T.M. Kayode

I had planned to write reviews for all three books in this series as part of this blog post, but sleep is calling. So, with my sleepy eyes making it hard to focus, I’ll cover just two of the reviews for now.

This book series features three women—Rahab, Ruth, and Tamar—as protagonists, and it offers a fresh perspective on their lives. You might wonder: why these three women? Do they have anything in common?

Well, yes, they do.

If you’re familiar with your Bible, you’ll remember that these three women are mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew Chapter 1.

Matthew 1: 1-6 (ESV)
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.

These books were written by Olajumoke Adenowo, a woman whose life and works I’ve been studying for the past month. I picked up these books from Amazon, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.

Book 1: Rahab

A summary of Rahab’s life can be found in Joshua Chapter 2. Before reading this book, I often wondered about Rahab’s story. She’s described as a prostitute, yet her family seemed to respect her and followed her directives. I found that very puzzling.

Culturally, prostitutes, especially those known for their trade, were typically shunned. People avoided them to prevent any association with their lifestyle. So, how did Rahab command the respect that she did? That question always intrigued me.

Mrs. Adenowo offers an explanation that, while not found directly in the Bible, makes plausible sense. She suggests that in ancient religions, prostitution was sometimes tied to religious practices, and Rahab might have been a religious prostitute. If that were the case, her role in society could have been more prestigious than we typically imagine.

This idea reminds me of ancient Japanese courtesans—women who, while essentially prostitutes, were highly regarded because of the services they provided. Similarly, Rahab might have held a higher status in her society. Consider these points:

• She had a lodge and received guests.
• The king knew of her activities—perhaps he was even a customer.
• She lived on the wall of Jericho, which was prime real estate, reserved for trusted individuals.
• She had flax on her roof, laid down neatly, which she used to hide the spies. Flax was used to make linen, and having enough to hide two grown men suggests she was involved in trade—possibly as a virtuous woman, as described in Proverbs 31.
• Her house was large enough to accommodate all her family members and their belongings.

Rahab’s life is a lesson in wisdom, discretion, negotiation, and loyalty. Ultimately, her actions earned her a place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Book 2: Ruth

The story of Ruth can be found in the Book of Ruth. Reading this book provided me with deeper insights into Ruth’s life, which I’d like to share.

First, Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, was a deeply bitter person. She had lost her husband and two sons—Mahlon and Chilion, whose names, interestingly, mean “Invalid” and “Sickly.” Who would name their children that? Understandably, Naomi was sad and possibly angry at God for taking away everything she had. Let’s not forget, Ruth also lost her own husband.

Despite this, Ruth chose to stay with Naomi. This decision meant leaving her people, her way of life, and embracing the culture and religion of the Israelites. Even though Naomi was moping around—she literally changed her name from Naomi, meaning “Sweetness,” to Mara, meaning “Bitter”—Ruth wasn’t deterred. She continued to care for her mother-in-law with unwavering devotion.

Ruth quickly adapted to her new life, getting straight to work in the fields. This wasn’t easy work, but rather than resort to begging, she put in the effort. Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed—Boaz, the owner of the field, took note of her diligence. And as fate would have it, Boaz was a relative of Naomi’s.

This is where Naomi, despite her bitterness, stepped in with a brilliant match-making plan. Ruth and Boaz eventually married, after a small drama involving another relative was resolved.

And here’s an interesting connection: Boaz’s mother was Rahab, from Book 1. Isn’t that fascinating? Rahab raised a God-fearing man, showing that she truly embraced the culture of the Israelites after being rescued from Jericho.

So, Rahab and her future daughter-in-law, Ruth (though they may not have met), both ended up in the genealogy of Christ.

Book 3: Tamar

And finally, the third book in this series is all about Tamar. Yes, that Tamar—the one who was married to wicked Er, Judah’s son and Jacob’s grandson. After Er’s untimely death and then Onan’s refusal to fulfill his duty, Tamar took matters into her own hands. Her story is filled with twists and turns—plot twists worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, I assure you!

But I’ll leave you with just a hint of what’s to come. If you’d like a full review of this fascinating and bold woman’s story, just let me know in the comments. Trust me, it’s a tale you won’t want to miss!

As for me, I’m heading to bed now my sleepy eyes has officially taken over. Until next time, happy reading!