Old Testament Library – serie

The commentary by Professor B. S. Childs of Yale on the book of Exodus represents a major attempt to break new ground, both in its understanding of the biblical book itself and also in its conception of the purpose of the commentary writer . It is readily evident that the task Professor Childs has set himself is a mammoth one, and everywhere the reader becomes impressed with the thoroughness and care with which the task has been carried out. in consequence a vast store of biblical and theological learning is compressed into the book making it an invaluable guide to the book of Exodus in its contents and in the way they have been understood by Jews and Christians. The preacher will find a rich collection of comment to provoke further thought and reflection. However, the more traditionally critical biblical scholar will also find a great deal that is fresh here regarding the modem understanding of the book of Exodus. in particular the amount of attention given to tradilio-historical and redaction-critical aspects of the text provides a welcome supplementation to the information already available in other commentaries The final evaluation of its success as a new form of commentary will no doubt lie in its value to the teacher and preacher. However, it has much to say to the scholar, and it will undoubtedly command a wide readership and make a very durable contribution to Old Testament scholarship' (The Expository Times). This remarkable book, the product of nearly twenty years of research, study, and reflection, inaugurates a new age in the exegesis of biblical literature . Here is a complete commentary in which each and every important critical and theological problem is considered. Its redaction-criticism is fresh, but the author's insistance that redaction-criticism influences exegesis is even newer. It is in the setting of disciplined learning and well-argued scholarly discourse that the theological work is developed. That, too, is an innovation, as anyone familiar with what passes for theological writing, biblical or otherwise, knows. In a word, Childs now has set a new standard for future commentaries' (Journal of Jewish Studies).

Susan Niditch's commentary on the book of Judges pays careful attention to the literary and narrative techniques of the text and yields fresh readings of the book's difficult passages: stories of violence, ethnic conflict, and gender issues. Niditch aptly and richly conveys the theological impact and enduring significance of these stories.The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.

'Here is an excellent and up-to-date commentary on Daniel that can be unreservedly commended. There is a good, though brief, introduction, in which especial attention is paid to the discussion of the literary affinities of Daniel. The original translation takes account of all relevant recent work, while the commentary is full and first class. The author has read and digested a considerable amount of modern literature on Daniel and brought to it his own careful and balanced judgement. His critical positions are rarely new, but in the reviewer's opinion they are sound - and sound judgement is better than novelty! On many of the problems of the book an incredible amount has been written, expressing an enormous variety of opinions. Professor Porteous is not concerned with the history of interpretation, and contents himself with a brief treatment of such questions, presenting his own considered view or suspending judgement where a decision between competing views cannot be made with confidence ... More important than all such matters is the religious and theological value of the book, and it is his attention to this that gives Professor Porteous's commentary its special quality, and makes it a notable addition to the series for which it has been written' (Society for Old Testament Study Book List).

Life is profitless; totally absurd. This oppressive message lies at the heart of the Bible's strangest book. Enjoy life if you can, advises the author, for old age will soon overtake you. And even as you enjoy, know that the world is meaningless. No wonder, then, that an ancient rabbi argued that King Solomon wrote the Song of Songs in his youth, Proverbs in mature years and Ecclesiastes in his senility. Professor Crenshaw differs: 'For many years I have been fascinated with the book, perhaps because it makes my own sceptism appear solidly biblical. Like the author, I observe a discrepancy between the vision of a just world, which I refuse to relinquish, and reality as I perceive it. This radical absurdity gives an urgency and ultimacy to theological probings.' His commentary follows the usual Old Testament Library pattern, with a completely new translation of the text.

A classic work of Old Testament scholarship.

This commentary has grown out of the author's long-standing interest in the religious history of the Second Temple period. It follows the usual pattern of the series with introduction, text, critical notes and commentary; the translation of the biblical text is the author's own. Its approach is shaped by the comments of an important writer on Ezra from almost sixty years ago: 'The historical perspective which sees Judaism as fulfilling its mission and then making way for the gospel and the church has an impressive inner consistency and spiritual allure, the only problem with it is the real history of Judaism.'

The profound learning, accurate scholarship, and deep Christian feeling evident on every page of the commentary make it of the greatest value to the student of the Old Testament, and one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in recent times' (Times Literary Supplement). 'The warm welcome given by this journal and many others to von Rad's Genesis when it was first translated into English, in the Old Testament Library series, has been amply justified. During the last decade its usefulness on particular points has often been helpful; now the opportunity to read it right through once more has brought a fresh reminder of its broader insights and penetrating analysis. In particular, one is impressed by the very positive assessment of so many of the religious traditions of the patriarchal period. This revised edition has had the introduction and the commentary on chapters 1-11 completely reset; elsewhere the changes are limited to what was possible in a photographic reproduction . , . in general the most striking change is that many judgments are expressed with more caution and less precision than was formerly the case. New material includes an interesting section on the historicity of the patriarchs . An important expansion of what was previously a very brief statement shows how the theological significance of Genesis 1 far outruns the mere statement that God created the world, and how that chapter does much to elucidate Israel's understanding of her status before her God. There are numerous other detailed changes, and the opportunity has also been taken to remove some of the infelicities of the translation. All in all, then, this revision is most welcome' (Theology). Gerhard von Rad, who died in 1971 after completing this revision of Genesis, was for many years Professor of Old Testament in the University of Heidelberg.

Throughout the commentary the fundamental teaching of Hosea is given prominence in such a way that it is never obscured by uncertainties in particular expressions of it. This is a satisfying and well-balanced book which refrains from claiming certitude of exegesis where the evidence does not provide sufficiently definite material for it' (Society for Old Testament Studies Book List). 'The work is divided into a short introduction dealing with the man, the time, the sayings, the message and the book, followed by a selective bibliography and a commentary in 37 sections with headings which will help in the study of the book. It can be highly recommended' (Jewish Quarterly). 'Though the author is well acquainted with Hebrew grammar and philology these are nowhere obtruded on the reader. Similarly questions of textual reading do not claim the focus of attention. They must necessarily receive attention, since the text, especially of Hosea is quite certainly corrupt in many places and it is essential to establish and justify the text which is the basis of the comment before its significance can be unfolded. But these questions are discussed with restraint, and the more technical material is put in the footnote where it will not divert attention from the exposition of the fundamental message of these prophets . A fine volume which is an important enrichment of our exegetical literature' (H. H. Rowley in The British Weekly).

Claus Westermann's classic commentary on Deuteroisaiah.

The first edition of this commentary was written in 1960, early in Professor Kaiser's career. Since then, he has also written a commentary on Isaiah 13-39, and his further studies have both deepened his understanding of the book of Isaiah and changed his views. The result is this new edition, rewritten from cover to cover and now twice the length of its predecessor. Professor Kaiser is particularly concerned with the history of the transmission of the text of the book of Isaiah. He is less concerned now to trace which might be the original words of the prophet, and is in fact more sceptical about the number of words of Isaiah which may be contained in the book which bears his name. Rather, he sees the work as essentially the result of a struggle within early Judaism, lasting more than two centuries, to understand why Judah had to go into exile Each generation gave its own answer to the question, in an attempt to re-establish its faith.

'It can scarcely be supposed that at the present there is anything like a scholarly consensus of criticism regarding Micah. but this is beginning to establish itself. Mays has certainly fulfilled a difficult assignment well. and it may well be that he will open up a measure of fresh interest in the book of Micah and its problems' (R. E. Clements in Epworth Review). `Professor Mays has the great virtue that he does not waffle. Scholars will undoubtedly challenge some of his textual emendations and some of the specific interpretations, but the commentary as a whole should be acclaimed as providing the serious reader with a reasonable and consistent understanding of the canonical book of Micah. with its religious and theological message of timeless significance' (D. R. Ap-Thomas in Journal of Semitic Studies).

'This is a book to be reckoned with, largely concerned with tracing the sources underlying the text and searching for the origins and meanings of the various traditions which have coalesced in those sources. It is a book which needs reading with attention, as valuable to the scholar as to the student. It rarely looks beyond the world of the Old Testament, so providing no short cuts for those who read commentaries to get simple answers; but for those who wish to study the book of Numbers seriously it is essential reading' (Joseph Robinson in View Review). 'Even where the reader may not be inclined to follow, he will be taught to read the text with close observation, and cannot but profit from the brilliant and stimulating mind of the author' (H. H. Rowley in The British Weekly). Until his death in 1968, Martin Noth was Professor of Old Testament in the University of Bonn.

'This is a major work and very much a scholar's work for scholars; I would not be surprised if it did not achieve international standing on publication. It is more than a commentary, it is a thorough exploration of the Proverb and Wisdom literature in, and around, the Bible, with a fascinating investigation of this kind of writing in Egyptian, and Babylonian and Assyrian sources' (The Scotsman). 'The commentary is detailed, comprehensive, and will fill a gap on many shelves .. any student and preacher of the OT and of the Bible simply cannot afford to be without it. Dr McKane is to be congratulated upon an excellent book—scholarly, original and most attractive to read' (G. Henton Davies in the Baptist Times).

'We have left until last what bids fair to become one of the two or three Old Testament books of the year (von Rad's Genesis is probably another). Weiser's commentary on The Psalms sums up a generation of sympathetic work upon the Psalter. In the Preface we have a consideration of the work associated with Gunkel and Mowinckel. Each Psalm is given in a new translation with short notes underneath, and then followed by a full theological exposition. It is the expositions that will be most helpful to the parish priest and the minister of religion. Weiser is able to date many of the Psalms a good deal earlier than has been fashionable of late. but his significant contribution is in his interpretation of the theological ideas of the writers. Those who use the Psalms regularly will be particularly grateful for this valuable commentary' (View Review). 'The commentary is characterized throughout by a deep and warm sense of the abiding spiritual inheritance which the hymns of Israel's worship have provided both for Jew and Christian throughout the ages' (Times Literary Supplement).

Looks at God's relationship with the world and the place of man in creation. Explores the relationship between God and man as individual and in community.

This much-needed commentary provides an authoritative guide to a better understanding of the often-neglected book of Micah. If gives insight into the individual sayings of Micah, to the way they were understood and used as they were gathered into the growing collection, and to their role in the final form of the document. "I am convinced," says Dr. Mays, that Micah "is not just a collection of prophetic sayings, but is the outcome of a history of prophetic proclamations and is itself in its final form prophecy."The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.