Eliakim and the 10 Plagues
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Overview
Eliakim and the Ten Plagues is the second installment in The Witness Series by Josh Hardin, a collection of middle grade historical fiction that places young characters inside Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments. In this book, readers join Eliakim, a twelve-year-old enslaved Hebrew boy working in the household of Egypt’s most powerful man.
When Pharaoh refuses to grant freedom to God’s oppressed people, Moses and Aaron call upon Jehovah to demonstrate His power. Water turns to blood. Frogs are everywhere. Boils break out. Death creeps closer with each plague, giving Pharaoh a chance to relent. How far will Pharaoh’s hardness and cruelty go? In these desperate times, Eliakim must hold on to words his mother spoke over him: "Jehovah never forgets His promises. He will do what is right, and He will do it at the right time."
Faithful to the biblical account in Exodus, this gripping adventure invites readers ages 8–17 to experience Scripture as living history.
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Product Details
| SKU | M440-4 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Master Books |
| Weight (in lbs) | 0.17 |
| Title | Eliakim and the 10 Plagues |
| Series | The Witness Series |
| ISBN 13 | 9781683444404 |
| Contributors | Josh Hardin |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Page Count | 112 |
| Publisher | New Leaf Publishing Group, LLC |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 4 1/4 x 7 |
More Information
By day, Eliakim serves Pharaoh's household: carrying food and drink, fulfilling chores for Pharaoh's sister, and attending ritual ceremonies alongside the Pharaoh's nephew, a prince just a bit older than himself. His position gives him a front-row seat to the growing conflict between Moses and Pharaoh. He hears the ruler's angry outbursts, his suspicions of Moses, and his open contempt for the God of the Hebrews.
By night, Eliakim carries that information back to his parents and the foremen of the Hebrew slave crews. He's not a soldier or a prophet. He's just an enslaved boy. But the information he carries matters, and so does the courage it takes to keep delivering it.
As Pharaoh ramps up his cruelty and the plagues intensify, so do the questions Eliakim and the Hebrews around him wrestle with:
- Why does Jehovah let us live as slaves?
- Aren't we His people?
- Why would He let this happen?
Yet alongside those questions stands something that won't let go: the faith his mother Sheerah has spoken into him. "Jehovah never forgets His promises. He will do what is right, and He will do it at the right time."
When the final plague strikes and the firstborn of Egypt fall, Eliakim is not celebrating. The prince he has served, a boy he knows, is among the dead. Pharaoh's rebellion against Jehovah has a cost, and Eliakim watches Egypt pay it.
Eliakim and the Ten Plagues explores themes readers of any age will recognize:
- Refusing to adopt the beliefs and worship practices of the surrounding culture.
- Blaming God's messengers for suffering.
- Doubting God's goodness or power when life is hard.
- Fear of stepping into the unknown, even when uncertainty is the cost of freedom.
Written at a fourth to sixth grade reading level but rich in emotional depth and mature themes, this second book of The Witness Series by Josh Hardin is an ideal choice for reluctant or struggling readers in grades 7–11 who find longer or more complex books frustrating.
Fast-paced and full of tension, with energetic black and white illustrations throughout, Eliakim and the Ten Plagues will keep readers turning pages, even those who already know how the Exodus story ends.
Customer Reviews
The illustrations are beautiful, and the story stays true to the message of God's power, faithfulness, and deliverance. It sparked some wonderful conversations in our homeschool about trusting God and His plan, even during difficult circumstances.
This is a book we'll gladly read again, especially when studying Exodus. It's a wonderful addition to any homeschool or family library for teaching Bible history in an engaging and memorable way.
We all loved this newest historical fiction in The Witness Series! My kids really enjoyed reading this Old Testament story from the perspective of a boy their age. Imagining how both the Egyptians and the Hebrews may have responded during this time, it’s a perspective that we hadn’t really ever come across before. Woven throughout is the message that God will accomplish what He promises, in His way and His time, and that we must hold to that truth.
We can’t wait for the next book in The Witness Series!
There are mentions of the gods of the Egyptians and their ceremonies - such as going to the Nile to perform a ceremony when Jehovah turns the water into blood. False gods are not dwelt upon nor discussed in detail; I would say it is very age-appropriate. Since they are mentioned, though, I would have liked to see drawn out a bit how each plague actually showed Jehovah sovereign over specific Egyptian gods. Even without that specifically though, it is very clear over and over again that He is ruler over all.
The way the author said some things really highlighted some practical biblical truths. For instance, the plague of darkness that could be felt cautions us not to be hardhearted or unresponsive when God speaks:
“In the silence and the darkness, Jehovah seemed to say, ‘You refused to see, so you will be dark. You have refused to listen, so I will be silent.’”
When Pharaoh and Moses end their final face to face interaction, it shows what so often a person does when trying to come to Christ without full surrender - on their own terms:
“Pharaoh’s face flamed. His last effort to save himself on his terms failed.”
When Eliakim wants to warm the oldest son of an Egyptian family to take shelter under the blood but realizes he cannot leave home and it is too late - see the reality of coming judgment and how burdened we should be to share the way of salvation:
“Eliakim nearly began to cry as well. He knew he must stay. But he knew what it meant for those not under the blood.”
And one more example, pointing out the irony of someone being afraid of “powerful” people, but not afraid of God Most High:
“He had seen Tov cringing and frightful in front of Pharaoh, but he seemed unafraid to confront Moses and Jehovah.”
I am grateful to have books like this that draw our family into thinking about what it would be like to actually be present in these familiar Bible accounts, and for the deeper insights like the ones I listed above. And I am especially grateful that God is the same unchanging covenant-keeping God Who still loves and draws His people to Himself!
from Mom, she has been anticipating this next book in the series and excitedly devoured it.
Eliakim, a Hebrew, is a palace worker and sees firsthand all of the suffering that is caused by Pharaoh's hardened heart. I loved how the author showed Eliakim choosing to trust God and follow him, even though he was surrounded by false teachings and Idolatry at the palace. Reading about the destruction God brought about on Egypt as he brought down the entire empire reminded me once again of just how amazing his Mercy is towards us. He is the Living God who is mighty to save, even when things look bleak and even though it might not be in our timing.
I know that my 10.5-year-old is going to absolutely love this book! A note for younger/ more sensitive readers: The living book style does also bring to life the fact that the Egyptians were real people who suffered horribly due to Pharaoh's hardened heart. Eliakim also interacts with a first-born Egyptian and wants to warn him about the plague but is not able to. These elements may provide great opportunities to discuss the salvation and witnessing to those around us, but keep in mind that they may also unsettle a more sensitive reader.