Encouraged by its top spot on this list and its availability at my library, I got this book. I found the introduction (in Vol. 1) quite readable and very helpful. As I continued through the commentary I found it harder going however. Though the commentary is set up with detail comments in small print for each section followed by general comments. I found some of most important insights in the small details where you would have to labor through so much that was not. And the general comments often contained ramblings about issues not so important to me. Sometimes I was still left wondering what they actually believed about a passage. They needed a section to much more clearly summarize their findings. But on a whole, there is too much good here to pass it up and not give it a top recommendation for the serious student of the Bible. There are many good helpful comments about the social and political situation of the time. There are also some interesting hypothesis about the shape of the whole text. It provides some new thinking on passages that is well grounded in the text and good historical study. The pastor and everyday student of the Bible may want to consult this before laying out the money for it. Certainly for devotional insights Craigie, Phillips and Achtemeier will be of more help. Many may find Boda easier reading, but overall I still found this one worthy of its top spot for a detailed commentary. It seems to me there is still room here for a good scholarly commentary to be written, but when it is, it will certainly have to take this one into account.

Very detailed commentary with attention to possible historical backgrounds and parallels. [Full Review]

Very detailed commentary with attention to possible historical backgrounds and parallels. [Full Review]

Very detailed commentary with attention to possible historical backgrounds and parallels. [Full Review]

Very detailed commentary with attention to possible historical backgrounds and parallels. [Full Review]