5. COMMENTARIES - OLD TESTAMENT

WHOLE OLD TESTAMENT

• Near Eastern Religious Texts Relating to the Old Testament, edited by Walter Beyerlin (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978) - An excellent resource.
• Preliminary and Interim Report on the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, Volumes 1 through 5, (Stuttgart & New York: United Bible Societies, 1976-1980) - a useful resource that is somewhat analogous to Bruce Metzger's A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, but these 5 volumes are not nearly as focused and thorough as is Metzger in treatment of each verse. The United Bible Societies' Handbook series on individual books of the Bible (see below), especially A Handbook on Psalms, provides excellent textual criticism on many verses.
• The Text of the Old Testament, Second Edition, by Ernst Wurthwein, translated by Erroll F. Rhodes (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995)
• Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible - by Emanuel Tov (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1992) - This book painstakingly describes the development and variants of the Old Testament text and reflects the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It would be best suited to those who need or relish tedious, scholarly detail on this subject.
• A Translator's Guide to Selections from the First Five Books of the Old Testament, by Heber F. Peacock (New York: United Bible Societies, 1982.
• Understanding BHS: A Manual for the Users of Biblica Hebraica Stuttgartensia, by Reinhard Wonneberger (Rome: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1990.
• See also "Commentaries on the Canon, Bible Translating, and Bible Translations" at http://www.bibletexts.com/bibliogr/04com-b.htm#bible-canon.

• See also "Early Christianity: Non-canonical Texts and Sources" at http://www.bibletexts.com/bibliogr/12his-nt.htm#non-canonical.

GENESIS

• Analytical Key to the Old Testament: Genesis, by John Joseph Owens (New York: Harper & Row, 1978)
• The Anchor Bible: Genesis, by E.A. Speiser (New York: Doubleday, 1964)
• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament I, Genesis I-II (edited by Andrew Louth, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001)
• A Handbook on Genesis - by William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry (New York: United Bible Societies, 1997) - (Available at 1-800-322-4253 or at http://www.americanbible.org). An outstanding resource. [book review]
• The International Critical Commentary: Genesis, Second Edition, by John Skinner (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1910). An excellent resource.

• The Old Testament Library: Genesis, Revised Edition, by Gerhard Von Rad (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1972) An excellent resource.

EXODUS

• Analytical Key to the Old Testament: Exodus, by John Joseph Owens (New York: Harper & Row, 1977)
• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament III, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (edited by Joseph T. Lienhard, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001)
• A Handbook on Exodus, by Noel D. Osborn and Howard A. Hatton (New York: United Bible Societies, 1999)
• The Old Testament Library: Exodus - by Brevard Childs (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974). A outstanding resource [book review]

• The Old Testament Library: Exodus, by Martin Noth (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1962)

LEVITICUS

• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament III, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (edited by Joseph T. Lienhard, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001)
• A Handbook on Leviticus, by Rene Peter-Contesse and J. Ellington (New York: United Bible Societies, 1990). An excellent resource.

• The Old Testament Library: Leviticus, by Martin Noth (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1977)

NUMBERS

• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament III, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (edited by Joseph T. Lienhard, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001)

• The Old Testament Library: Numbers, by Martin Noth (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1968)

DEUTERONOMY

• Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament III, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (edited by Joseph T. Lienhard, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001)

• The Old Testament Library: Deuteronomy, by Gerhard Von Rad (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1966)

JOSHUA

• The Old Testament Library: Joshua, by J. Alberto Soggin (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1972)

• A Translator's Handbook on Joshua, by Robert G. Bratcher and Bruce M. Newman (New York: United Bible Societies, 1983) An excellent resource.

JUDGES

• The Anchor Bible: Judges, by Robert G. Boling (New York: Doubleday, 1975)

RUTH

• The Anchor Bible: Ruth, by Edward F. Campbell, Jr. (New York: Doubleday, 1975)

• A Translator's Handbook on Ruth, by Jan DeWaard and Eugene A. Nida (New York: United Bible Societies, 1973) An excellent resource.

1 & 2 SAMUEL

• The Old Testament Library: I & II Samuel, by Hans Wilhelm Hertzberg, translated by J.S. Bowden (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1964)

1 & 2 KINGS

• The Old Testament Library: I & II Kings, by John Gray (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970) An excellent resource.

1& 2 CHRONICLES

• The Anchor Bible: 1 Chronicles, Jacob M. Myers (New York: Doubleday, 1965)

• The Anchor Bible: 2 Chronicles, by Jacob M. Myers (New York: Doubleday, 1965)

EZRA & NEHEMIAH

• The Anchor Bible: Ezra & Nehemiah, Jacob M. Myers (New York: Doubleday, 1965)

ESTHER

• The Anchor Bible: Esther, by Carey A. Moore (New York: Doubleday, 1971)

• The International Critical Commentary: The Book of Esther, by Lewis Bayles Paton (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1908)

JOB

• The Anchor Bible: Job, by Marvin H. Pope (New York: Doubleday, 1973) - An excellent resource.
• The Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible: The Book of Job, by Norman C. Habel (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975)

• A Handbook on the Book of Job, by W.D. Reyburn (New York: United Bible Societies, 1992). An excellent resource.

PSALMS

• The Anchor Bible: Psalms 1-50, by Mitchell Dahood (New York: Doubleday, 1966)
• A Handbook on Psalms, by Robert G. Bratcher and William D. Reyburn (New York: United Bible Societies, 1991) - (Available at 1-800-322-4253 or at http://www.americanbible.org) - An outstanding resource.
• New Century Bible: Psalms, Volumes 1 and 2, by A.A. Anderson (London: Oliphants, 1972) - An excellent resource.
• The Old Testament Library: The Psalms, by Artur Weiser (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1962) - An excellent resource.

• A Translator's Handbook to Selected Psalms , by Heber Peacock (New York: United Bible Societies, 1981) [book review]

PROVERBS & ECCLESIASTES

• The Anchor Bible: Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, (New York: Doubleday, 1965)
• A Handbook on Ecclesiastes, by Graham S. Ogden and Lynell Zogbo (New York: United Bible Societies, 1997)
• A Handbook on Proverbs, by William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry (New York: United Bible Societies, 2000)
• Koheleth: the man and his world: a study of Ecclesiastes, by Robert Gordis (New York: Schocken Books, 1968) - An excellent resource.

• The Old Testament Library: Proverbs, by William McKane (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1977)

SONG OF SOLOMON

• The Anchor Bible: Song of Solomon, by Marvin H. Pope (New York: Doubleday, 1977)

ISAIAH

• The Anchor Bible: Second Isaiah, by John L. McKenzie (New York: Doubleday, 1968)
• Isaiah 1-39 (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), by Christopher R. Seitz (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1993)
• Isaiah 40-66 (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), by Paul D. Hanson (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1995)
• The Old Testament Library: Isaiah 1-12, by Otto Kaiser (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1972)
• The Old Testament Library: Isaiah 13-39, by Otto Kaiser (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974)

• The Old Testament Library: Isaiah 40-66, by Claus Westermann (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969)

JEREMIAH

• The Anchor Bible: Jeremiah , by John Bright (New York: Doubleday, 1965) - An excellent resource.

• A Handbook on Jeremiah, by Barclay M. Newman and Philip C. Stine (New York: United Bible Societies, 2003)

LAMENTATIONS

• The Anchor Bible: Lamentations, by Delbert Hillers (New York: Doubleday, 1972)

• A Handbook on Lamentations, by W.D. Reyburn (New York: United Bible Societies, 1992) - An excellent resource.

EZEKIEL

• Hermeneia: Ezekiel 1, by Walther Zimmerli (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979) - An excellent resource.

• The Old Testament Library: Ezekiel, by Walther Eichrodt (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970) - An excellent resource.

DANIEL

• The Anchor Bible: Daniel, by Louis Hartman and Alexander A. Di Lella (New York: Doubleday, 1978)
• A Handbook on the Book of Daniel, by Rene Peter-Contesse and John Ellington (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993) - An excellent resource.

• The Old Testament Library: Daniel, by Norman W. Porteous (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1965)

HOSEA, JOEL, OBADIAH, AMOS, JONAH, MICAH, NAHUM, HABAKKUK, ZEPHANIAH, HAGGAI, ZECHARIAH, & MALACHI

• Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary, by Joyce Baldwin (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 1972)
• A Handbook on the Books of Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, by D.J. Clark, N. Mundhenk, B.F. Price, and E.A. Nida (New York: United Bible Societies, 1978 & 1982) - An excellent resource.
• A Handbook on the Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, by D.J. Clark and Eugene H.A. Hatton (New York: United Bible Societies, 1989) - An excellent resource.
• Hermeneia: Hosea, by Hans Walther Wolff (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977) - An excellent resource.
• Hermeneia: Joel and Amos, by Hans Walther Wolff (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977) - An excellent resource.
• The International Critical Commentary: Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habkkuk, Obadiah and Joel, by John Merlin Powis Smith, William Hayes Ward, and Julius A. Bewer (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1911)
• The Message of Jonah: A Theological Commentary, by Terence E. Fretheim (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburgs, 1977)
• The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, by Leslie C. Allen (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1976)
• The Old Testament Library: Hosea, by James Luther Mays (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969)
• The Old Testament Library: Amos, by James Luther Mays (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969)
• The Old Testament Library: Micah, by James Luther Mays (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976)
• A Translator's Handbook on the Book of Amos, by Jan De Waard and William A. Smalley (New York: United Bible Societies, 1979) - An excellent resource.

• A Translator's Handbook on the Book of Jonah, by Brynmor F. Price and Eugene A. Nida (New York: United Bible Societies, 1978) - An excellent resource.

OTHER RELEVANT BIBLIOGRAPHICAL LISTS

• (See also Commentaries - Entire Bible.)
• (See also Dictionaries and Special Indices.)
• (See also the appendices on "Scriptural References" in the back of the books listed in:)
• Histories - Entire Bible
• Histories - Old Testament
• Histories - Intertestamental Period Testament
• Histories - New Testament and Early Christianity
• Theology