Elisabeth: Mother of John the Baptist
This gentle story of Elisabeth before she becomes the mother of John the Baptist is an engaging story of an unpretentious woman from a small village who has the courage to accept her own destiny. It takes place in the village of Ein Karem in the southern part of Israel in approximately 30 BCE. As the youngest daughter, Elisabeth lives with her parents and takes care of her ailing mother. Her hand in marriage is sought by Zacharias, another villager who, like Elisabeth, is the offspring of a priestly family. With their marriage, Zacharias and Elisabeth knowingly set up any potential son they may have for a prominent, prestigious religious role in the future. Elisabeth, however, cannot conceive a child and becomes labelled as a barren woman. She serves as a midwife instead, helping other women. She and Zacharias are both devout Jews whose lives change many years later, when he is visited by an angel, who tells him that she will have a son who will be a messenger for the Messiah to come. Elisabeth is very close to her great-niece Mary, who receives her own angelic message, so both women prepare together to face the future with grace and resolve.
Elisabeth is an empathetic character throughout this retelling of her story, which brings the Biblical account to life in a very real way. The novel describes the emotions and actions of people who may have lived two thousand years ago, but their concerns about the well-being of their families, their village, and their future feel very relevant today. Recommended not only for readers of inspirational literature, but also for readers interested in the daily lives of ordinary people in this time and place.
