INFORMATIVE, THRILLING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING – “BEN HUR II – EXILE”: What ‘REALLY’ happened in the First Century?
• “So you are the only people who reject my divinity!” – Caligula; 37 AD/CE. • “Gods are Gods – What difference which one!?” – Vespasian; 68 AD/CE. What ‘Really’ Happened? History’s most impacting century remains its most miss-represented. “Ben Hur II – Exile” traces the historical thread where Sir Lew Wallace’s epic novel culminates,…
• “So you are the only people who reject my divinity!” – Caligula; 37 AD/CE.
• “Gods are Gods – What difference which one!?” – Vespasian; 68 AD/CE.
What ‘Really’ Happened?
History’s most impacting century remains its most miss-represented. “Ben Hur II – Exile” traces the historical thread where Sir Lew Wallace’s epic novel culminates, exploring its source points and humanity’s greatest ‘Clash of Belief’ with Rome. A new appraisal based on long suppressed historical archives and first-hand witness accounts says the Jews played the most significant role in marking the end of the divine king realm and why we don’t worship Jupiter and Zeus today. For how can a Messiah emerge without first defending the source that introduced one?
• “Without Judaism there would be no Christianity, and only with Judaism has Christianity a relationship with origin.” – Hans Kung”
• “Certainly, the world without the Jews would have been a radically different place. Humanity might have eventually stumbled upon all the Jewish insights. But we cannot be sure.” – (Paul Johnson; author of “A History of The Jews”).
The first century changed history as no other. It all began 300 years prior, triggered by Aristotle’s pupil Alexander the Great’s strange request to the Jews:
• “Translate for me your Torah to the Greek tongue.”
The Septuagint, the first translation of the Hebrew Bible to another language, will impact humanity and history more so than all of Alexander’s war victories. In the first century the Jews did not reject Paul – they just remained as Jews. Jesus of Nazareth prayed with the Ebionite and Nazarene Jews in Hebrew, observed the Hebrew laws, adorned hair locks and tassels and performed sacrificial rituals. The banner on Jesus’ Cross was in Hebrew – (Acts 26:14).
Here there is soul searching awe and wonder, and victory shrouded in defeat. It is accounted via a ‘Forbidden Love’ between a Roman and a Nazerite maiden, betrayers to both their nations. The fiery Deborah Hur shouts out from the Exile processions:
“Jerusalem will return when Rome turns to dust!”
Ten years in the making, this new assessment is designed to ‘mainstream’ the ancient historical texts in a reader-friendly mode. The tedious and complicated archives, biblical references and its charismatic figures come alive with the historical events infused with its emotive dialogue and dramatic action every turn. The vast index, time-lines, quotes and archaeological relics act as an ever handy reference almanac and are enhanced with 50 lavish biblical paintings, illustrations and new art works.
• “The war between Rome and Jerusalem deserves to be called one of the most important events in world history. If the Temple might still be standing today, the history of the word would be inconceivably different.” – (Moses Hess; “Rome and Jerusalem.”)
• “No Library is complete without this book – every page astounds. I never wanted it to end” – Stanley Joseph, Composer, Producer, Director.
INFORMATIVE, THRILLING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING
Five Star Review on Amazon by Kristin
This book is informative, riveting , powerful and commanding. I could not ‘put it down ‘ to take a breath!
The way the author captures the bare, naked reality of the historical scenario, which incorporates the Fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple by the Roman General Titus, in AD 70, is breathtakingly awesome.
It is so horrifyingly real in parts , as to almost transport the reader into Rome’s ‘ glorious’ dark past which impacted Israel’s most devastating tragedy and moved me to tears.
I was totally engrossed from the opening scenario, which captures the senses in an almost tangible way, as the underlying specifics energise the setting re ‘food dropping from the upper levels’ in the colisseum sequence …. ‘ the spontaneous crying of a frightened Roman child’ …. ‘Titus vomiting on the side lines ‘ etc.
The depraved aspect of ancient Rome’s culture , energized by the perception of its gods, expressed in power lust, cruel blood lust, perverted sadism and sexual immorality, permeates the frenzied ambience accompanying the merciless plight of the caged captives, as the poignant , secretive birth of the baby, with his implied Hebrew / Roman identity, occurs in horrendous conditions of enslaved captivity, which is at once heartrending and utterly captivating.
Typically true to both form and fact, the fascination of Titus for Bernice appears to be based on lustful desire and not love.
This came across in the choice of words between them – it is a distinct contrast to the dialogue between Deborah Hur and her passionate Roman lover, Alexis, the ‘ Forbidden Love’ that is at the centre of the story.
The ‘Enigmatic Man’ scene projects an impacting conclusion , reminiscent of the Biblical text, ‘Yeshua wept ‘/ ‘ Jesus wept’ .
The silent, observing figure of the ‘Enigmatic Man’ poignantly portrays the depth of Godly sorrow [ I cried !] over the devastating scene before His eyes . YET the implication strongly and convincingly comes across that – ‘He is there’ – and because of that, this is not the demise of the Hebrew Nation, nor the end of the Israelites.
God’s Promise to Abraham & His offspring is irrevocable. The Messiah will return for the salvation of Israel.
Deborah’s words echo this prophetic truth ~ ‘Jerusalem will rise when Rome is dust’.
The survival of the baby son of Alexis and Deborah , the seed, as the book referred to him, carries the conviction that God’s redemptive purpose with Israel is eternal and highlights the implication that the ‘ Blessing of the Covenant’ is extended to the Gentiles, as vividly portrayed in the forbidden love relationship between a Hebrew woman and a Roman man .
I extend my congratulations to the author for this worthy and commendable work !
Joseph D. Shellim is a talented researcher and gifted writer, who has authored an excellent book, which is historically informative within the framework of a gripping and absorbing story that is also spiritually thought provoking.