By the Waters of En Gedi, Book III: Trilogy of Kings Saga

Biblical fiction is a difficult genre of literature to create. Writing biblical fiction presents an author with numerous high hurdles to clear. Since the biblical story can often be quite sparse, the writer must attempt to expand the narrative so as not to simply restate the scriptures. The larger problem is that, while expanding the narrative, the writer must take great pains not to do harm to the original text. While developing a story that is interesting, it is too easy to take liberties with the scriptural narrative. In doing so, the writer will either force the story in a direction the scriptural author never intended, or worse, twist the primary meaning of the text into something foreign to God’s purposes. The difficulty in maintaining this balance is why, in my opinion, most biblical fiction is insipid at best, or worse, dancing on the rim of heresy.

All that being said, it is an honor to introduce the reader to By the Waters of En Gedi. In this wonderful work, veteran biblical history author Susan Van Volkenburgh deftly tells the story of King David and his flight from the enraged King Saul up to Saul’s tragic death. Van Volkenburgh does not simply re-tell the story. She grabs the reader by the collar and drags them with her as she follows David’s ragtag band of soldiers as they flee the fury of King Saul and his army.

From the first page, you find what separates Van Volkenburgh from other writers in this genre. She puts the reader into the story as though they were fleeing as well. Her writing is sensual. You hear the footsteps of your pursuers. You smell the salty air of the Dead Sea. You taste the food by the campfire. You see the barrenness of the bleak desert. You feel the chilly night air as it wraps you up. By the Waters of En Gedi moves with the speed and urgency of a prison break.

Van Volkenburgh also takes the reader into the emotional experience of the story. Tension rises as you experience the anxiety and fear that David’s compatriots felt as they fled. You find tears welling up in your eyes as your own heart breaks with David’s as he comes to terms with Saul’s sin and God’s judgment. You do not just read about; you experience David’s heartbreaks as well as his joys.

Van Volkenburgh manages to bring this oft-told story to life all the while keeping the integrity of the biblical text. In doing so, she brings honor not only to David, but more importantly, to David’s God and Israel’s true King."

— Robert L. Webb, Ph.D.
Sr. Pastor
Calvary Baptist Church,
Kaufman, Texas