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BUILDING AN OLD TESTAMENT LIBRARY: GENESIS-RUTH

Never before have evangelicals had the luxury of choosing from several excellent commentaries on Genesis. Gordon J. Wenham's magisterial two-volume commentary in the Word Biblical Commentary series (WBC; Word, 1987/94) is now complete, and sure to dominate the field for years to come. Wenham's work is exemplary in treatment of the text, comparative ancient Near Eastern analysis, and theological exposition. He has also paved the way among evangelical scholars in reconsidering the source critical approaches to the Pentateuch, without jettisoning the priority of the textual witness. Likewise, V.P. Hamilton's two-volume New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1990/95) is now complete, and likewise, Hamilton has provided an excellent tool for reading Genesis. These commentaries cover much of the same territory with impressive sensitivity. Hamilton is perhaps more intentional in Christian application with his occasional units entitled "The New Testament Appropriation." Also worthy of mention is K.A. Mathews' balanced and sensible volume (the first of two volumes appeared in 1996), which will probably not get the attention it deserves because of the particular series in which it appears (New American Commentary [NAC], Broadman & Holman). Derek Kidner's modest volume in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series (TOTC; IVP, 1967) can still be read with profit. 

Commentaries on Exodus from an evangelical perspective are not as plentiful, nor as useful, though we have high hopes for E. Carpenter's NICOT volume, which is not yet published. For now, J.I. Durham's WBC contribution (1987) is still an important commentary on Exodus, though it should be read alongside the older volume by R.A. Cole (TOTC, 1973). 

We have long benefited from G.J. Wenham's NICOT volume on Leviticus (1979), but now we also have the thorough and insightful work of J.E. Hartley (WBC, 1992). Hartley has once again proven his mettle as a commentary author (cf. his work on Job [NICOT, 1988]), providing in this volume on Leviticus a helpful application of this difficult book for modern Christians. Also still useful is R.K. Harrison's little volume in the TOTC (1980). 

The dearth of quality, evangelical commentaries on the book of Numbers is obvious from the fact that until recently the best available was a mid-level, brief volume by G.J. Wenham in the TOTC (1981). Now the NICOT volume by T.R. Ashley helps meet the need for a comprehensive and thorough treatment (1993). R.K. Harrison's volume (Baker, 1992) was one of the last contributions before his death in 1993. 

All commentaries on Deuteronomy since P. Craigie's landmark NICOT volume (1976) have had to endure the inevitable comparisons with his excellent treatment. Though newer volumes are now available, Craigie's is still the best. Because of its age, however, it should be supplemented with C.J.H. Wright's volume in the new series, New International Biblical Commentary, Old Testament (NIBCOT; Hendrickson, 1996). Wright's strength is his analysis of the structure of Deuteronomy in light of the ancient Near Eastern treaty texts and his commentary on the Ten Commandments. Duane L. Christensen's contribution to the WBC (volume 1, chapters 1-11, 1991) is limited in usefulness because of his fixation on poetic structure ("rhythmic analysis" and "morae" counting?) and the text's origins in ancient musical traditions. Eugene H. Merrill's NAC volume (1994) is useful as a supplement, and P.D. Miller's volume in the Interpretation series (Westminster/John Knox, 1990) contains valuable theological insights. 

Besides these individual volumes on the Pentateuch, evangelical students should be aware of several recent works that treat these books together. The important volume by J.H. Walton and V.H. Matthews, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Genesis-Deuteronomy (InterVarsity, 1997) is not standard fare for the commentary genre, which usually offers comments on each verse of the selected biblical book. Walton and Matthews rather treat each portion of the Pentateuch from the perspective of comparative ancient Near Eastern materials. John H. Sailhamer's The Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary (Zondervan, 1992) is a fascinating volume full of original literary observations on these books, though his interpretation occasionally pushes the evidence to the breaking point. T. Desmond Alexander's From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Pentateuch (Baker, 1995) provides a theologically sensitive introduction to the entire corpus. Finally, the important volume by R.W.L. Moberly (The Old Testament of the Old Testament: Patriarchal Narratives and Mosaic Yahwism [Fortress, 1992]) should not be missed! Though technically not a commentary, this little volume explores the relationship between Israel's ancestral religion (Genesis 12-50) and the Yahwism of Moses (Exodus-Deuteronomy) in a way that impacts biblical theology in general, and should be required reading for all students of the Pentateuch. 

The book of Joshua has also received attention of late. The important 1981 NICOT volume by M.H. Woudstra can now be supplemented with the excellent volume by R.S. Hess (TOTC, 1996). Hess' treatment is most informative for its thorough discussions of pertinent background issues for the book of Joshua, including the complex and intractable archaeological problems surrounding the conquest narratives. The volume also contains helpful Christian application where appropriate. Less helpful is T. Butler's WBC volume (1983), though his critical "Notes" section is excellent and supplements less technical commentaries such as Hess'. 

Unfortunately the book of Judges has received short shrift among evangelical commentators. We have only the more popular-level (and dated) TOTC volume by A.E. Cundall (1968), which badly needs replacing. Hopefully C. Armerding's WBC commentary, which is due to appear next year, will fill the need. Likewise, we have had little on Ruth, which fortunately is not a tragedy because of the exceptional quality of R.L. Hubbard's NICOT volume (1988). Hubbard's is easily the standard evangelical work on Ruth, due to its reasoned and balanced treatment, giving enough attention to the highly artistic quality of the book of Ruth as observed by recent literary studies, and exploring the pertinent cultural and historical issues. Recently the WBC volume by F.W. Bush has also appeared (1996), providing another excellent commentary, which also treats Esther. These can profitably be supplemented with L. Morris (TOTC, 1968). 

By Bill T. Arnold, an elder in the Kentucky Conference of the UMC; Director of Hebrew Studies and Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Asbury Theological Seminary.