Five Festal Garments: Christian Reflections on the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther (Volume 10)

New Studies in Biblical Theology #10

by D.A. Carson, Barry G. Webb

These five Old Testament books, traditionally known simply as "the Scrolls," are among the most neglected parts of the Christian Bible. In Judaism, the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther were eventually adopted as lectionary readings for five of the major festivals. In Christian tradition, however, no consensus has emerged about their proper use. Each book presents particular difficulties with regard to how it relates to the rest of Scripture and how it should be understood as the Word of God for us today. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Barry Webb offers a Christian interpretation of these problematic writings. He allows each book to set its own agenda, and then examines each in relation to the wider Old Testament and to the New Testament gospel with its basic structure of promise and fulfillment. In this way, Webb presents fresh and illuminating perspectives on these five "festal garments" of love, kindness, suffering, vexation and deliverance. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Old Testament, Christian, Nonfiction, Academic, Reference

151 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2000

About the author

Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is on a Christian examination of five books in the Old Testament that are most neglected in the Bible: The Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther. If you want to learn more about these five books and gain rich insights on them then this volume is worth getting. This work is a part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series edited by D.A. Carson. Personally it was the second title in the series that I read which I looked forward to with much anticipation since the first book I read Adopted into God’s Family left a strong impression. Five Festal Garments didn’t disappoint. In fact it exceeded my expectation!
As mentioned earlier the five books that the author Barry Webb focused on is often neglected by Christians. There’s also a lot of questions about these five books. For instance three of the books have been questioned concerning their inspiration (Esther, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes) while the other two have been questioned concerning where it should be placed in the Jewish canon (should Ruth be in the Prophets or the Writings?) or whether it should be its own book or a supplement to another book (Lamentations). As the epilogue correctly noted the author’s examination of the structure of each book along with the book’s place within the canon along with each contribution to the flow of biblical theology had advanced the frontier of biblical studies.
I enjoyed the three part format of each chapter in which each chapter goes over an individual book of the Bible and the three part sections is marked as I, II and III. The first section looks largely within the book itself and attempts to uncover the book’s structure, agenda and shape. I have personally found there’s a lot of interpretative insight here in the first section! The next section then explores how the book relates to the rest of the Old Testament while the final section discusses the book in relations to the New Testament and the Gospel. The book is quite organized which is helpful for serious Bible students and exegetes.
I highly recommend this book for pastors who are faithful in expository preaching and also serious lay Christians looking for resources to study deeper the Bible. In my personal reading of this book I took a lot of notes and I highlighted a lot of things within its pages. The content found within this book is rich and worth purchasing!

[Eric Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Barry Webb presents a relatively short fascinating study of the biblical theology of the Megillot. The "five scrolls," known as the Megillot collectively are the books: Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther. They are collectively grouped together in Jewish tradition because they hover at the edge of canonicity, and therefore led to their liturgical use across the Jewish calendar and festivals: Song of Songs is read on the Passover; Ruth on the Shavuot (feast of Weeks/Pentecost); Lamentations on the ninth of Av (commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem); Ecclesiastes on the Sukkot (feast of Booth/Tabernacle); and Esther, clearly, on Purim, as the book commands.

Webb details the study of each book through three stages. Firstly, the independent biblical theology of each book itself, allowing the book's thematic motif to speak for itself. Secondly, a canonical and theological approach that synthesizes each book's theological message and its contribution and relevance to the entire Old Testament canon and overall OT theology. I personally enjoyed this section as Webb posits how each book arose to become the liturgical reading text that follows each Jewish festival: Song of Songs as a celebration of marital love and therefore a shade of God's love in Israel's redemption (Passover); Ruth's theme of harvest and kindness, especially in light of God's kindness reflected in God's providence through Israel's yearly harvest (Shavuot); Lamentation fittingly an expression of godly sorrow and lament for God's people in light of Jerusalem's destruction; Ecclesiastes on the tension of the enigmas and joys of life that is reminiscent of Israel's difficult wandering years while celebrating life as God's gift (Sukkot); and Esther to commemorate God's deliverance in which he overturns the circumstances for the sake of His people. Webb titles this book "Five Festal Garments" because he sees the reading of the scrolls precisely as festival garments: the attitude that the Jews ought to "put on" when remembering and commemorating these festivals in response to God. The Song of Songs is the garment of love, Ruth the garment of kindness, Lamentation the garment of suffering, Ecclesiastes the garment of vexation, and Esther the garment of deliverance. The third and final stage details how these "garments" are also relevant to the Christian gospel and life. Indeed, as Webb postulates, as these festivals run from the beginning of the Jewish calendar to the end, so thus it details and teaches Christians the entire scope and experience of the Christian life, and appropriate their worship towards God. These are garments that shed light on God Himself because they are Scriptures, at the same time these are the garments that the Christian life and worship respond in and towards in love, kindness, suffering, vexation, and deliverance.

I only gave this 4.5 stars because the chapters are not equally compelling to me, most crucially how Webb treats the first stage of reading each book by itself. The treatment of Ruth and Esther stands out most to me and moves me quite a bit, while the reading of Songs of Song is the least convincing. This is likely also because though Webb does mention some exegetical challenges and disagreements across scholarly opinions, he does not give the most in-depth and convincing reason when he picks a certain interpretive lens (for example, picking the "three characters drama" framework over the "two characters" for reading the Song). To be fair, Webb did explicitly state that this is meant to be a short study on the festivity themes, and not mainly on competing interpretations.

That said, Webb's writing style clearly enhances the overall treatment of the Megillot. Though a minor academic project, he writes moving and devotionally, sometimes verbose, though still quite readable, aiming not just for mental assent towards each book but clearly grasping and impressing how the Megillot are each a piece of festive garments that the Christian put on, first coming to see God, thereafter responding to God.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great books. Webb is an excellent author with a great sense of the literary art of Scripture. He does an excellent job with all five books, though I think either Song of Songs or Ruth is the best chapter. Occasionally he gives a little bit more credence to critical scholarship than I would like (for example, his discussion of the historicity of Esther). In the end he comes to orthodox conclusions, though I wished he wouldn't give quite so much room to the critical scholars. They deny any sort of inspiration or supernaturalism--why do their opinions on such matters concern us?

This is an excellent book for any pastor to read in preparation for preaching on any of these books. It would also be of interest to motivated lay people wanting to go a little deeper with five of the most interesting books of the Bible.

[Ethan Moxham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have gleaned from Barry Webb’s Isaiah volume in the BST series and his Judges volume in the NICOT series. Both of which are not only great resources, but deeply reflective books in their own right that you could open to almost any point and meditate on alongside scripture to understand it further and therefore God better. This current volume is no exception.

‘Five Festal Garments’ is a fascinating book in both its purpose and structure. It is simple in that Webb wishes to discuss the ‘the Scrolls’, that being the five shortest books in the Writing section within the Hebrew Bible, and what he refers to throughout this book as the ‘Five Garments’. These five books are: ‘Song of Songs’, ‘Ruth’, ‘Lamentations’, ‘Ecclesiastes’, and ‘Esther’; which Webb discusses in order through the five chapters of this book.
Each chapter in a way is isolated, though there are beautiful peaks and pieces of connection throughout and especially in the summaries of each chapter. They are all identical in their structure, having a brief introduction and summary, while the meat is split into three sections clearly outlined. The first is, what is this book? The first task is to try and catch the distinctive voice of each book in their own and unique right. The second is, how does it fit into the scope of the Old Testament? Exploring the book itself, and its relationship to the Old Testament as a whole. The third is, how does it fit into the scope of the New Testament, or rather the Biblical Salvation Message as a whole?

Webb uses the term ‘Christian reflections’ to subtitle this book. I think this shows the great strengths of this book, but also the weaknesses as well.

STRENGTHS:
This book is not only brilliant, but it is deep and reflective. Not only could you pick up this book to learn more, write a sermon, research a passage or more. You could use it as a devotional in your own personal reflection and meditation on any or all of these five books of the Bible. There were multiple times in reading this book that I made an audible noise, and I would have to read, re-read and re-read what I had just read. I would often disturb my wife to share the line or send her quotes…this book is deep and has dense, well thought out lines and paragraphs from a seasoned and experienced Bible teacher.
Not to spoil the book, but two lines that I think illustrate this well are both from chapter 3, ‘Lamentations: Garment of Suffering’. Webb spends much of the chapter outlining the structure and purpose of the book and seemingly just casually drops gold out of nowhere…
1. Webb is concluding his thoughts of Ch.1 of Lamentations, and says: “For if there is but one God, who is sovereign over all things, no final explanation for anything is possible other than that he is behind it, and there is nowhere else to run but into the arms of the very One whose anger you have aroused.”
2. Webb spends the most time on Ch.3 of Lamentations, as he argues it is the centre of it. And the famous verses that many people know, verses 22-23 he pauses on and reflects: “Hope is reborn with the realisation that even to be able to lament is a gift. For to weep is to be alive, and to that extent, at least, an object of divine grace: ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed’ (v.22).”
Now obviously you’re missing much context and therefore I hope this doesn’t frustrate you, or at least that it might frustrate you enough to read the book. These are just some of the lines that are dense, reflective and call for deeper meditation. The book is full of them and the whole thing is brilliant.

WEAKNESSES:
Following from there. I think this same base (‘Christian reflection’) is the same base upon which I find weakness. And therefore a question fills my mind: ‘Who is this book for?’
The only real foundation I can find for an “audience” is from the series editor, D. A. Carson in his series preface in the front of this book. He identifies two audiences in my opinion, “thinking Christians” and “preachers”. I question the former. Though “thinking Christians” is a vague and wide term, I would argue how this book is written feels like a higher bar. Webb assumes a lot in his chapters. From church history context, to higher criticism assumptions, general biblical knowledge required, biblical language understanding (not that knowledge of the original languages is required, but general knowledge around the original languages), and more. From my understanding this book was originally written from lectures given to Bible College students, and I think that is felt.
Now, to be clear, in and of itself, the above is not a bad thing. So, why am I identifying it as a weakness? For two reasons…
1. I don’t think the audience is clear. I feel Carson identifies a wider audience than is made accessible for. As well as Webb seems to at times be trying to draw in that (or other) wider audience while then on the next page once again leaning away from accessibility.
2. I want it to be accessible to the everyday Christian. You, or Webb, or Carson, or some other Bible teacher could argue that this book is a test and challenge to the everyday Christian to grow. Maybe it is, maybe it could be. But I want every Christian to have the opportunity and ability to glean the wonderful wisdom, the dense and weighty words and call of reflection that floods every page.

I do highly recommend this book. It is a hard read in some ways. And a very easy, enjoyable and absorbing read in others. Read it alongside the Bible. Sit, mediate and reflect with Webb.

[Josh Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

NSBT books rarely disappoint. I believe this was my 6th book in the series and I’ve really enjoyed all of them.

This volume was of particular interest as it deals with the 5 books that are really on the edge of Canon: Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther

I found myself in awe of the sovereignty of God in Ruth & Lamentations, frustrated by the lack of clarity in the Songs as to its purpose, enthralled by Ecclesiastes, and increasingly doubtful of the inspiration of Esther (hot take, I know). Anyway, this is a great read and a solid introduction to the 5 least read books in scripture.

[Cameron Barham]

“(To put on Esther) is to clothe ourselves with the truth that God is sovereign and to be reminded that he is always with us, even when he seems most absent, and that nothing can ultimately thwart his purposes. To put on Esther is to affirm that God is our deliverer, and to share in the laughter of heaven.”, p. 133

[Spencer R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mt full review can be read here: http://wp.me/p3JhRp-sp

Barry Webb writes about ‘the Scrolls,’ the five shortest books in the Writings, the third and final part of the Hebrew canon. These five books are the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. For a long time now these books have presented problems for their interpreters, with issues ranging from canonicity to “the manner in which they should be understood and used as Holy Scripture“ in the lives of God’s people (14). With biblical theology, Webb presents these five enigmatic books as case studies for how Christians can reflect on the OT. 

Each chapters covers one of the five ‘Scrolls.’ Each chapter has three parts:
1. What does the book say about itself?
2. How does the book fit into and add to the rest of the OT?
3. How does the book relate to the NT gospel and its “promise and fulfillment” structure?

As an evangelical, Webb holds to the understanding that the Bible has a divine author who, in the sixty-six books, gives a single, coherent message. Webb focuses “on the unity of Scripture, while doing full justice to its diversity” (15). Webb doesn’t get into too many of the critical logistics of these difficult books. Instead he looks at how each book is to be understood on it’s own and in light of the surrounding historical context. He looks at how the story is crafted, what it’s setting is, what it’s setting in Scripture is, and how we as Christians are to read these books in the biblical storyline.

Recommended. The pastor (and the layman) will delight in this book. It should be consulted before the commentary, as it gives the reader an overhead view of these “five festal garments.” This volume will leave you wanting more, and hopefully will both provoke you an encourage you to study these odd, enigmatic, and wonderful little books.

[Special thanks to IVP Academic for allowing me to review this book! I was not obligated to provide a positive review in exchange for this book.]

[Leo Elbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the chapters were good and helpful, but there wasn't much unity to the whole book; perhaps I just don't understand the Megiloth but the whole thing seemed a little random.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish other scholarly books read like this one. It could make a prototype for future scholarly monographs. For one thing, he loved to read the New Testament back into these five wonderful Old Testament books. These five books – Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther – became the five short Old Testament books that were sung in the great festivals of Israel. Though they are not together in our Bibles, it’s still a great idea to look at them together. Mr. Webb has hit a home run and packed an incredible amount of material in 150 pages.

Mr. Webb describes these books as sitting on the edge of the canon because they had more trouble with acceptance than any in the Old Testament. In the chapter on each of the five books he crams in much material like you might find in an introduction in a commentary, but the depth can’t hide the warm spiritual truth he uncovers for Christians.

He broke down the Song of Solomon in an incredible way. He describes the incredible statement it makes about love between a man and a woman in a tasteful way. He may not see it as a picture of the love of Christ for his church as much as I do, but he does finally conclude that there’s something of the love of God in it.

Without getting bogged down as I’ve seen so many scholars do, he broke down the episodes of the book of Ruth. He beautifully brought out the theology to be found in this amazing little book. He also discussed Ruth as salvation history, which many scholars will no longer do.

He sets the scene of suffering in the book of Lamentations and makes sense of its structure. Again, the theology was spot on. I may not have agreed with all his conclusions on Ecclesiastes, but I was intrigued by what he had to say. In the chapter on Esther he addressed the charge that it’s a secular book. He did see Esther and Mordecai as more conflicted characters than Bible characters like, say, Daniel. Again, he provided us with many avenues of study.

I enjoyed this book. I sat down and read it straight through in about two hours. I don’t see how anyone could read it without benefit. It’s an awesome book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Pearlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry G. Webb gives short commentaries, or reflections as he calls them, on five Old Testament books, traditionally known simply as “The Scrolls”.

He calls them the five garments:
- the Garment of Love (The Song of Songs)
- the Garment of Kindness (Ruth)
- the Garment of Suffering (Lamentations)
- the Garment of Vexation (Ecclesiastes)
- the Garment of Deliverance (Esther)

He gave a summary of the structure of the books, reflected on their contribution to the Old Testament, its place in the Jewish liturgy, and its importance to the Christian canon, reflecting on its place in the New Testament.

The Garment of Love (The Song of Songs)
The Song of Songs has always mesmerised me. As expected, I could not make out what it means exactly and why it is there in the canon of Scripture. According to Webb, the book is about the nature of love itself. He touches the topic of marriage and sex, of pure love. I have never dared to read that in the book, being in the Scriptures and all but Webb does give quite a convincing summary of that theme. The Song of Songs he says is to “stop love going out of our relationships, with God and with one another … It is a splendid garment, to be worn not with awkwardness and embarrassment, but festively, with joy and deep thankfulness to him who gave it to us as Holy Scripture.”

The Garment of Kindness (Ruth)
I have always loved reading Ruth. It is a romantic account of how an alien was accepted into the family and more than that, became part of salvation history. As much as she has a place in the story of God’s salvation for his chosen people, we have a place in it too through Christ by whom we are adopted. “Ruth is a gentle book … so gentle that we are first beguiled into thinking of it as heartwarming and reassuring …but if kindness is its theme, it is kindness of a radical and controversial sort; a kindness that makes ripples … Ruth is, supremely, the scroll of kindness … to be worn festively, in celebration of the kindness that has been shown to us. But it is also to be worn quietly, with awe and humility, for to put on kindness is to clothe ourselves with the very character of God himself.”

The Garment of Suffering (Lamentations)
I have not really studied Lamentations more than just giving it a read through. But I know that in the midst of all the intense grief and lament, its gems are in the very heart of the book. Lamentations in its 5 poems is a work in the form of an ordered grief. The mind of a person in grief is unorderly, moving around in circles. The poems written acrostically, the first and last two with 22 verses and the third with 66, provide a shape to the grief it bears, giving it more than an aesthetic value but also a therapeutic and pastoral significance. It is a book about suffering, but not suffering in general. It is a deserved suffering, within the covenant, because of sin, divine anger and righteous judgement. “It is a dark and heavy garment, but with gold worked in it; a penitential robe, terrible and glorious. It is a garment for sinners to wear as they make their way, trembling yet hopeful to the cross of Christ.”

The Garment of Vexation (Ecclesiastes)
Ecclesiastes is one of my favourite books in the bible. My current theme in life is taken from 12:13. Webb says, “Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most enigmatic book in the Old Testament. Like the desert Sphinx, it teases us with questions, yield its secrets only grudgingly, and will not allow us the luxury of easy answers. In other words, it is thoroughly irritating, but at the same time almost mesmeric in its appeal. It draws us towards it by mirroring the perplexity we all feel as we grapple with life.” Oh how I love those words, well worded and well put. Its motto (1:2) being “all is hebel: breath,vapour, mist, vanity,what is transient, ephemeral, profitless” is responded with an epilogue (12:13) where “the end of the matter, all has been heard: fear God, keep his commandments, this is the essence of being human”. “Ecclesiastes is a garment to wear when we have finished with performance and are ready for work – not with an inflated idea of what we can achieve, but with contentment and confidence, knowing that our times are in God’s hands. A pair of overalls, perhaps. A garment for those who are through, once for all, with triumphalism and cant, and are willing to face life as it really is.”

The Garment of Deliverance (Esther)
The book of Esther has been for me Sunday School lessons and Bible Quiz material. Therefore, reading Webb’s reflection about it gave me new light and understanding of the book, as he highlights various points in the narrative, explained its place in the Jewish liturgy and its place in the Old and New Testament. I have always known that this book is about the only book in the Bible which does not have any explicit reference to God. I have never really thought of that much until I was halfway reading when I realised how similar our situations are to Esther. She functioned in a world alien to the Jews, she was in foreign land. Throughout the book however, God is silently working. We, in the same way, are in foreign land. Our religion and our piety are seen as an intrusion to the lives of people outside the body of Christ, with whom we do spend a lot of time with. We find it hard to speak the language of our belief and hard to act in the way that God expects us to. Nonetheless, in the silence of our world, as in the silence in the world of Esther, God is still at work. My thoughts were confirmed as Webb discusses exactly the same thing at the end of the chapter. “The book of Esther is indeed a festive garment, a garment to put on when we are astonished, once again at some unexpected way God has rescued us, and when we are ready to celebrate. But it is also a garment to put on when the forces arrayed against us seemed all-powerful, when to laugh is only way to stay sane. To put this garment on however, is not to whistle in the dark, or to pretend that things are other than they are. It is to clothe ourselves with the truth that God is sovereign, and to be reminded that he is always with us, even when he seems most absent, and that nothing can ultimately thwart his purposes. To put on Esther is to affirm that God is our deliverer, and to share in the laughter of heaven.”

This is definitely a read-again book for me!

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Webb's "Christian reflections" are attuned to the uniquenesses and idiosyncrasies of these five books, and of immense practical benefit. The exegetical work, especially on Ruth and Ecclesiastes, is top-notch. And, unlike most scholarly works these days, the style of the prose is delightful. This books is technical enough to be of use for research, but also accessible enough to be of use for devotional reading. I have a feeling this is going to be among the best books I read this year.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb - so much scholarly thought and research, yet so concise and readable - only 136 pages for a book on 5 Bible books - and drawing beautiful connections to the gospel of Christ. One of the best books I read this year, and a great book to end the year.

[Ben Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful but brief, and not very persuasive on the Song of Songs main application.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and insightful guide to five "difficult" books in the Bible: the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. These are also among my favorite books in the Bible to read. Webb treats these from a Christian perspective but with attention to their use in Rabbinic and contemporary Judaism, from which he draws significant clues regarding their relationship to the rest of scripture. What I appreciate most about Webb's reading is his combination of a high view of scripture -- he takes it seriously as the Word of God -- combined with able sensitivity to literary form and genre and to the variety of ways that language can be used and adapted to different contexts and demands by different authors. The result is a set of rich and supple interpretations of these "difficult" texts. I especially learned from his treatment of Ruth, which I had underestimated before (apparently, along with most readers) and of Esther. I recommend this to anyone interested in acquiring deeper insight into these texts.

[Sonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the works I have read comprising the New Studies in Biblical Theology series published by IV Press. Although this book was not quite as good as Dominion and Dynasty, it is still well worth reading. Author Barry Webb offers an interpretation of the five Old Testament books traditionally known as "the Scrolls”: the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther. They are among the most neglected books of the Bible—all of them are marginal in one way or another. They could perhaps even be considered “problem” books, raising unnerving and difficult questions. Webb offers an interpretation of these books, examining each in relation to the rest of the Old Testament, as well as to the New Testament gospel. In this way, Webb offers wonderful insights to these five neglected books. Reading Five Festal Garments certainly increased both my understanding and my appreciation of the place these five books have in the greater canon.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provokes two responses. First, after each chapter, you want to run out as fast as you can and read the biblical book again for yourself, to see it through new eyes and to look for all the treasures that have just been introduced to you. Second, you will want to share that biblical book and the lessons you've learned from it with someone else. This book will give you plenty of reasons to praise God for all the riches contained in his word, and remind you of the value of pouring over his word again and again.

[Tristan Sherwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, as an exploration of these five ‘festal’ scrolls, Webb provides a good summary of the books, some of their themes and an appreciation for how these books have been handled by Jews and Christians.

As commentary, though, I think it lacks depth, nuance and appreciation of the Hebrew language and interpretive matters. I have used this book recently in preparing a series on Ecclesiastes. From this experience, I think Webb’s focus on themes glosses over a lot of the raw and honest expression that Qohelet verbalises, and how the frame Narrator’s overall conclusion offers affirmation for this honesty while also correction to the mantra that everything is meaningless. There is a rich articulated expression of the human condition in this text—one that empathetically echoes the vexation many of us (including Christians) feel daily. I think it’s right that this should not be brushed over briefly, nor reduced as a stepping stone in evangelical beliefs. I’m saying this as an evangelical, but the hope we have in Christ shines brighter when are prepared to look honestly at our frustrations.

It could be, of course, that I expected something this book did not say it would deliver. After all, there’s five literary-rich and poetic books to cover here in a few small pages.

All in all, Webb’s treatment is worth having in the toolkit, but, for those wanting to plunder the abyssal depths of these works, better-suited equipment is required.

For those seeking such things: Tremper Longman’s contribution to the NICOT series, and Julie Ann Duncan’s work in the Abingdon Old Testament Commentary series are excellent starters.

[Jonathan Ginn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise yet astute entryway into the Megillot that examines each of the five books in question within its respective literary, canonical, and redemptive-historical context. In his editorial preface to this book, D. A. Carson writes, "There is an easy grace in Dr. Webb's style that masks great learning" (9). Carson absolutely hits the nail on the head; Webb's prose is tasteful and unassuming—reflective of precisely the type of scholarship I have come to expect from so many of the brilliant pastors and theologians out in the UK and Australia.

I have only two gripes with this book. Firstly, it is disappointingly short (< 140 pp). At times, I even got the sense that Webb himself felt a bit vexed and flustered by the page/word constraints of this project. I would love to see him expand this study into a full-length commentary on the Megillot down the road. Secondly, I was not convinced by the section of Webb's chapter on Esther, entitled, "The portrayal of Mordecai and Esther as questionable heroes," in which he proposes that the behavior of these characters hovers between commendable and questionable (pp 118-21).

[Travis Wise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel fleeced. The title (…and even the back cover) overpromises, with maybe only the subtitle hinting at the undersell. Would you like to believe these reflections—on Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther—will all be tied together? Yes, I wish! That’s why I bought you! These five disparate books, due to their being among the shortest Writings in the Old Testament, were traditionally grouped together on one scroll, and each was highlighted yearly through their reading at separate Jewish festivals. All this is mentioned in the introduction with the unspoken (or so I thought) promise of how they interrelate. NOPE! Read the subtitle stupid. Just reflections—code for essays—none of which needs the other to stand. It’s the type of writing you expect as introductions to separate commentaries, but never published together in a single volume. I never thought I needed a single book that covered independent insights on the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, and I haven’t budged. Truthfully, the essays aren’t bad, it’s just organizationally offensive. More an editorial misstep than authorial.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Webb looks at five of perhaps the most overlooked books in the church today. We recognize they are there, but few venture into their sermons with these books in view. Perhaps this is because one book doesn't mention God at all, and another mentions Him only in passing, while the others are difficult books to exegete. In any event, these "Five Scrolls" or Megillot, correspond in Webb's view to five festal garments. The Jews would read one of the books for each of their five major festive events, and so in one sense they are putting on these garments and taking onto themselves the major theme of each book.

For the Song of Songs, it is a garment of love.
For Ruth, it is a garment of Kindness.
For Lamentations, it is a garment of suffering
For Ecclesiastes, it is a garment of vexation.
And for Esther, it is a garment of deliverance.

A lot of good information contained in this shorter work, interspersed with some silly comments.

[Mitch Bedzyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather short volume in the NSBT series focusing on Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. For each "scroll," Webb looks at the book on its own, how it relates to the rest of the OT, and how it relates to the NT and the gospel. Each book selected for reflection by the author is shown to be an excellent candidate for biblical theological investigation.

This a must read for anyone wanting to teach or learn more about these often overlooked and neglected books.

[Brodie Smith]

A short read focused on five oft-ignored books of the Old Testament. While not wildly entertaining, Webb does dive into the context of each of these books and how they can fit Christians today (or at least 25 years ago when it was first released). I enjoy going where others fear to tread theologically. It helps me better understand, and I appreciate Webb's approach in tying these five scrolls together.

[Kelle Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great study on these 5 small OT books, which are easily neglected and misunderstood. The biblical theology is rich, and understanding each of these in light of the 5 festivals of the Jewish calendar is very insightful. There remains much lacking in such a small study, but this must is an essential building block in studying these OT books.

[Mike Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Disclaimer: I only read the introduction and the chapter on Ecclesiastes~

Webb takes a biblical theological approach to show how Ecclesiastes riffs off of the themes of creation and wisdom in the Old Testament, while also showing how NT scripture develops Ecclesiastes’s themes in more detail. I suspect his introductions to the other books he covers would be just as helpful.

[J. A. Littler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful and "just deep enough" exploration of the Scrolls, this book is challenging in its exegesis and altogether encouraging in its application. Web may dabble in critical scholarship a bit more than I would like, but he ultimately lands in the realm of orthodoxy. I recommend this to anyone wanting to do a deep dive in the respective books.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Intro and Chap. 1, 2, & 4 (63%) of this book for my Megillot course under Dr. Jennifer Matheny at Nazarene Theological Seminary. It was a very helpful overview of each of the books. I will certainly reference it in the future.

[M Kelly]

This was a required reading for my PhD program. It is an excellent book, delving deeper into the Old Testament books and revealing some aspects of these books that are not apparent. As with most NSBT books, they do get somewhat deep in Theology, but this is a quick read and well worth the time

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profoundly insightful, wish I could rate this 6 out of 5!

[Jacob Villa · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some serious riches hidden here. Clear, thoughtful, engaging, and full of moving reflections.

[Rick Brookens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the book.