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Exodus, Volume 3
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
Overview of Commentary Organization
Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology.Each section of the commentary Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope.Translation—the author’s own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English.Notes—the author’s notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation.Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here.Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research.Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues.General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliographycontains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.
Overview of Commentary Organization
Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology.Each section of the commentary Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope.Translation—the author’s own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English.Notes—the author’s notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation.Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here.Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research.Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues.General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliographycontains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
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September 1, 2021
This was one of several commentaries on Exodus that I have read:
1. Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone, by John E. Goldingay (a popular-level, highly condensed, introductory commentary by a fine scholar);
2. Exodus (NIV Application Commentary, Old Testament #2) by Peter Enns, David Weston Baker, and Bill T. Arnold (a conservative, evangelical, mid-range - between popular-level and academic - commentary that takes Exodus, not on its own terms in time and place, but as a Christian document);
3. Exodus: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (New American Bible Commentary, Old Testament Set #2), by Douglas K. Stuart (an academic, yet highly readable commentary by a conservative, evangelical scholar, who caters little to critical views and interprets from a Christian perspective, but often taking issue with some of the modern translations); and
4. This one by John I. Durham. His is the most academic, yet readable of all of the best-reviewed commentaries out there. He acquaints the reader with the necessary up-to-date critical theories, which he takes seriously, yet points out their flaws, as well as their application in properly understanding the origins and culturally relative interpretation of the text. Durham's commentary is well-researched and accurately attributed, making the bibliographies a treasure trove. To date, this is the best commentary on Exodus that I have read. On my list to read next are:
1. Exodus (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), by Terence E. Fretheim;
2. Exodus: Myth or History? by David Rohl; and
3. The Book of Exodus, with Commentary (Old Testament Library) by Brevard S. Childs.
1. Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone, by John E. Goldingay (a popular-level, highly condensed, introductory commentary by a fine scholar);
2. Exodus (NIV Application Commentary, Old Testament #2) by Peter Enns, David Weston Baker, and Bill T. Arnold (a conservative, evangelical, mid-range - between popular-level and academic - commentary that takes Exodus, not on its own terms in time and place, but as a Christian document);
3. Exodus: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (New American Bible Commentary, Old Testament Set #2), by Douglas K. Stuart (an academic, yet highly readable commentary by a conservative, evangelical scholar, who caters little to critical views and interprets from a Christian perspective, but often taking issue with some of the modern translations); and
4. This one by John I. Durham. His is the most academic, yet readable of all of the best-reviewed commentaries out there. He acquaints the reader with the necessary up-to-date critical theories, which he takes seriously, yet points out their flaws, as well as their application in properly understanding the origins and culturally relative interpretation of the text. Durham's commentary is well-researched and accurately attributed, making the bibliographies a treasure trove. To date, this is the best commentary on Exodus that I have read. On my list to read next are:
1. Exodus (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), by Terence E. Fretheim;
2. Exodus: Myth or History? by David Rohl; and
3. The Book of Exodus, with Commentary (Old Testament Library) by Brevard S. Childs.
Displaying 1 of 1 review