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David Arthur DeSilva
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Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt Paperback – Illustrated, June 27, 2015

by David DeSilva (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 95 ratings
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In the blank pages between Malachi and Matthew, the course of an entire nation was changed . . .

His brother, the high priest Honiah, enjoyed the authority of the high priesthood, and all important decisions needed his approval. But it was Jason who was shaping the future of Jerusalem and with it, all Judea. He breathed in again, imagining that he could feel the wave of destiny impelling him forward toward his vision as he exhaled . . .

The Greeks have taken over the world, but Jerusalem is still the same backwater city Jason has always known. He wants to help his hometown rise to a new age of prosperity and influence. If that means stretching the terms of the city’s divine covenant, so be it. But how far is he willing to go to achieve Greek greatness for this Jewish city? It will take the willingness of a handful of Jews to die rather than violate the covenant in order to turn the tide back to God.

Written by an internationally recognized expert in the period between the Testaments, Day of Atonement invites readers into Judea during the tumultuous years leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. It was this pivotal decade that reminded Jews of the centrality of the covenant to their national security and taught them that the covenant was worth dying for. The story is so foundational, it is still told every year at Hanukkah. The lessons learned during this turbulent time also shed light on just what was at stake in the ministry of Jesus, whose radical message seemed to threaten the covenant once again.

Day of Atonement joins the perennially successful novels Pontius Pilate and The Flames of Rome by renowned historian Paul Maier on Kregel’s premier list of captivating and historically accurate biblical novels.
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Kregel Publications
  4. Publication date
    June 27, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.65 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0825424712
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0825424717
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"David deSilva combines his superb historical knowledge with deep religious understanding and literary sensitivity to create a story that does more than reconstruct the circumstances leading to the Maccabean rebellion. Day of Atonement compellingly explores issues that continue from antiquity to the present: the relationship between faith and politics, the struggle between national identity and cultural assimilation, the zeal of the martyr, the power of faith." -- Amy-Jill Levine, professor of New Testament and Jewish studies, Vanderbilt University Published On: 2015-06-27

"Moving from the Mediterranean coast to Jerusalem, I pass Modein in the low foothills. Here I contemplate, and mystically relive, some dramatic events in our history. I look back westward to the coastal plain and imagine the foreign armies being defeated by Judas Maccabeus. Looking ahead to the Judean hills rising to the east, I often ponder the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple and the inauguration of Hanukkah. All these events spring to light in deSilva’s magisterial novel, crafted after decades of walking these hills and reading the historical accounts. History without imagination is dull; with informed sensitivity ancient heroes take on flesh. Echoing now is Ari’s question: 'Where are heroes like that now?'" -- James H. Charlesworth Published On: 2015-06-27

"When it comes to the history of Israel or early Christianity, historically sound novels are few and far between. Sometimes a good writer doesn't know his religious history well enough; sometimes a good historian is not a skilled enough writer to pull off page-turner that both educates and entertains. David deSilva's new novel reflects a high level of skill on both counts. Applying his considerable expertise in the intertestamental literature, deSilva provides us with a winsome tale about how Hellenized Jews sought not merely to recover their land from foreign rulers but to 'plunder the Greeks' when it came to art, education, and language. Highly recommended." -- Dr Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary Published On: 2015-06-27

Review

"Very few biblical scholars are also writers of interesting and engaging fiction. But David deSilva is one of them. . . . This volume is not just a good read. It is also an excellent teaching tool. Students will learn the religious, social and cultural background of the New Testament period without realizing they are in class!" --Themelios

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kregel Publications; Illustrated edition (June 27, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0825424712
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0825424717
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.65 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

About the author

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David Arthur DeSilva

David Arthur DeSilva

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David deSilva majored in English at Princeton University (AB, 1987), received a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary (1990), and completed a doctorate in New Testament studies at Emory University (1995). He has taught on the faculty of Ashland Theological Seminary since 1995 and has been named Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek since 2005. David is also ordained in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served as an organist and choir director in Episcopal, Lutheran, and United Methodist churches since 1985. He is married to Donna Jean Heitman deSilva, with whom he shares three sons. For a complete list of publications, including journal articles and contributions to reference works, please visit his web site at https://sites.google.com/a/ashland.edu/daviddesilvaphd/home.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
95 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

jvannucci
5.0 out of 5 stars Good intertestamental fiction
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
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Good historical fiction, I learned a good deal about the world just before Jesus came. Thanks for the story, it helped me better understand my Bible.
One person found this helpful
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MM
5.0 out of 5 stars I bought a second copy for my elderly mother (we are both Christians) and she thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend if you like ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2017
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I rarely read novels but make exceptions on biblical topics when written by scholars. This was very well done and obviously well researched. I found the characters fascinating, especially dichotomy of the brothers. I bought a second copy for my elderly mother (we are both Christians) and she thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend if you like biblical/historical novels. I am now searching for a scholarly book on the revolt that is non-fiction to enhance my understanding of this time in the history of the Jewish people.
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Charlottekrn Bookfair
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Story!
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2017
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The story of Chanukah, though not included in the Jewish Bible, remains a valuable source of Jewish history. Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BCE to 164 BCE. Though his father Antiochus III made allowances for the people of Israel to worship in freedom, Antiochus the IV allowed no such provision and determined to eliminate the Hebrew population altogether. Antiochus IV (Epimames,) known as the Madman among Judeans, reigned by imposing fanatical religious decrees and enforcing barbaric cruelty against the Judeans.
David deSilva’s novel mixes historic personages with fictional characters and offers a colorful and picturesque view into the Biblical era using architecture, foods, and clothing style along with both fictitious and non-fictitious events.
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Rachel Stafford
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and historically and culturally enlightening
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018
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To be honest, I didn't expect such a well written story from a Bible scholar. He is one of my favorite scholars and he definitely knows his stuff, but the way he incorporates it into a historical fiction narrative is ingenious and something that other scholars should try to emulate.
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Jacqueline
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Novel!
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
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I read this book over the course of 2 days! It’s a splendid work of a historical fiction! I wish only that it was longer. Is there a sequel?
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Brian Hampton Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great novelistic account of the events leading up to the ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2018
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This was a great novelistic account of the events leading up to the Maccabean revolt. The way it ends shortly after the outbreak of the revolt makes me suspect and hope deSilva will continue the story with a sequel.
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Mr C.T.Thornton
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2018
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Best book for helping you understand the period of the Maccabees and Jewish thinking at the time.
One person found this helpful
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Dale A. Brueggemann
3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Bible times novel
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023
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Not a top-rate novelist, but a top-rate scholar in Second Temple Judaism and New Testament studies--but a decent novelist who gets it right historically.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mateusz
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2021
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This book is set in the time of the Second Temple Period. It helps to visual that period and imagine how it was to live back then. It exposes some internal tensions among Jewish aristocrats as well as presents different perspectives while presenting an imaginary account of the time of history that shaped the Jewish thinking. A good read for everyone who wants to better understand that period using the novel genre.
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Patricia
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2017
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A gift
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Thoughtful shopper
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Complicated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2021
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I really enjoyed this author’s introduction to the New Testament. It is one of my go to text books. This historical novel is not as enjoyable. It is quite complicated and hard to follow because of the wide range of characters. The story is really slow for the first two parts but does speed up in the final part. I had to force myself to keep going for the most part. I felt like it needed a lot more editing. The premise is a good one, that is to retell the story of the Maccabean revolt but...it needed work on the pace, characterisation story telling. This felt like the author was struggling to take off his academic’s hat and put on a story teller’s hat instead. There were too many characters to get a handle on any one. It would have been better to tell the story from one or maybe two characters’ perspective. Instead, there were just so many, you never felt you got to know who they were in any depth. I so wanted to love it. Unfortunately I didn’t. But, if he writes another one, I would give it a go. On the other hand, I recommend his academic works.
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