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OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES: PSALMS—DANIEL

In Acts 8:26-40 Luke reports a fascinating incident involving an Ethiopian poring over a prophetic text from the Old Testament but frustrated because he cannot grasp its meaning, let alone its significance for his life. He was frustrated, that is, until Philip joins him on the chariot to explain Isaiah 53, highlighting particularly its significance for the events that had recently transpired. Philip represents what many teachers and pastors need when they read the OT—a sympathetic commentator whom they can trust and who will open up the text to them. In this short survey we shall consider the commentaries on Psalms through Daniel that I have found most helpful for interpreting these books in the heart of the Old Testament. Obviously not all will agree with my choices, but I have tried to identify those that (1) reflect a commentator’s high view of Scripture; (2) actually answer the questions ordinary readers (as opposed to scholars) actually ask; and (3) express their interpretations in readably style. In surveying the resources available, one realizes that, while evangelicals are doing better than they have in the past, non-evangelicals often do the most thorough research.

Few books of the OT are preached from as often as the Psalms . But commentaries on the Psalms that meet all the criteria listed about are rare. Although it is part of a multi-volume commentary, the most helpful work is provided by W.A. VanGemeren, Psalms, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (EBC; Zondervan, 1991). For each psalm the author provides a brief survey of its structure, textual notes, and strophe-by-strophe commentary. In second place would be the three-volume set in the Word Biblical Commentary series (WBC): Psalms 1-50, by P. Craigie (Word, 1983), Psalms 51-100 by M. Tate (1991), and Psalms 101-150 by L. Allen (1983), though the volumes in this series often speak more to scholars than to ministers. Craigie’s first volume is exceptional for his introduction to the Psalms. Though he offers a less technical level of discussion, D. Kidner’s two-volume work, Psalms 1-72 and Psalms 72-150 in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series (TOTC; InterVarsity, 1973/1975), remains very helpful.

Reliable and helpful evangelical commentaries on Proverbs are fewer. Probably the most helpful is D. Garrett’s, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs in the New American Commentary (NAC; Broadman & Holman, 1993), both for its clarity and level of discussion. A close second would be A. Ross’ Proverbs in the EBC (1991). Ross provides a very helpful topical index, a feature necessary for serious study of the Proverbs. In third place is D. Hubbard’s Proverbs (Communicator’s Commentary; Word, 1989).

Evangelical students of Ecclesiastes are now served well with a series of excellent commentaries. Pride of place goes to T. Longman III’s The Book of Ecclesiastes in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1998). Longman’s prior research in extra-biblical autobiographies offers many helpful insights into this enigmatic book. Hot off the press is I. Provan’s, Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs in the recently launched NIV Application Commentary series (NIVAC; Zondervan, 2001). This series is less technical, though equally responsible, and certainly more practical, being geared to developing the theology and practical relevance of the respective books. A close third choice would be D. Garrett’s contribution in the volume already cited, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC; 1993).

Few books in the OT are as fascinating or puzzling as the Song of Songs . To help the reader we may point to two excellent volumes produced this year (2001). First consideration goes to I. Provan’s Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs in the NIVAC series. Provan (rightfully in our estimation) interprets the book as involving three characters, the Shulammite woman, her beloved, and Solomon “as a dark force in the drama.” Alongside this work one should read T. Longman III’s Song of Songs (NICOT; 2001). Longman treats the book as an anthology of love poems. An excellent, though briefer, third choice is G.L. Carr’s The Song of Solomon (TOTC; 1984).

When we move to the prophets, we note that Isaiah is a favorite of evangelicals, not only of lay readers, but also of commentators. The most helpful commentary is the two-volume set by J.N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah Chapters 1-39, and The Book of Isaiah Chapters 40-66 (NICOT; 1986/1998). Oswalt offers excellent commentary on specific textual problems and superb theological reflection from a thoroughly evangelical point of view. The same may be said for J.A. Motyers’ massive work, The Prophecy of Isaiah (InterVarsity, 1993), and the 393-page, abridged [!] version, Isaiah (TOTC; 1999). Both Oswalt and Motyer approach their task with preachers’ hearts, offering choice insights for contemporary application. An excellent third choice, especially for its superb summary of the message of the book and individual literary units, is B.G. Webb’s The Message of Isaiah (The Bible Speaks Today; InterVarsity, 1996). All three commentators defend the authorial unity of the book.

Commentaries on Jeremiah are less satisfactory than those on Isaiah. The finest in our estimation is J.A. Thompson’s The Book of Jeremiah (NICOT; 1980). Thompson’s work combines an excellent grasp of the fine points of exegesis with superb synthetic observations. The recent work by F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations (NAC; 1993), offers a more recent look at the book. E. Martens offers a helpful synthetic and theological commentary in Jeremiah (Believers Church Bible Commentary; Herald Press, 1986).

The lack of exhaustive commentaries on Lamentations probably reflects the refusal of evangelicals to wrestle with the crises of faith posed by tragedy in the life of God’s people. The nature of the problem becomes evident when we compare the works available on Lamentations and Ruth. Despite the fact that Lamentations is almost 20 per cent longer than Ruth by word count, and the language arguably more difficult, it is difficult to imagine a publisher authorizing a commentary equivalent to R. Hubbard’s 320-page commentary on Ruth (NICOT; 1994). Most commentaries on Lamentations appear as virtual appendices to commentaries on Jeremiah. An exception is H.L. Ellison’s Lamentations, in the EBC (1986), even though this work is still a mere forty pages. Nevertheless, Ellison’s work offers a good beginning. F.B. Huey’s contribution in Jeremiah, Lamentations (NAC; 1993) is even shorter (the print is larger!). Whenever G. McConville comments on the Scriptures we should take notice. This is also true of his brief work, Lamentations, in New Bible Commentary (InterVarsity, 1994).

Readers of this essay will forgive me if I mention my own work on Ezekiel among the helpful commentaries on Ezekiel. In my two volumes, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 and The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (NICOT; 1997/1998), I have not only attempted to comment on the style and problematic elements of the text, but at the end of each unit also to summarize the practical and theological implications of the text for the modern reader. Another superb commentary is I. Duguids, Ezekiel (NIVAC; 1999). Duguid’s theological and practical reflections are especially helpful. L. Allen’s two volumes, Ezekiel 1-19 and Ezekiel 20-48 (WBC; 1994/1990) offer excellent textual and stylistic notes, but like many volumes in this series, the work tends not to answer questions common readers of Ezekiel ask of the text.

For the insights it provides on the details of the text of Daniel itself, no evangelical work matches that of J. Goldingay’s Daniel (WBC; 1999). Like most American evangelicals, I reject Goldingay’s dating of the book to the second century BC (Maccabean times), but this does not blind me to the superb exegetical insights he offers. Less problematic in terms of dating the book is T. Longman III’s recent work (NIVAC; 1999). What this commentary lacks in exegetical detail, it makes up in synthetic theological and practical reflection. For an alternative, millenarian approach to the book we commend G. Archer’s Daniel, in the EBC (1985).

The author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” With respect to the first part of this statement, we hope that the truthfulness of this statement persists, particularly with respect to the writing of commentaries. With respect to the second part, the prayer of those of us involved in the writing of commentaries is that our work will ease the effort needed to interpret the Scriptures, particularly the OT. At the same time, we caution every reader and student of the OT: never substitute the reading of the eternal and living word of God with the reading of the ephemeral and errant interpretations of human commentators. After all, Paul’s statement in 2 Tim 3:16 applies only to the Scriptures.

By Daniel I. Block, Associate Dean, John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.