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BUILDING AN OLD TESTAMENT LIBRARY: 1 SAMUEL - JOB

The most recent commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel by an evangelical scholar is R.D. Bergen's contribution to the New American Commentary (NAC; Broadman, 1996). More extensive is the treatment by R.F. Youngblood in the Expositor's Bible Commentary (EBC; vol. 3:553-1104; Zondervan, 1992). The Word Biblical Commentary volumes on Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles are complicated by the fact that they come from different authors. R.W. Klein's 1 Samuel (WBC; Word, 1983) offers a historical/redactional-critical interpretation, while A.A. Anderson offers what is probably a more well-rounded volume on 2 Samuel (1989). Both are strong on text-critical issues though the text-critical standard remains P.K. McCarter Jr.'s Anchor Bible Commentary (AB; 2 vols.; Doubleday, 1980/84). Though the format of the WBC strengthens Klein and Anderson (especially as bibliographical resources), it should be noted that neither is particularly strong in matters of introduction or theology. More theological, though less technical, is R.P. Gordon's study (Zondervan, 1986) and the briefer, more popular book by J.G. Baldwin in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (TOTC; InterVarsity, 1988). Walter Brueggemann's commentary in the Interpretation series (Int; John Knox, 1990) remains the most significant theologically, despite the fact that he purposefully brackets text-critical, compositional/redactional, and historical issues (no small feat in Samuel!). 

Given the interaction between Israel/Judah and various ancient Near Eastern empires in 1 and 2 Kings, Assyriological, historical, and chronological matters are critical. These are ably covered by the Jewish Mesopotamian experts M. Cogan and H. Tadmor-though only for 2 Kings-in the AB (1988). The coverage in the TOTC (1993) by evangelical Assyriologist and archeologist D.J. Wiseman includes both books, though in more concise fashion. The most extensive and recent evangelical treatment is that of I.W. Provan. Writing in the New International Biblical Commentary (NIBC; Hendrickson, 1995), he makes frequent reference to the NT, including four excurses on central figures in "canonical context." Provan treats Kings as a unified whole, a trend that is also apparent in B.O. Long's commentaries in the Forms of Old Testament Literature series (FOTL; Wm.B. Eerdmans; 1984/91). The series is predominantly form-critical, but Long himself practices a type of literary analysis. The bibliographies are especially valuable. An even better literary read, at least from a theological perspective, is found in R.D. Nelson's Interpretation commentary (1987), which treats Kings as "preached history" written to transform the beliefs of its readers. Interestingly, Nelson, an expert in Deuteronomistic History theory, refuses to let his commentary be dominated by such concerns. Simon J. De Vries' 1 Kings (WBC; 1985) is strong in introductory, bibliographical, and structural matters. T. R. Hobbs' 2 Kings (WBC; 1985), on the other hand, is an all-around solid commentary that utilizes a single-author thesis and that pays attention to contemporary reading strategies. 

Taken together, 1 and 2 Chronicles is something of a storm-center in OT scholarship and was, until fairly recently, long overlooked and undervalued. The reflex of this unfortunate situation was a dearth in significant commentary contributions. Happily this has begun to change. The massive and recent contribution to the Old Testament Library (OTL; 1993), by the Jewish scholar and Chronicles expert S. Japhet promises to be the standard for many years to come. Simon J. De Vries' study in the FOTL series (1989) has a great bibliography and is well-written, though dominated by form-critical concerns. H.G.M. Williamson, an expert in Persian Period studies, has offered a manageable commentary in the New Century Bible (NCB; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1982). But it is the WBC volumes on Chronicles that are particularly strong: R. Braun's 1 Chronicles (WBC; 1986) has an extensive introduction, which also serves for 2 Chronicles, great bibliographies, and excellent theological sensitivities. Raymond B. Dillard's 2 Chronicles is perhaps even better and if one is seeking a commentary with a high view of the historicity of 1-2 Chronicles, as well as one that is from a self-consciously evangelical perspective, this is the volume to consult. Though popular in tone and primarily homiletical in focus, L.C. Allen's Communicator's Commentary (CC; Word, 1987) is written by a Chronicles specialist who treats the Chronicler as a "preacher of pastoral theology." Also from an evangelical perspective are J. A. Thompson's study in the NAC (1994) and M.J. Selman's in the TOTC (2 vols.; 1994). 

Far and away the best commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah, not least from an evangelical perspective, is by H.G.M. Williamson (WBC; 1985). He treats the books as two parts of a single whole, complete as it stands. Strong on historical, textual, and philological matters-but not on theology-is E.M. Yamauchi's EBC contribution (vol. 4:565-771; 1988). Derek Kidner's TOTC (1979), while older and briefer, is nevertheless helpful, particularly his section on the theology of these books and his six appendices on various historical matters. F.C. Fensham's study in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1982) places these works firmly in their ancient Near Eastern environment but subscribes to the older view that Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles were written by the same individual. The most recent commentary is the Interpretation commentary by M.A. Throntveit (1992). Throntveit advocates a theological, literary reading of the text as received (with the exception of a rearrangement of Nehemiah 5) as this obviates, in his opinion, the need to answer the many historical questions that vex scholars. His section on literary conventions in Ezra-Nehemiah is especially insightful. 

Most commentaries on Esther are brief in scope and thus limited in various respects. Notable for their more expansive treatments, then, are the older works by C.A. Moore (AB; 1971) and D.J.A. Clines (NCB; 1984). Both present arguments for and against the historicity of the Esther story, with neither coming to a definitive conclusion. In a commentary that is more scholarly than most in its series, M. Roberts' Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (CC; 1993) discusses literary aspects of and offers a Christian perspective on every pericope in the book. F. B. Huey Jr.'s insight in the EBC (vol. 4:775-839; 1988)-that one of the main themes of the book may very well be God's displeasure and silence/hiddenness-deserves to be considered, especially in the light of the ethical questions often raised regarding Esther. But the best commentary on Esther-evangelical or otherwise-is clearly F.W. Bush's Ruth, Esther (WBC; 1996). Bush thoroughly interacts with previous scholarship, provides copious grammatical and syntactical comments, and offers large introductory sections on genre, characterization (esp. the character of God), and theology-all important questions for Esther. It is interesting that Bush, an evangelical, does not offer an independent section on the historicity question. 

Easily the most extensive-not to mention the best-commentary on Job to appear in recent years, if not ever, is D.J.A. Clines' monumental Job 1-20 (WBC; 1989). This is an excellent, exhaustive work; the bibliography alone is unparalleled and worth the price of the volume. As it remains unfinished, recourse to other, more complete commentaries is necessary. Norman C. Habel's OTL commentary (1985) is probably second only to Clines in scope and detail, is highly readable, and specializes in literary features of the text. Francis I. Andersen's earlier contribution to the TOTC (1976) is probably the best in its series, judicious in insight, and theologically penetrating. Longer, more detailed evangelical treatments can be found in the balanced and well-researched work by J.E. Hartley (NICOT; 1988); and in the solid commentary by E.B. Smick (EBC; vol. 4:843-1060; 1988). J.G. Janzen-a highly competent OT theologian-offers a discerning, existential analysis via close-reading in his Job (Int; 1990). 

By Brent A. Strawn, Ph.D. (cand.), Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary.