I just finished Abigail, book 2 in the Wives of King David series, by Jill Eileen Smith. I cried. At least three times … in the portion I read today. It's biblical fiction so it isn't that I didn't know the story, or parts of it. I always liked the biblical Abigail — wise, beautiful, godly. What's not to like?
That she married David when he already had a wife or two.
But, hey, a different time period, right? Women had less options, less hope, placed more of their worth on having children. Jill Eileen Smith brought all that out, but no matter how an author tries, it's impossible to convince me that sharing a husband is romantic. Impossible for Abigail, too. I imagine for Jill as well. So just as with Michal, Book 1 in the series, the underlying message is that women need to find their hope and contentment in God, not a man, not even a king.
One of the scenes I found interesting in this presentation of Abigail's story was the "guess" of why Abigail's son Daniel was never in the running for the Kingdom. Amnon mentioned. Absolom has his fifteen verses of fame in the Bible. But no Daniel beyond the mention of him being born while David was King at Hebron. I always guessed he died in childhood. Jill presented a different, equally acceptable reason why he wasn't considered David's heir to the throne.
Jill Smith writes an engaging story. Lots of description to pull you into the time period. Obviously characters that appeal and the angst of life to draw my tears. Clean writing. Not a lot of dialogue, but the story still moved forward, covering many years. Beautiful cover. And a memorable story to show the truth of our unfailing, ever-faithful God.
