Biblical fiction · 438 pages · Overview

Not Many Fathers cover

About the Book: Not Many Fathers

Why Othniel Became a Judge. "Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers" (1 Corinthians 4:15). This novel explores, through a story built on real biblical events, what it means to be a father and why we need fathers.

This is a short overview drawn from the book itself, not a substitute for it. Buy: Amazon US · Amazon AU · Amazon UK · Koorong

The story

Bob began this book as a theological discussion and soon realised the subject was better explained by example than by theory. He took Othniel, named in Joshua 15 as the son of Kenaz and kin of Caleb, and filled out his life story. The aim is to show how the father figures in his life shaped who he became.

Othniel is born in the wilderness during Israel's forty years of wandering, as the generation counted in the first census dies off. By the Jordan crossing only two men over sixty remain: Joshua and Caleb. Though born an outsider, Othniel learns from the fathers in his life. That wins him his bride, Caleb's daughter, and he goes on to become the first of the Judges of Israel (Judges 3:9).

The Scripture behind it

The biblical references to Othniel are few and scattered. Studied together and in context, they give a fuller picture. The introduction sets out the passages the story is built on and explains its assumptions. For example, Kenaz and Jephunneh are taken to be of the Kenite (Kenizzite) clan (Numbers 32:12, Joshua 14:6, 14). Bob also explains why the Hebrew word for "brother" can mean kinsman.

The book closes with a reflection, "Why are Fathers Few?": Jethro was a father to Moses, Jephunneh to Kenaz, Kenaz to Othniel, Caleb to Othniel, and Othniel was a father to Israel.

“What impacted me most was the difference between simply being a dad and truly becoming a father.”

5-star reader review on Goodreads

Contents

  1. The Storm
  2. Just Kenaz
  3. Moses
  4. Adoption
  5. The Law
  6. Blasphemy
  7. The Journey Begins
  8. Meat to Eat
  9. Spies
  10. Marriage
  11. Children
  12. Rebellion
  13. Father Caleb
  14. No Water
  15. Grumblings
  16. Snakebite
  17. Training
  18. Water Boy
  19. Plague Erupts
  20. Second Census
  21. War Begins
  22. Joshua Takes Over
  23. Jordan River
  24. Achan's Sin
  25. Gibeonites
  26. The Longest Day
  27. Jabin of Hazor
  28. Caleb's Demand
  29. The Challenge
  30. Gilgal
  31. Eastern Tribes
  32. Wedding
  33. Inheritance
  34. Springs of Water
  35. New Life
  36. Family
  37. Time with Caleb
  38. Passover
  39. Drawing Near
  40. Grandchildren
  41. Joshua's Summons
  42. Caleb Dies
  43. Turning Away
  44. Cushan-Rishathaim
  45. The Call
  46. Idols
  47. Surprise Attack
  48. Spoil and Passover
  49. The Judge
  50. Death
  51. Why are Fathers Few?

Who it's for

Men's groups, elders and leaders thinking about mentoring and spiritual fatherhood, and readers who love Scripture-based historical fiction about the wilderness years and the conquest of Canaan.

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