Hosea-Micah: An Exegetical & Theological Bible Commentary - BCOT

by John E. Goldingay, Mark Boda (Editor), J McConville (Editor)

Highly regarded Old Testament scholar John Goldingay offers a substantive and useful commentary on Hosea through Micah and explores the contemporary significance of these prophetic books. This volume, the first in a new series on the Prophets, complements the successful series Baker Commentary on the Old Wisdom and Psalms (series volumes have sold over 55,000 copies). Each series volume is both critically engaged and sensitive to the theological contributions of the text. Series editors are Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

560 pages, Hardcover

Published January 19, 2021

About the author

John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. An internationally respected Old Testament scholar, Goldingay is the author of many commentaries and books.

Reviews

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldingay is a prolific writer of commentaries to say the least. Sometimes you wonder if he has some captive researchers locked up in his basement. As Baker expands its major commentaries in the OT, we find that he will soon have in print a commentary for them in the Pentateuch, History, Wisdom, and Prophetic sections. At what point is he just showing out?

More seriously, I really like this commentary. In over a decade of book reviewing, I’ve found myself not particularly liking some of his earlier ones that I reviewed and then really liking his more recent contributions like Jeremiah and Lamentations. Maybe he changed. His comments don’t strike me as subversive as before to be sure. Maybe I changed. I had to make myself admit the possibility.

So for this review I want to focus on specifically why this volume and his other recent ones ( I hadn’t seen his Genesis or Joshua yet) are so effective. When you pick up this volume, read the Author’s Preface that mostly describes the process of how he wrote this commentary. I wish all commentaries told this information up front. Later it hit me. He didn’t just collate a mass of scholarly details (a fair description of many modern works), but he had something to say himself. He is one of the leading OT scholars today, so isn’t that as it should be? I can look up what everyone else says myself. I like to hear what the author has to say. The footnotes will back up this assertion.

Further, he has settled into a comfortable, mature, capable writing style that belies his scholarly prowess mingled with effective communication that belies his years of teaching. He writes as one who wants to get his message across and has honed the skills necessary to do it. In his paragraphs both what he has learned and what you have just learned rise to the top.

His next great strength is in OT background. Again, offering to us from his decades of work that we don’t have. Only when his assertion arises from critical assumptions alone does he miss. He often transports the reader to Bible times. He harnesses a mass of details and makes it a palatable morsel to swallow. He is closer to average on theology and structure, but he excels in bringing to bear the broad sweep of OT times while sitting you down in a particular text. That is really how he stands out in the pack and that really helps in these lesser-known Minor Prophets.

This book is not as long as some on just one of these prophets from Hosea to Micah, but I bet it will do you as much good. I still must spar with him in places. “Wind” instead of “spirit” in Joel 2. Ok, whatever. The historicity of Jonah? I knew that was coming. At least he said it was still authoritative. The whole theological message of Obadiah is that “God will take redress”. That’s it? Really? I could list more examples, but there are far more places where he taught me something. Even where he failed to convince me, he often made me think. I can overlook a few places where I rolled my eyes to get all that good stuff. And of course you, the reader of this review, might have rolled your eyes at me instead at these disputed points.

I like this volume so much that I wonder if I should go back and look up and review a few of his that I missed along the way like, say, the Psalms. In any event, you can’t miss with this one.

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.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons why people find the Old Testament prophets difficult to understand is the nature of the ancient language. Plus, the modern versions of Aramaic and Hebrew would differ substantially from the ancient versions. Apart from this, It requires interpretation styles that are outside the scope of modern scientific, deterministic, and utilitarian lenses. Putting it another way, we do not read the prophets like a science textbook, a problem-solving manual, or a practical DIY brochure. Apart from the symbolism and images, we also need to pay attention to the rhetorical emphases, the literary forms, and the contextual background. Once we establish a correct understanding of the theological intent of the authors, we could then build a bridge toward contemporary awareness and application. We cannot reverse it. Understanding comes before application. These series of commentaries focus on doing just that. There are four major prophets and twelve minor prophets. This commentary covers the first six minor prophets according to the conventional canonical divisions. As again, the labels 'major' and 'minor' do not reflect the level of importance. It refers to the length of the book concerned. It can also be understood as 'long' and 'short' books respectively. In this commentary, author and professor John Goldingay attempts to guide us through Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah with a few personal touches. He makes a translation of the earlier texts. He consults mainly with lexica, concordances, grammar, with minimal references to other secondary works. He also supplements his research with early Jewish and Christian interpretations of these texts, including Reformation authors, modern, and post-modern scholars from a selection of global perspectives.

The introduction to the six prophets is an essential read. In it, Goldingay shows us the "family album" with each of the minor prophets presenting a "snapshot" of this family. Hosea, Amos, and Micah were prophets to the eighth-century kings. These three prophets are explicitly dated in the Bible while Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah were undated. He shows us the political scene which reeks of assassinations, invasions, and constant wars. The religious and societal contexts show us the reality of spiritual warfare, with the Israelites having to face multiple gods to pledge their allegiances to. Goldingay also shows us the four-step process the prophets use to communicate their messages from God: 1) Oral Proclamation; 2) Words written down; 3) Message Affirmation; and 4) Putting the affirmed messages into a scroll.

Following the general introduction to all six minor prophets, the focus shifts to the individual books where Goldingay frames the commentary into the following:

1) Introduction to the book
2) Origin and Background
3) Poetry and Rhetoric
4) Theological Message
5) Structure and Outline
6) Commentary (Overview; Interpretation; and Theological Reflection)

Three Thoughts
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In one volume, readers get to learn of six of these minor prophets. I like the commentary for the methodical approach. From beginning to end, readers would appreciate the gentle guide through explanation of the contexts and essential background information. With well marked titles and reference verses, Goldingay makes the reading format easy for modern readers. Instead of the conventional "Old Testament" use, he chooses "First Testament" because the former is "antiquated and out of date." This change might be a little unfamiliar to some of us who are used to the traditional usage. For me, while I understand the intent of Goldingay, I think it takes a tsunami in order to change people's mindset. Readers just need to be aware of this without being dogmatic. Goldingay does not jump straight into the commentary itself, choosing to take time to describe some of the general themes of each book. This is crucial especially in an age of "Just Gimme the Facts" type of impatience. This has two benefits. Firstly, it equips us with some background knowledge of the cultural and religious environment. Like wearing 3D goggles before we watch a 3D movie, the poetry, rhetoric, ancient contexts, and the theological message will help us comprehend the biblical text that is to come. Secondly, clothed with the contextual armour, we do not have to jump back and forth to ask about certain symbols, historical contexts, and other unfamiliar words in the text. This makes for a much smoother flow as well as a deeper appreciation as we join in the thoughts of the biblical writer.

Second, I find it helpful that Goldingay provides a parallel between the First Testament and the Second Testament. This affirms the way we read the Bible, that the two testaments are one and the same Word of God. This manner of parallel comparison also extends to the way Goldingay bridges the ancient contexts with contemporary application. I find the "theological reflection" deeply challenging. Even though the minor prophets were writing to audiences of an ancient era, the theological theme remains vivid and relevant. This gives readers an important resource to teach the minor prophets with reverent faithfulness to the message and relevance to the masses.

Finally, for those who are afraid about teaching through the minor prophets, this book encourages us not to hesitate. It equips us and shows us the way to frame the discussion, to provide the background information, and to guide members toward a theological reflection that perhaps would generate more active discussion. The prophets are not just proclamations of doomsday messages. They show us the human side of the prophets. They show us God's heart of tenderness. They also warn us that we too are not immune to the ills of ancient Israel. Comprehensive and informative, this commentary is a must have for anyone who teaches or preaches the Old Testament prophets.

John Goldingay (PhD, University of Nottingham) is senior professor of Old Testament and David Allan Hubbard Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an ordained priest in the Church of England and is the author of numerous books, including a three-volume Old Testament Theology as well as major commentaries on Daniel, the Psalms, and Isaiah 40-66. Goldingay lives in Oxford, England.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.