A solid commentary by a well-known evangelical scholar. Clearly written. Well-rounded bibliography. Less concerned than Butler and Hess about archaeological and historical matters. Grants the requisite attention to questions of date and historical influences on the book, then proceeds along a strongly textual trajectory directing attention to what the narratives mean rather than simply to what they refer. Going the extra mile in this respect renders this commentary especially useful for preaching and teaching.

Based on the NIV.  A thoughtful commentary by a well-known professor at Denver Seminary.  Detailed, verse-by-verse treatment with ample footnoting.  Somewhat technical discussion at points but informative and readable.  Like Butler, the influence from historical and archaeological concerns makes itself known but narrative structure and other literary phenomena are also considered.  An important reference in the study of Joshua.  

A solid contribution to a multivolume commentary (12 large ones in all) by an eclectic “who’s who” in contemporary biblical scholarship. Includes standard introductory discussion, with noteworthy comments on the text and composition of Samuel, and section-by-section (not verse-by-verse) exposition that includes introductory overview, textual commentary, and expository reflections. Preachers and teachers will find Birch’s treatment generally readable and especially helpful in grasping the significance of Samuel for the church’s life and faith.

Views the book as a sophisticated, “kaleidoscopic” narrative, “more like an extended parable than a historical report” (891), with similarities to Jonah, or Nathan’s story to David in 2 Samuel 12:1-7. But in lieu of easy character correlation in these other stories, Farmer is more cautious than Hubbard about seeing in the person of Ruth an obvious set of moral qualities which the book means to bring to bear on the reader. In fact, while the key interpretive issue lies in the area of identification, Farmer argues that it is Naomi, not Ruth, whose qualities the book highlights as becoming to the people of God. Moreover, it is Naomi’s redemption which provides the specific context for a more subtle and elaborate presentation of the way God redeems his people over time. A unique feature of Farmer’s commentary is a section entitled “Reading Ruth in Various Life Settings.” This is a welcome feature (and could have been longer!) which highlights only a few of the many ways different approaches to interpretation might be confronted by the message of the book. Reflection on this key hermeneutical issue stands to enrich the use of this commentary for study and teaching in a variety of contexts.

N’s commentary splits the difference between the technical precision of Raabe and the preachability of Baker. It’s visually attractive from an aesthetic perspective, and pleasant to read. There is plenty of space at the margins, with numerous inset sections—including various graphics—to develop theological or topical points of interest, whereas the textual engagement in the comments more steadily pursues the book’s own development. But it isn’t the easiest commentary to consult, given the large chunk of Obadiah that N consigns to one section (vv. 1-14+15b). Boldfacing individual verses prior to their comments, or in some way setting them in relief, is always a welcome feature. Nitpicks aside, N is important reading, and often cited in modern Twelve scholarship.

From the foreword: "The purpose of this commentary series is to help readers navigate this strange and sometimes forbidding literary and spiritual terrain...so that the power and meaning of these biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers" (ix).  Based on the NIV, the treatment is readable and uncluttered though Brown's endnotes exhibit a well-rounded engagement and are worth the page-flipping.  The bold text in her section by section treatment refers to more specific comments and explanations at the end of each section----a particularly helpful feature for those interested in more details about certain passages. 

A standard, critical treatment of Joshua.  Historical and archaeological concerns rank high.  Follows the standard format of the WBC (section by section with Bibliography, Translation, Notes, Form/Structure/Setting, Comment, and Explanation). Somewhat technical but well-written; the reader will benefit from the breadth of research consistent throughout the commentary.  A good exposure to a scholar well-familiar with current discussion on the traditions lying behind the received text. 

Not as technical as Butler, but impressive nonetheless in its breadth of research. Inroads absent from more historical treatments are made here. Opts for a theocentric perspective which attends to the cohesiveness of history under a sovereign God as presented in and by biblical narrative. On this note, Woudstra invites his readers to consider the dynamic aspects of Hebrew narrative when it comes to the interruptions, repetitions, and tangents which litter the book of Joshua—what historicists often attribute to variety among earlier source-texts. Readable, informative, and at times, inspiring.

This is an updated and expanded version of B’s 1988 Tyndale commentary on Obadiah (which has since been updated). In the Tyndale commentary, Obadiah is read before Jonah and Micah (the order in which one finds them in the OT), whereas in this NIVAC volume, Obadiah is read between Joel and Malachi (an arrangement motivated by topical similarity). B's interpretations (Original Meaning) will be helpful along with his applications (Bridging Contexts; Contemporary Significance), as he shows how numerous literary features give shape to Obadiah's message. He also renders important Hebrew nuances available for those who do not have facility in the language. While "decanonicalizing" these books does allow the similarity of their individual emphases to be highlighted and explored, this decision raises important questions about how meaning is communicated across the Twelve, and whether some of it is lost when the canonical arrangement is disregarded.

While W’s commentary is clearly dated, it can be considered a counterpart to Raabe (Anchor Bible, 1996) in this way: it is the only other stand-alone commentary we’ve reviewed, and it is similary technical in its pursuit of a close reading of the text. However, W’s is considerably shorter than Raabe’s, and unlike Raabe’s, W’s commentary does not require facility in Hebrew. It may be upstaged in certain respects by other more recent commentaries on Obadiah, but Watts’ reputation as a careful scholar (Isaiah, Amos) warrants at least a mention here. His work on the Minor Prophets is still being cited (e.g. by Nogalski, 2011).

R’s commentary is exactly what can be expected of the Anchor series: long (overwhelmingly, considering the length of the other commentaries on Obadiah, which is itself a single chapter, and the shortest book in the OT); technical (there seems to be no nuance R has not belabored); and quirkily committed exclusively to transliteration (not only will a working knowledge of Hebrew be required in order to benefit fully from this commentary, it’s purely transliterated Hebrew at that). So why pick it up? Simply because of those we’ve surveyed, it is the most exhaustive treatment of the book’s textual features. It is to exegesis what Baker’s commentary is to reflection and application, and for that reason, readers who want all the information laid out before them will certainly want to consult R’s work.

The most comprehensive and meticulously detailed commentary available. S is at his best when he engages in textual and philological analysis, although some will appreciate his frequent reference to material from the ancient Near East and Jewish sources. One gets the impression that S has read just about everything ever written on Jonah (the Bibliography alone covers 32 pp.), to which he adds his own erudition. Hebrew readers will benefit most, even if they frustrate over AB’s transliteration policy. Beyond the commentary proper, S includes a large end section on “Interpretation,” including discussions on “Jonah as History or Fiction” and “Narrative Art and Literary Typology in Jonah.” A technical but valuable resource.

A standard verse-by-verse commentary from a moderately critical perspective, including a fresh translation and a generally judicious examination of the biblical text. Between the Introduction (36 pp.) and an Appendix which highlights the interpretation of Jonah in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic literature and art (25 pp.), the commentary proper turns out to be slim (62 pp.). Still, L has managed to pack a helpful discussion into short space, with a keen eye as well on the significance of the Jonah story for our time.

Consistent with the Brazos series (see Stubbs on the book of Numbers), C approaches his task as a philosopher-theologian, not as a biblical scholar-exegete. This results in a commentary of a different sort, one that wrestles more with the question of how the book of Jonah functions as Christian Scripture (“the book of Jonah is about Christ and therefore about all those who find their life in him”) than with the technical details of the text itself. The results are often insightful, occasionally entertaining, and definitely unlike the usual fare in commentary genre. If (in my judgment) C gets certain details wrong (e.g., his excessively negative critique of the prophet Jonah, including his telling a lie in Jon 4:2), his thoughtful reflections and theological insights are often brilliant. C is at his best when he considers the contribution of Jonah to the New Testament and to the logic of redemption. Readable, rich, and especially valuable for preaching, teaching, and study groups.

Not all readers will be pleased with A’s handling of the book of Jonah as a parable, but his literary sensitivities and theological insights are always helpful, well-informed, and often brilliant. In typical NICOT style, the discussion is accessible to serious but nonspecialist readers, with technical comments located in the footnotes. No less a figure than F. F. Bruce could not “remember reading such a satisfying treatment of Jonah” as this. An especially valuable resource for pastors, teachers, and Bible study leaders.

Solid treatment of Judges.  Olson is informative on the range of issues swirling around the book's more challenging sections as well as how a variety of interpretive strategies have attempted to work through such issues.  Leans more toward narrative-focused exegesis.  Provides an overview of each section of the book followed by the corresponding text in NIV and NRSV (side by side).  Commentary and Reflections sections follow.  More concerned with the final form of the text than with the archaeological and historical worksite.  Theological concerns rank high. 

A substantial contribution by a Reformed scholar. Divided into The Prophetic Phenomenon in Israel (Part 1), The Message of the Minor Prophets (Part 2), and The Message of the Major Prophets (Part 3). After Part 1, most chapters consist in a discussion of the prophet and his time, literary form and structure, and message, with the last-mentioned among the best contributions. Also includes full chapters on “Summary of Prophetic Motifs” and “Living the Prophetic Word.” Contains many figures (79) and tables (12). Upper college/seminary level.
 

A former professor at Bethel Seminary examines “how God used the prophets to transform the thinking and behavior of Israelite people.” A kind of rhetorical, theological, historical/sociological study that explores the communications process and dynamics of persuasion used by the prophets. Like many other studies, the confusing of prophet as person and Prophet as book yields a work more helpful to those interested in the former (how to preach like an Amos or Isaiah) than to interpreters of the latter.

In the excellent Interpreting Biblical Texts series. An introduction to the Former Prophets and part of the Writings (Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah) by a Lutheran scholar sympathetic with critical scholarship. Discusses history, historical-critical issues, and methods of interpretation applying each to the corpus and offering rich insights. Introduces the Deuteronomistic History and the Chronicler’s History (Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles) highlighting the unity of the Former Prophets, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Chapters covering the structure, interpretive issues, plot, and themes of each book further enhance the reader’s interpretation of the text.

An introductory guide to interpreting prophecy by well-known author, then dean and professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Discusses issues in Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology, and Practical Theology as these relate to the study of prophecy. Some helpful material in readable presentation, but blurs the crucial differentiation between prophecy as text and prophecy as event, between Prophet as book and prophet as person.