Reviewed by Anne B. for Readers' Favorite

Marilyn Brown offers readers a fictional account of the Prophet Jeremiah based on scripture. The author has naturally taken creative license to fill in the personal life of the man. The title of the book is "Fires of Jerusalem". Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was so aggrieved of the sins of the Judeans. He wrote at least two books of the Bible, Jeremiah and Lamentations. However, he is mentioned in 2 Kings and 1 Chronicles.

Marilyn Brown takes readers through a period of history where the Judeans faced destruction at the hands of the Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Assyrians. The child king Josiah married Zebudah of Rumah. The marriage created a political alliance between Judah and the Assyrians. However, as with most political alliances it was rather unstable. It also brought false gods to the land. Jeremiah repeatedly tried to warn the Judeans of the coming persecution but it wasn’t in them to listen. God spoke to Jeremiah and told him the people would be under the cruel rule of the Babylonians for 70 years. At one point Josiah repented and urged the people to join him. He cleared the land of false idols. God allowed Josiah’s reign to continue without seeing the downfall of the people. At the end of Josiah’s reign the new King once again brought evil into the land. Jeremiah faced persecution for his love of the Lord.

Brown has written a very touching book. I found myself looking at Jeremiah in a whole new way. He begged and he cried for the people. There is little doubt that he loved the Lord and was faithful to him. However, Brown has managed to give him depth and personality. Jeremiah is no longer the semi boring person that cried and warned the people; he is now the man that was constantly ridiculed, faced death, lowered into a well to die of starvation and a man with some political ties. Brown adds a glossary at the end of her book. I am not sure if my review can do true justice to this book. I read it in one sitting, I found the tale fascinating. Ms Brown, I look forward to reading more of your books.