The Crimson Cord

Back Cover 

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband’s debt.  Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect.  But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities.  When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho’s walls – or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith’s talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition.  Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity – and a permanent place in your heart.

Review 

Next to Esther, Rahab is one of my favourite stories in the Bible.  Found in the book of Joshua, the story of Rahab is such an awesome testament to God’s powerful grace, mercy, and redeeming love.   

This is the first time I’ve read a novel adaption of Rahab’s story.  The Bible does not give us much background history on Rahab, leaving many open-ended questions about her life.  In short, all we know is Rahab is a prostitute, but as evident by her actions, by the time the spies arrived, she had faith in the Almighty.  When the spies came into Jericho, she made a dangerous decision to hide the spies from the king’s soldiers, and also give a false trail for the soldiers to follow.  Surely, she could have turned the spies over and perhaps obtained a better station for herself within Jericho as a reward of sorts.  Yet, her faith in the Lord was clear as she states in Joshua 2:11, “…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”  In reading the scriptural passage, we can also see Rahab’s kind heart when she requested that her family’s life also be spared in the destruction that was to come.

Even with the information we know from the Bible, questions still remain.  I found this novel to be a wonderful, and certainly plausible, interpretation of how Rahab came to be a prostitute, her motivations, her desire for a better future, and her incredible courage.  In The Crimson Cord, Jill Eileen Smith brings Rahab’s timeless story to life in a beautiful and insightful way.

You can find an excerpt from The Crimson Cord here.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.