by Mesu Andrews
Author Note
The Book That Gave Me the “Feel” of Jezebel
The idea for Jezebel’s seal came from a fabulous book titled The Jezebel Letters: Religion and Politics in Ninth-Century Israel by Eleanor Ferris Beach. The stone seal from the ninth or eighth century BC is an authentic archaeological find, housed at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Though Beach presents The Jezebel Letters as a novel, the depth of her research, maps, charts, plant and animal life, and so on testifies to the level of her expertise. Ignoring the areas in which Professor Beach veers from scriptural truth, I embraced the amazing insights she offered into the lives of Jezebel and Ahab.
Incredible Insight into Solomon’s Temple
Out of all the research books I’ve seen, Tabernacle and Temple by Thomas Newberry is the most thorough explanation of the biblical descriptions and significance of Solomon’s Temple. Every nook and cranny is documented with its corresponding scriptural reference, and then the author comments on its spiritual symbolism. A truly amazing resource—from 1887.
Solomon’s Quarries
A large series of caves lay beneath the city of Jerusalem, causing a variety of legends to arise. Some suggest Solomon quarried the stones for Yahweh’s Temple from the special meleke limestone on which David’s city stands. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and two temples after it were destroyed as well. Jesus stated clearly that no stone of the Temple would be left on top of another (Mark 13:2) after Rome’s destruction in AD 70, so no indisputable proof is likely forthcoming to support or refute the theory of Solomon’s quarries.
Others have deemed the 330-foot-wide and 650-foot-deep cavern “Zedekiah’s Cave,” attaching the legend that King Zedekiah attempted to escape his palace when the Babylonians broke through Jerusalem’s walls (2 Kings 25:4). Again, no evidence has been found to support the story that Zedekiah escaped through a tunnel under his palace and traveled partway to Jericho in the underground maze.
The fact is, the closest point of the current cave excavation is still 105 meters—the length of a football field—from the Temple Mount (what would have been the Most Holy Place). At times like these, I’m thrilled I write fiction! We know from 2 Chronicles 20:5 that King Jehoshaphat built a new courtyard on the Temple grounds, so what if the tunnel reached into Jehoshaphat’s outer courtyard? Well, that makes a fun twist in a novel, eh? What if . . . ? I love those words.
Jehoiada’s Age
The high priest’s age—as compared to his young bride—was one of the most delicate details in the story. As my first task in plotting a biblical novel, I create a timeline with the characters, their dates of birth and death, and significant events. It’s fascinating to see who bumps into whom along the way! The kings, queens, and their offspring were so confusing in this story that I overlooked poor Jehoiada in the initial process, neglecting to factor in the dates of his birth and death until after I’d written the first chapter. Big oops. Here’s why:
King Jehoram was thirty-two when he became king (2 Chron. 21:20), and he died eight years later, at age forty.
Jehoram’s youngest son Hazi became king at age twenty-two (2 Chron. 22:1–2), which means Jehoram would have had his youngest son when he was eighteen.
Those facts are true because they’re stated in Scripture. Now, if Jehosheba was younger than Hazi (as in my story), she would have been a teenager when marrying the high priest.
The high priest Jehoiada died at age 130 (2 Chron. 24:15)—sometime during Hazi’s son Jehoash’s forty-year reign (2 Chron. 24:1). We know that Jehoash reigned for a period of time after Jehoiada died because Jehoash turned away from Yahweh during the latter part of his reign (2 Chron. 24:2, 17–18). So even if Jehoash reigned only five years after Jehoiada’s death, the high priest would have been in his nineties when he married the teenaged Jehosheba. Do you see my dilemma? The truth of Scripture must be told—but I tried to tell it gently because our cultures are so very different.
Acknowledgments
Each book takes on a life of its own—a rocky road, smooth sailing, or somewhere in between. The consistent thread through every project, however, is the tribe of folks necessary to finish the work. And the Lord always surrounds me with amazing people!
First and foremost, to the whole Revell team—thank you beyond words for listening to the Spirit’s direction as you make decisions. To the three dear women I work with most closely—Vicki Crumpton, Jessica English, and Michele Misiak. You make writing fun! Some of the hard things about publishing become a labor of love because of your wit and wisdom. (And you are all three lightning-fast on that “reply” button!)
Thank you to Suzanne Smith, Research Librarian at Multnomah University, who streamlines my research time considerably.
My critique partners, Meg Wilson and Michele Nordquist, have again been so faithful to read, edit, comment, and encourage.
Thank you to my literary agent, Karen Ball, who is an amazing cheerleader, coach, and “Ball” of fire!
I’d also like to thank the great folks at Jones House Creative—Matt and Tracy Jones and Emily Scifres. You have worked so hard to establish a professional presence with my website and social media. Thanks for being in my corner.
To Eric and Deanna Rice, thank you for opening your home to me as a quiet writing retreat when I needed it.
To three new friends, Mark and Teri Mayerstein and Raelene Searles, who gave me a new perspective into Jewish culture and challenged me to go deeper into the Temple.
Thanks to my niece, Joni Reeves, who gave insight into the deep emotional struggles of some of these characters through her counseling training at Indiana Wesleyan.
Thank you to my prayer team for the faithful prayers when my “red flag” requests appeared in your in-boxes! Only heaven can fully appreciate the battles you’ve won for me and my family.
This story hit very close to home. While I was researching and writing, my dad went to be with Jesus, and both my daughters gave birth for the first time! Thanks to all who sent notes of sympathy and encouragement at my dad’s passing. And thanks to my daughters and sons-in-love, who allowed me to attend the births of my grandbabies—and to my whole family, who let me retreat for weeks into my writing cave.
As always, to my beloved husband, Roy. I couldn’t do this without you. Spiritually, physically, emotionally—you give me yourself, and I’m refreshed, so I can pour out my passion on a page.
Mesu Andrews’s deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. She and her husband, Roy, enjoyed fourteen years of pastoral ministry before moving to the Pacific Northwest to pursue the next step in God’s calling. They have two married daughters and enjoy visiting their growing tribe of grandkids. Their Rottweiler–pit bull, Bouzer, snuggles at Mesu’s feet while she writes, and both enjoy the cozy warmth of a fire on rainy Northwest days. Mesu loves movies, waterfalls, and travel. You can keep up with her news at www.mesuandrews.com.
Books by Mesu Andrews
* * *
Love Amid the Ashes
Love’s Sacred Song
Love in a Broken Vessel
In the Shadow of Jezebel
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