Twelve Hidden Heroes – Rebecca Parkinson

This is one of a short series of four books that considers ‘hidden heroes’ from both the Old and New Testaments. It is stated that the author believes the Bible to be ‘a living book that is full of exciting stories that still challenge people’s lives’. By choosing twelve hidden heroes and retelling their stories Rebecca Parkinson seeks to illustrate her point.

It might be assumed that writing about people whom the biblical record does not name and about whom it provides little detail might involve the writer in conjecture at best and imaginative invention at worst. However, the author has worked hard at avoiding the fanciful but, at the same time, bidding us consider the thoughts and emotions of the individuals and their peers.

As you read through the short accounts in this book on Old Testament characters, whether of Hur, Bezalel, Mephibosheth’s nurse, Barzillai and others, there is plenty of practical application. In the increasingly difficult task of finding good material for a Sunday School class or as a reading book for young Christians this volume is a welcome addition.