Angela Hunt. Delilah: Treacherous Beauty. Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House
Publishers, 2016. See here to buy the
book.
Delilah was the woman who betrayed the Israelite strongman
Samson in Judges 16. Delilah: Treacherous Beauty is a
novelization about this figure.
Delilah in this book is not exactly a villain. She is a human being, with her own needs,
struggles, and problems. Yet, as in the
Book of Judges, she does end up betraying Samson to the Philistines. Why did she do that in this book? You will have to read the book and find out! I expected the book to go in one direction on this, but it went another direction, and lessons were learned in the process.
The book has its strengths.
It is well-written, and I could sympathize with the characters. Delilah was an outsider and had been
victimized. She was settling down in a
happy relationship with Samson, knowing in her heart that it would not
last. Samson was trying to endure his
destiny as a chosen vessel for God’s purposes.
He was lonely and sought companionship.
The book took some interesting directions. Chronologically, it placed Samson around the
time of the prophet Samuel. Delilah befriends
Gibeonites, who were from the Canaanite people-group that Joshua preserved in
Joshua 9. There are discussions about
the exact requirements of Samson’s Nazirite status, and whether Samson is
allowed to use his strength for someone’s private vengeance. Physically, Samson does not look like the
giant muscle-man who is depicted in Bible movies and cartoons, and that leads
people to wonder if there is some magical or supernatural source to his great
strength.
In terms of critiques, the book could have followed the
Bible better in one area: in Judges 16, the Philistine lords approach Delilah
and offer her money to betray Samson; in Angela Hunt’s book, Delilah approaches
the Philistine lords. In the book,
Delilah at the end becomes a part of Israel.
The book should have said, at least briefly, how Delilah mended her
bridges with the Israelites after betraying Samson.
Samson has a spirit-guide, of sorts, in the book. That may sound New-Agey to some. Perhaps the guide was an angel, though, or
the Holy Spirit, or Samson’s conscience.
For much of the book, Samson does not see him as a spirit guide but
actually thinks he’s a person.
This was an enjoyable read.
I am open to reading other Angela Hunt books.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the
publisher through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.