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BUILDING AN OT LIBRARY: GENESIS—RUTH

Recommending commentaries on biblical books is something like recommending restaurants in a large city. Possibilities are nearly endless and depend in large measure on one’s taste and interests. But given a commitment to excellent critical scholarship and interpretation that serves theological interpretation for the life of the church, here are a few recommendations for Genesis-Ruth. It needs to be said that there are many more very good options than I can list here so none of these recommendations should be taken as necessarily excluding other candidates.

For the book of Genesis, two excellent theological commentaries include W. Brueggemann, Genesis, in Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1982) and, more recently, T. Fretheim in The New Interpreter’s Bible ([NIB; ed. Leander E. Keck et al.; vol. 1; Abingdon, 1994] 319-673). I used to recommend C. Westermann’s three-volume commentary for those interested in a full range of discussion of critical issues, with emphasis on the European tradition of scholarship. Unfortunately, Westermann is now out of print but still available through used book outlets. A current example of a more in-depth critical and theological commentary is G. Wenham, two volumes, in Word Biblical Commentary (WBC; Word, 1987/1994).

A standard critical and theological commentary on Exodus remains B. Childs, The Book of Exodus, in the Old Testament Library (OTL; Westminster John Knox, 1974). Childs includes a full range of discussions on historical-critical matters, larger OT context, NT context, and history of exegesis. It has weathered well over 30 years. More recent theological commentaries include W. Brueggemann in the NIB (1; 675-981) and T. Fretheim, Exodus, in Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1991). Mention should also be made of W. Janzen, Exodus, in the Believers Church Bible Commentary (Herald, 2000), and for those desiring some very heavy-lifting in their study of the scholarship, C. Houtman, Exodus, vol 1-3, Historical Commentary on the OT (Kok, 1993-2000).  Houtman provides both excellent and detailed reviews of scholarship and history of interpretation.

A sometime overlooked book, Leviticus has been blessed by several recent and excellent commentaries. One fine theological commentary is S. Balentine, Leviticus, in Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 2003). J. Milgrom is a Jewish scholar who has spent a lifetime studying Leviticus. He published a three-volume commentary on Leviticus in the Anchor Bible series, but he has just released a more compact but still thorough one-volume commentary: Leviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics (Fortress, 2004). One could also note two additional possibilities from a more evangelical perspective. They are G. Wenham in the New International Commentary on the OT (NICOT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1979) and W. Kaiser in the NIB (1; 983-1190).

One scholar some decades ago called the book of Numbers the “junkroom of the Bible” since he could not make sense of what seemed to be the disorganized jumble of genres and texts in Numbers. Fortunately, several recent commentaries have sought to revise that view with attention to the careful structure and theological fruit of this sometimes neglected book. Good options include D. Olson, Numbers, in Interpretation (1996); T. Ashley, Numbers (NICOT [1996]); and J. Milgrom, JPS Torah Commentary on Numbers (Jewish Publication Society, 1990), among many others.

The rich and theologically important book of Deuteronomy is well represented among commentaries. A sound critical and exegetical study is R. Nelson, Deuteronomy, in the OTL (2002). Excellent theological commentaries include P. Miller, Deuteronomy, in Interpretation (1991); J.G. McConville, Deuteronomy in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary (InterVarsity, 2002), and W. Brueggemann, Deuteronomy, in the Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries (Abingdon, 2001).

A fine critical and exegetical study of Joshua is R. Nelson, Joshua, in the OTL (1997). It is currently out of print, but hopefully will soon be reprinted and back in circulation. In the meantime, one can pick up a used copy. Other commentaries include M. Woudstra in NICOT (1994) with a more conservative slant, and L.D. Hawk in Berit Olam, Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry (Liturgical, 2001) with a more literary approach to Joshua.

Recommendations for Judges’ exciting OT account of judges like Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson might include D. Olson, “Judges,” in the NIB (2; 721-887); J.C. McCann in Interpretation (2002); and D. Block, Judges, Ruth, in the New American Commentary (Broadman & Holman, 1999).

On the book of Ruth, K. Sakenfeld, in Interpretation (1999), considers the cultural diversity of readings of Ruth along with a sustained literary and theological commentary. A. LaCoque provides a very recent and thorough critical commentary with attention to issues of language, culture, and interpretation (Ruth [Fortress, 2004]). A different kind of commentary treatment is E. Davis and M. Adams Parker, Who Are You, My Daugher: Reading Ruth through Image and Text (Westminster John Knox, 2003) which offers a new translation, notes, and a series of 20 artistic woodcuts that interpret the book of Ruth through visual image along with the text.

Many other good candidates could be mentioned for each of these biblical books, but those listed would provide a good starting place for preaching or teaching these books within the context of Christian ministry. So pick your restaurant, enjoy the feast, and with these choices, you will not come away hungry!
       
By Dennis T. Olson, Princeton Theological Seminary.