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A king’s daughter. Unprotected. Assaulted. Put away. I’m sure that many of us read the account of King David’s daughter Tamar in the Bible with dismay and heartbreak. And we know so little of her story. But…what if? What if out of that heartbreak of a story there were turns and events that brought redemption and hope? Thanks to authors Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feinberg Vamosh, and an ancient text mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29, Tamar’s story (as it might have been) is told in the most compelling and fascinating read, Ahoti: A Story of Tamar. Keep reading for more about this remarkable book and its authors, plus your chance to enter to win your own copy!
About Ahoti
From the publisher: “Ahōti (Hebrew: my sister), the new novel by bestselling authors Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson, brings to life the Old Testament story of the biblical princess Tamar, the daughter of David, King of Israel.
In the book, endorsed by Jerry B. Jenkins and reviewed in Publishers Weekly and Booklist, Tamar’s search to overcome humiliation and betrayal after being assaulted by her brother takes her away from her childhood home and forces her to navigate the machinations of royal courts.
The familiar Bible story ends with Tamar living “desolate” (2 Samuel 13:20), but master storytellers and co-authors Vamosh and Everson take readers beyond this sorrowful ending to a horizon of hope with an adaptation of an ancient anonymous manuscript, purportedly written by Gad the Seer (1 Chronicles 29:29), which was discovered in India in the late 18th century.
Vamosh shares, “This book shows the story of coming out of the wilderness and into redemption by a central figure in Israel’s history. Culturally, many women are experiencing this type of betrayal in their lives and are looking for hope in the midst of it.”
This manuscript provides a surprising conclusion, which has powerful modern-day significance. Rich with cultural, biblical, and historic detail, and spiritually compelling, Ahōti will inspire readers to overcome humiliation, betrayal, and pain to embrace a purposeful life.
Everson explains, “David was a leader and father but seemed to forget the importance of his children. The story speaks to both the tragic and triumph in life that people experience. We see Tamar feeling betrayed, but she didn’t want revenge – she wanted redemption.”
Ahōti: A Story of Tamar (Paraclete Press, May 2024) chronicles Tamar leaving Jerusalem and living in survival mode, not wanting people to know her royal identity, while working through the inner turmoil with a glimpse of hope in the end.”
My thoughts about Ahoti
What a compelling, amazing read. If your heart, like mine, has gone out to Tamar over the years as you’ve read the Bible, and wished for a larger life for her–well, you’re going to love this read. (And you’ll love it even if you’re not familiar with the story!) Everson and Vamosh brought their knowledge, talents, and writing skills together with the historical information given in the book of Gad (see the publisher’s notes above for more on that) to imagine what that life might have been for this young woman. Together, they fully inform us of Tamar: a princess; daughter of King David; a talented woman in her own right; a woman of value. But one who still had to obey her father’s directives. Damaged and harmed when the outcome of those directives is assault by her half-brother, Tamar is taken into her brother Absalom’s house; Absalom, who tells Tamar to keep the news of her assault quiet. Yet all the while he’s planning to take revenge.
Is there any less care that could be given to Tamar? Tamar, surely heart-sore, frightened, afraid. Yet the men around her are given to plotting. Jonadab and Amnon, to get Tamar alone in the first place; Absalom, to avenge his sister and perhaps gain David’s throne for himself. And David, Tamar’s father? He didn’t want to make Amnon unhappy.
So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house.
–2 Samuel 13:20b, The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
Vamosh’s and Everson’s story of “what might have been” for Tamar is fascinating, exciting, even hopeful. Tamar and her faithful servant Mara take a life journey of redemption and rebirth that will satisfy anyone who’s hoped for more for the king’s daughter. Rich in historical detail, peopled with familiar names and consideration for what these ancients might actually have been like, Ahoti will capture your heart AND your mind. Absolutely incredible book–one you won’t forget reading!
From an authors interview of Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson
Here are parts of a fascinating conversation between these coauthors!
As you researched the story, what stood out the most to you about Tamar?
Miriam: My research led me to contemporary scholars who saw Tamar not only as a victim of sexual violence, as if that were not enough, but the pawn in a grand palace intrigue, the likes of which we can only imagine from hints in Scripture but make perfect sense once these scholars tied it all together. So
I’d say what struck me most about Tamar was the enormity of what she had to overcome. In addition to the sexual violence, she endured at the hands of her half-brother, her father’s inaction and her brother Absalom’s grand plot, which led to her having to flee the palace and everything she knew and loved. But overcome she did, and her story, as Eva Marie and I imagined, can be our story – the story of every woman who faced insurmountable odds on the way to vindication.
Eva Marie: The moment that struck me the hardest was when we got to the part of Absalom’s death at the hands of their uncle, Joab. The Scriptures tell us that he had raped his father’s concubines (2 Samuel 16) and that David, upon returning to the palace (after running from his own son), had declared that he would take care of them for life. I said to Miriam (and we included this in the book), “How is it that
King David took care of his concubines, but not his daughter?”
What do you hope is the takeaway from Ahoti?
Miriam: After reading Ahoti, I hope readers realize that Tamar’s story of despair, though it happened thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away for most, is still the story of so many women today who are victims of sexual violence. To this day, despite all the advances society has made, we still have to find within ourselves every bit of fortitude and determination we can to survive and thrive. Her story is our story.
Eva Marie: While rape and abuse and even betrayal is a part of too many women’s stories, it is only a small portion. We are women. We are strong (we have to be). So many see us as the “weaker sex,” but anyone who has ever lived as a woman knows that is just not true. We. Are. Strong. When I speak to
women about the effects of rape, I reiterate: “You are not a victim. You are a victor. This is a moment in your life. It is not the moments of your life. Grab hold of what God has given and not what life has taken away.”
Enter to win a copy of Ahoti here!
You can enter to win a copy of the amazing novel Ahoti here! Just click on the highlighted link below that says, “Enter here!” That will take you to a Giveaway Tools entry form, where you’ll be able to enter to win in a variety of ways. Giveaway closes 7/5/24. One entrant will be selected to win. US entrants only; must be 18 and older to enter. Best wishes!
Enjoy! –Wren
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the authors. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.
finchnwren 
I’m going to say Joan Of Ark. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
And at such a young age, too!
The most inspiring woman of the Bible is Mary (with Joseph)
Isn’t she something!! I totally agree!!
I have always found Esther inspiring
I agree, Penny!