Description
This is a list of the best one or two commentaries for most books of the Old Testament, ranging from semi-technical to technical. They provide the best guide to the language and text of the OT. In my opinion, these would be the commentaries to buy for academic study. (In most cases other commentaries would be more appropriate for homiletics.) The list in some cases assumes a limited budget, e.g., the one volume OTL commentaries on Kings, Chronicles, and Jeremiah.
Many of these commentaries are available from Logos Bible Software.
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Genesis
Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis. 2 Vols. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1990.
Genesis :
ranked 2

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-17
The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50
Exodus
Leviticus
Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus. 3 Vols. AYB. Yale University Press, 1998.
Leviticus :
ranked 4

Leviticus 1-16
Leviticus 17-22
Leviticus 23-27
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Judges
1/2 Samuel
1/2 Kings
1/2 Chronicles
Knoppers, Gary N. I Chronicles. 2 Vols. AYB. Yale University Press, 2004.
1/2 Chronicles :
ranked 9

I Chronicles 1-9
I Chronicles 10-29
Ezra/Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Clines, David J. A. Job. 3 Vols. WBC. Thomas Nelson, 2009.
Job :
ranked 2

Job 1-20
Job 21-37
Job 38-42
Psalms
Goldingay, John. Psalms (3 volume set). 3 Vols. BCOTWP. Baker Academic, 2008.
Psalms :
ranked 4

Psalms: Volume 1 (1-41)
Psalms: Volume 2 (42-89)
Psalms: Volume 3 (90-150)
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Oswalt, John N. The Book of Isaiah. 2 Vols. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1986.
Isaiah :
ranked 1

The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1-39
The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66
Jeremiah
Holladay, William Lee. Jeremiah. 2 Vols. HERM. Fortress Press, 1986.
Jeremiah :
ranked 8

Jeremiah 1: Chapters 1-25
Jeremiah 2: Chapters 26-52
Ezekiel
Block, Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel. 2 Vols. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1997.
Ezekiel :
ranked 1

The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1-24
The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48
Greenberg, Moshe. Ezekiel. 2 Vols. AYB. Yale University Press, 1995.
Ezekiel :
ranked 8

Ezekiel 1-20
Ezekiel 21-37
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1976.
Joel :
ranked 2
Obadiah : ranked 2
Jonah : ranked 2
Micah : ranked 2

Obadiah : ranked 2
Jonah : ranked 2
Micah : ranked 2
Amos
Micah
Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. NICOT. Eerdmans, 1976.
Joel :
ranked 2
Obadiah : ranked 2
Jonah : ranked 2
Micah : ranked 2

Obadiah : ranked 2
Jonah : ranked 2
Micah : ranked 2
Zephaniah
Haggai
Meyers, Carol; Meyers, Eric M. Haggai and Zechariah. 2 Vols. AYB. Yale University Press, 1987.
Haggai :
ranked 4
Zechariah : ranked 2

Zechariah : ranked 2