Judah's Wife

A Novel of the Maccabees

By: Angela Hunt

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The miraculous story of the Maccabees told through the eyes of a woman who learns that love requires both courage and sacrifice. Seeking safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries a strong and gentle man of the nation of Judah. But when the ruler of the land issues a life-altering decree, her newfound peace - and the entire Jewish heritage - is put in jeopardy.

Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.

Judah's father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight - or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision - what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long?

The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage...and sacrifice.

©2018 Angela Hunt Communications, Inc. (P)2018 Recorded Books

The recording could have been a lot better

Good story line, good character development and resolution to the plots. Enjoyable and recommendable.
However, there was only one voice in the narration with little to no distinction between the characters. Then there was whispering at an extremely low volume. The narrator's voice was pleasing. I find fault with the Producer/director and the technical aspects of the recording.

one of the best I've heard in a very long time.

I will listen to this story again. what a blessing it was!!! clean, inspiring stories are difficult to find. this is one.

Powerful and Deeply Moving.

This is a great way to stomach the extreme story of Israel in this time in history. I think the author could have done more to talk about WHY the laws meant so much to the Maccabees, though she did a good job. Judah's wife's story, though at times dramatic and seemingly unnecessary, proved to be a benefit to the story in a unique angle of understanding violence -when it was merited and needed and where is is harmful and sinful. The author did a good job of portraying extreme hardship without making me gag at violent detail. Overall this book was a huge blessing for me to get to know this important history on a meaningful level. I cried at it's powerful epilogue.
Would recommend. Not for children.

Love It

Hard to put down. This retelling of the little known history of the days of Israel after the time of the king's and prophets was engaging. I am going to read it again and share it with friends.

A good listen and story

like it would listen while working the story was good but wish the narrator put more feeling into the story

Not as good as the audio versions of her other books

I had never read or even knew much about the Macabees, except that it was some sort of Hebrew revolt in jewish history after the exile and before Christ. I enjoyed the story immensely, as I have many of Angela Hunt’s other books. One thing I enjoy most about the audio versions of the other books I have listened to is the use of 2 narrators, a male and female voice for the male and female main character and point of view. This book had only one female narrator. As the character, who’s point of view was being expressed was only announced at the beginning of the chapter, if I paused listening mid chapter, I had difficulty remembering who I was listening to when returning to it. With the other books, it was easy to know who was telling the tale because there were 2 voices to distinguish between them.

Interesting

I liked the e narrative and the story is also good. Brings up an interesting prospective.

Great Story

Loved the story. The narration was confusing. The main characters, Leah and Jude got confusing. Jude, who is a warrior, was narrated by the female who was the voice for Leah. Would have been a much greater story, had there been a male voice for Jude.

Love this author!

Love the historical fiction. This was a book of wars and battles. Which is not usually my pick but once I started I couldn’t stop.

Great, but I wish it had been done by 2 narrators

This was a great story with lots of great historical detail and intriguing plot. (I wish it had a happier ending, but you can’t rewrite history!)

My only criticism- and really it’s more of a suggestion, is that, as the book is written from two different perspectives -Judah and his Wife, both told in the first person - it would’ve been a smoother and more engaging listen if they’d used two narrators (one male and one female) to voice the two characters. Sometimes if you weren’t paying close enough attention, you’d miss the switch between point of view and be confused. Otherwise, Rachel Botchan did a great job and I enjoyed her performance.