52 Books in 52 Weeks: Books 25-27: "Legacies of the Ancient River" by Angela Hunt

When I found out that one of my favorite authors had written a series of historical fiction novels based on the life of Joseph, I had to read them.  They are very engaging and thought-provoking dramas, even for those already very familiar with this Biblical story.  The life of Joseph has to be one of the most dramatic and interesting in history.


Dreamers


This novel begins with Joseph's brothers tossing him into the desert pit.  It follows him as he is sold to Egyptian slave traders, enters the service of Potipher, gets thrown in jail, and then rises to the most powerful position in all of Egypt.


Brothers


"Brothers" covers the period of famine when Joseph's brothers come to buy grain from Egypt, and unknowingly end up at the mercy of the brother they sold to slavery so many years before.


Journey


"Journey" was the most interesting of these books, perhaps because it contains the most fiction.  It centers on Joseph's sons Ephriam and Manassah.  Two boys with an Egyptian mother and a Hebrew father, raised in the luxurious palace of the Pharaoh.   They have always been competitive with one another, but a rather dramatic shift in their power struggle comes with the death of their grandfather Jacob.  In his final moments, he gave the blessing of the eldest son, Manassah, to Ephriam instead, and said that Ephriam, though younger, would be the mightier of the two brothers.  


On the journey back to Caanan to bury Jacob, Manassah finds deep meaning in his Hebrew background & begins to associate himself more with his Hebrew lineage than his Egyptian upbringing.  He begins to believe that God has called him to lead his people from Goshen, where they are living in peace with Egypt, back the promised homeland in Canaan.


Ephriam, on the other hand, sees his role as uniting Egypt and Israel by marrying the daughter of the Pharaoh.  A conflict grows that could destroy the peace between Egypt and the descendants of Israel....


I really enjoyed this series.


Sojourner