sure I really read the description very well. It started out slowly for me, and I had a difficult time getting into the story. But, when I finally figured out the characters, and got into the story, it picked up a bit. The author has done an incredible job describing details and the time period she is trying to portray. From what I heard, she went to great extremes to accurately portray the Gibeonites in her book. I really enjoyed the story, but it was not a quick read for me. Actually the delay in reading it was quite providential, as I ended up reading it during the same time period as I was reading a few other middle eastern stories and so the similarities made things a little more clearer.
Keshub, is a Gibeonite shepherd boy, during the time when the Isrealites have just finished up serving their forty years in the desert and are beginning to conquer the promised land. There are rumors of the Hebrews, people are afraid and making alliances with each other against them. However the Gibeonites are not ready to ally themselves with the surrounding countries. They hold off. Keshub's family are potters. Not only is he a shepherd and a potter, but his life is not for lack of adventure. And this book is written pretty much from his point of view.
The book also includes other characters such as a boy in Joshua's family, Hosiah and the Hebrew people. And Dagan, son of an Amorite, a bully, who seems to always be doing something to make Keshub end up looking like a fool. You'll read an account and maybe get a glimpse into what it was like for the Israelites in the desert when Moses lifts up the serpent. And the crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho. What did the Gibeonites do in the end to save themselves from the Hebrew God's wrath? It is quite interesting. Is this God the same one their ancestors may have worshiped? Keshub gets a chance to see His ways upclose and personal.
Maybe this book is just your style, or maybe it will take you a little bit to get into the story. Either way, give it a chance and I think you will learn something and enjoy it.
This book looks interesting. I enjoy learning about the author, too. Thank you.
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