a great read that explains the "technicalities" of the Word very simply. this is great for the non-seminarian. ( )

Though I am fairly Protestant, I have read Maccabees several times (part of the Catholic Deutro-canonical books). Several parts of the Maccabean story sit behind the events of the New Testament (such as Jesus' triumphal entry and the cleansing of the temple). David deSliva is a New Testament scholar who I have read some and have appreciated his insights (actually the first thing I read from deSilva was a response to a negative review on one of Gordon Fee's books on Amazon).

In The Day of Atonement : A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt, Desilva presents a novelization of the Maccabean revolt which is meticulously researched and reflects a deSilva's scholarly understanding of the Maccabean revolt. As someone who has read Maccabees and has often lost the plot, I appreciate the clarity of deSilva's prose. I learned stuff.

That being said, I didn't find this to be compelling literature. If you enjoy historical novels you will likely appreciate the care that DeSilva takes in presenting these events. This is didactic fiction--teaching history through story. For what it is, it is pretty good. I give it three stars.



Notcie of material connection: I received this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest review. ( )

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