RESOURCE: Best of Old Testament Commentaries

This is an abbreviation of the Denver Seminary Old Testament Bibliography. It's a good place to look, as is Tremper Longman's book.

Genesis
*Wenham, G.J. Genesis 1-15. WBC 1. Word, 1987. Genesis 16-50. WBC 2. Word, 1994. The best all-around Evangelical commentary that introduces the reader to the major interpretative issues and provides clearly writing on the exegesis and theological significance.

Exodus
*Childs, B.S. The Book of Exodus. OTL. Westminster, 1974. The application of the canonical approach to a higher critical commentary. Includes a history of interpretation for each passage.
*Propp, William H. Exodus 1-18. AB. Doubleday, 1998. Strong on background to social institutions and customs. Important for new textual readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls.


Leviticus
*Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16. AB 3. Doubleday, 1991. Leviticus 17-22. AB 3A. Doubleday, 2000. Leviticus 23-27. AB 3B. Doubleday, 2001. The fruit of a life time of study by a major biblical scholar, this work provides the most detailed and thorough exegesis available, with full reference to comparative ancient Near Eastern, Qumran, Dead Sea Scroll, and Rabbinic sources.
*Wenham, G.J. The Book of Leviticus. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1979. Evangelical application of anthropology to categories of holiness. Oriented toward New Testament applications.

Numbers
*Levine, Baruch A. Numbers 21-36. Anchor Bible. Doubleday, 2000. Strong on textual backgrounds to the diverse types of material.
*Wenham, G. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary. TOTC. IVP, 1981. Evangelical perspectives on the literary structure of the book.

Deuteronomy
*Craigie, P.C. The Book of Deuteronomy. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1976. Evangelical, clearly written study using Ugaritic and other ancient Near Eastern evidence.
*Wright, Christopher J. H. Deuteronomy. New International Biblical Commentary. Hendrickson, 1996. A leading Old Testament ethicist presents an Evangelical interpretation of the text.

Joshua
*Hess, R. S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. TOTC. IVP, 1996. Integrates recent archaeological discoveries and literary analysis. Evangelical.
Judges
*Block, Daniel I. Judges, Ruth. NAC 6. Broadman, 1999. Evangelical, thorough, and detailed exegesis.


Ruth
*Hubbard, Robert L., Jr. The Book of Ruth. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1988. A balanced and thorough study with an appreciation of literary criticism from an Evangelical perspective.

1 & 2 Samuel
*Bergen, R. D. 1 and 2 Samuel. NAC. Broadman, 1996. Evangelical reflecting a knowledge of the Hebrew and modern linguistics.
*McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr., I Samuel and II Samuel. AB. Doubleday, 1980, 1984. The most important study of the Hebrew text in relation to Greek and Dead Sea Scroll witnesses.

1 & 2 Kings
*Cogan, Mordechai. I Kings. AB 10. Doubleday, 2000. Thorough discussion of the textual, critical, and archaeological problems and data.
*Cogan, M., and H. Tadmor. II Kings. AB. Doubleday, 1988. Essential discussion of the Assyrian context of Judah during the latter period of the Monarchy and especially the time of Hezekiah.
*House, P. R. 1 and 2 Kings. NAC. Broadman, 1995. Evangelical theological and literary synthesis of recent approaches.

*Provan, Iain W. 1 and 2 Kings. NIBC. Hendrickson, 1995. Literarily and theologically sensitive, with helpful endnotes and four excurses on canonical connections. Evangelical.

1 & 2 Chronicles
*Japhet, Sara. I & II Chronicles. OTL. Westminster John Knox, 1993. A detailed theological commentary that is sensitive to Chronicles as history.


Ezra & Nehemiah
*Williamson, H.G.M. Ezra-Nehemiah. WBC. Word, 1985. A judicious survey of the historical and major exegetical issues with an awareness of the archaeological component.

Esther
*Berlin, Adele. Esther. JPS. Jewish Publication Society, 2001. Good exposition of text written by a scholar skilled in literary approaches.

Job
*Clines, D.J.A. Job 1-20. WBC. Word, 1989. Remarkable study in its detail, with profound reflection on the implications of the rhetoric.

Psalms
*Craigie, P. Psalms 1-50. WBC. Word, 1983. A clearly written Evangelical combination of comparative Ugaritic studies and theological insights with practical application.
*Terrien, Samuel. The Psalms. Strophic Structure and Theological Commentary. ECC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. A theological and practical exegesis of the Psalms from an expert in Wisdom literature; with translation.

Proverbs
*Clifford, Richard J. Proverbs. OTL. Westminster John Knox, 1999. Concise, original discussion of the meanings of each of the proverbs and their place in their original context, as well as attention to the overall structure of the book.

*Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1-9. Anchor Bible. Doubleday, 2000. A detailed and careful study, with full awareness of the key issues.


Ecclesiastes
*Longman, Tremper, III. Ecclesiastes. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1997. With great linguistic and literary skill, this Evangelical study demonstrates the argument of Ecclesiastes as a warning against negative, skeptical conclusions about God and human existence.
*Seow, C.-L. Ecclesiastes. AB. Doubleday, 1997. Important summary of recent research with a careful exegesis of what is regarded as a Persian period book.

Song of Songs
*Murphy, R.E. The Song of Songs. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1990. A thorough commentary with theological as well as exegetical insight.

Isaiah
*Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah. 2 volumes. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1986, 1998. Solid Evangelical exposition of the biblical text. Introduction could be stronger.

*Webb, Barry G. The Message of Isaiah. BST. InterVarsity, 1996. Good Evangelical exposition with an eye to literary structure, historical background, and broader canonical connections.
*Westermann, Claus. Isaiah 40-66. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969. A standard critical commentary.


Jeremiah
*Holladay, William L. Jeremiah 1-25; Jeremiah 26-52. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986, 1989. A massive technical commentary with a wealth of textual and exegetical notes.
*King, Philip J. Jeremiah: An Archaeological Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 1993. Very illuminating resource for understanding background to book.
Lamentations
*Hillers, Delbert R. Lamentations: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Second edition. Doubleday, 1992. Update of 1972 commentary. Attentive to poetry and structure.

Ezekiel
*Block, Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel. 2 volumes. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1997, 1998. Evangelical. The most comprehensive study of the book available, it incorporates a wealth of linguistic and ancient Near Eastern comparative knowledge.
*Zimmerli, Walther. Ezekiel 1-24 and Ezekiel 25-48. 2 vols. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979, 1983. Massive commentary within the form critical and tradition history traditions.

Daniel
*Collins, John J. Daniel. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1993. Best available critical study of the text with full interaction with intertestamental literature.
*Goldingay, John. Daniel. WBC. Waco: Word Books, 1989. Detailed comments with comparisons with biblical and non-biblical parallels. Defends a late date. Evangelical.

Hosea
*Stuart, Douglas. Hosea - Jonah. WBC. Waco: Word Books, 1987. Solid textual and expositional commentary. Stresses covenantal background. Evangelical.

Joel
*Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976. Careful and informed exegesis with an attempt to locate texts against possible historical background. Evangelical.

*Wolff, Hans W. Joel and Amos. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977. The classic form critical study to these two prophetic books.

Amos
*Paul, Shalom. Amos. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1991. Excellent analysis of text with an emphasis on Ancient Near Eastern parallels and backgrounds.
*Smith, G.V. Amos. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988. Solid exegesis with attention to theological concerns. Evangelical.

Obadiah
*Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. See above under Joel.
*Barton, John. Joel and Obadiah. OTL. Westminster John Knox, 2001. Clear discussion of the critical and exegetical issues.

Jonah
*Sasson, Jack M. Jonah. AB. Garden City: Doubleday, 1990. Detailed commentary with attention to literary nuances.

*Trible, Phyllis. Rhetorical Criticism: Context, Method and the Book of Jonah. Fortress, 1995. A helpful introduction to rhetorical criticism with a very close literary reading of the text. Also designed for classroom use.

Micah
*Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. See above under Joel.

Nahum
*Roberts, J. J. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. OTL. Louisville: Westminster/ John Knox, 1991. Focuses on textual and grammatical issues.

*Robertson, O. Palmer. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Clear exposition with theological concerns. Evangelical.

Habakkuk
*Roberts, J. J. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. See above under Nahum.
*Robertson, O. Palmer. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. See above under Nahum.

Zephaniah
*Roberts, J. J. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. See above under Nahum.
*Robertson, O. Palmer. The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. See above under Nahum.

Haggai
*Meyers, Carol L. and Eric M. Meyers. Haggai, Zechariah 1-8. AB. New York: Doubleday, 1987. Very detailed commentary with attention to possible historical backgrounds and parallels.
*Verhoef, Pieter A. The Books of Haggai and Malachi. NICOT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987. Exposition with an eye to theological implications. Evangelical.

Zechariah
*Meyers, Carol L. and Eric M. Meyers. Haggai, Zechariah 1-8 (vol. 1); Zechariah 9-14 (vol. 2). Garden City: Doubleday, 1987, 1993. See above under Haggai.

Malachi
*Petersen, David L. Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi. See above under Zechariah.
*Verhoef, Pieter A. The Books of Haggai and Malachi. See above under Haggai.