PROLOGUE

Second David, Trials and Tribulations

This book covers Second Samuel 12:31 through First Kings 2:1

This book picks up where David God's Chosen Crucible leaves off. There is a natural break in his story at this point. David is at the height of his power and acclaim. He has married his soulmate Bathsheba, who is pregnant with his unborn child. He made the child legitimate by killing Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite. He married her when she became an available widow. David believes he has eluded both the judgment of men and God's Judgment.

David stated that since it was the sword of Amon and not him directly, claiming that "The sword of war devours one as well as another," allowing him to proclaim innocence. He is now the master of a huge domain, the empire of Israel. This feat surpasses his imagination of greatness.

At a feast celebrating all that he had accomplished. Nathan the Prophet enters and asks David for a judgment. Nathan tells of two men, one rich with flocks and herds and a poor man with one ewe lamb that he treated like family and ate at his table. The rich man took the poor man's one ewe lamb and dressed it for the stranger. He asks David, "What would you do to this rich man who took the poor man's one ewe lamb."

In self-righteous anger, David proclaimed, "I would have him killed and make him pay it back four times."

Nathan looks at David squarely, points to him, and accusingly announces, "You are the man, and the sword will never leave your house."

Nathan's fable tricks David, and he Judges himself and sets his punishment. Is this not how, when standing in front of God with our perfect knowledge of our sins, we judge ourselves and announce the punishment to set the scales of justice aright, For mercy cannot rob justice?

Vast wealth and greed!... Envy, trickery, lust, murder, and underhanded power grabs! Assassination attempts, Incest!, and deadly family plotting. An unwitting party to human sacrifice and contending with fierce battling giants.

As a novelist, I use poetic license to depict events I imagine could have happened. I use well-researched details consistent with the human mind, will, and emotions for the era: geography, local customs, rumors, legends, and the ever-dark spin of power politics.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Intriguing. Detailed. A Great Story

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2022

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Joseph Ganci writes Biblical narratives. This means that he takes short passages and stories from scripture -- and, because he understands the language, culture, geography, and history of the subject so well, he weaves a fantastic novel that adds in the intrigue, and heartache, the tough choices, and the "feel" of what it's like to be in that place and time.

Mel F.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Extremely thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2022I am still thinking about this book after a week. That is probably a good sign. It is very interesting to see this story brought forward with so much detail.

Ron F

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Well written. Once I started reading hard to put down