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Numbers chronicles a community faced with many competing interests, groups, and issues, endeavoring to define itself and its mission in the world. Dennis Olsen offers readers a comprehensive interpretation of this often overlooked book. He provides a thoroughly contemporary reading of Numbers that enlightens the modern church as it navigates the contemporary wilderness of pluralism, competing voices, and and shifting foundations.
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.
196 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 21, 2014
The bottom line: A carefully planned and methodical analysis that masterfully demonstrates how relevant the wilderness journey of ancient Israel is to modern society.
Olson debunks the idea that the book of Numbers is a biblical dumping ground where a collection of narratives, stories and laws that were “left over” were haphazardly inserted into the Pentateuch’s fourth volume. Instead, Olsen reveals how the expedition of ancient Israel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan speaks to the modern believer and is as applicable now as it was then. In a symbolic sense, the temptations, mentalities, interpersonal conflicts, and sources of spiritual pride in the narrative still exist in the 21st century. The author is careful to point out Number’s relevance by citing the spiritual leaders (e.g. Christ) who derived some of their teachings from the book.
Olsen divides the book ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/numbers-in...
Olson debunks the idea that the book of Numbers is a biblical dumping ground where a collection of narratives, stories and laws that were “left over” were haphazardly inserted into the Pentateuch’s fourth volume. Instead, Olsen reveals how the expedition of ancient Israel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan speaks to the modern believer and is as applicable now as it was then. In a symbolic sense, the temptations, mentalities, interpersonal conflicts, and sources of spiritual pride in the narrative still exist in the 21st century. The author is careful to point out Number’s relevance by citing the spiritual leaders (e.g. Christ) who derived some of their teachings from the book.
Olsen divides the book ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/numbers-in...
November 11, 2018
This volume on Numbers in the Interpretation Bible Commentary series by Dennis Olson is one of the more favorably reviewed in the whole series. When I saw that it was judged as more academically astute than its companion volumes, I was intrigued to check it out. Its marks for theology rank highly as well. Without doubt, its conclusions spring from a critical perspective just as you will find to be true across the series. To my mind, these reviews are accurate.
The Introduction is quite brief but introduces us to Olson’s highly-regarded ideas about the structure of the Book of Numbers. That provocative view of structure divides Numbers into two parts: Numbers 1-25 and 26-36. It sees the first part as the old generation of rebellion and the other as the new generation of hope. The design within each half is also presented as cohesive. This review of structure is followed by some theological discussion. Everything else is pushed to the commentary section.
The structure Olson loves to highlight becomes a guide in the commentary itself. Besides a few places of too much brevity, the commentary is well done. If you understand the perspective this book brings, you will know what you can find versus what simply must be sought somewhere else.
There are about 5 or 6 volumes that have separated themselves from the others in this series. Mark this book down as one of them.
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.
The Introduction is quite brief but introduces us to Olson’s highly-regarded ideas about the structure of the Book of Numbers. That provocative view of structure divides Numbers into two parts: Numbers 1-25 and 26-36. It sees the first part as the old generation of rebellion and the other as the new generation of hope. The design within each half is also presented as cohesive. This review of structure is followed by some theological discussion. Everything else is pushed to the commentary section.
The structure Olson loves to highlight becomes a guide in the commentary itself. Besides a few places of too much brevity, the commentary is well done. If you understand the perspective this book brings, you will know what you can find versus what simply must be sought somewhere else.
There are about 5 or 6 volumes that have separated themselves from the others in this series. Mark this book down as one of them.
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.
July 28, 2021
Short for the amount of text covered, but readable and helpful.
November 18, 2025
Numbers: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching by Dennis T. Olson provides a solid contribution as part of that Interpretation series. These commentaries are not designed to be thorough verse by verse textual expositions, but explores the text in its various sections and with a view to how to effectively preach and teach from its material.
The author did well at considering the text as presented and as reflecting the views of what happened in Israel’s past. He did not get bogged down in all the modern arguments about who wrote what and when. He respected the text in its attempt to provide a coherent narrative of Israel’s experience in the wilderness.
He also did quite well at bringing the Book of Numbers to life. Many find the book challenging and a bit dry at times, but this commentary well presents the narrative events and also explains well how and why the legal instructions are presented as they are and how they relate to the events taking place in context.
This is an excellent commentary for consideration when exploring the Book of Numbers.
The author did well at considering the text as presented and as reflecting the views of what happened in Israel’s past. He did not get bogged down in all the modern arguments about who wrote what and when. He respected the text in its attempt to provide a coherent narrative of Israel’s experience in the wilderness.
He also did quite well at bringing the Book of Numbers to life. Many find the book challenging and a bit dry at times, but this commentary well presents the narrative events and also explains well how and why the legal instructions are presented as they are and how they relate to the events taking place in context.
This is an excellent commentary for consideration when exploring the Book of Numbers.
January 18, 2008
Dennis Olson (Ph.D. Yale; Princeton Seminary OT prof.) is an extremely careful and thoughtful scholar, with a world-class reputation. This is an above-average entry in this highly uneven Interpretation series.
Olson has a 'canonical' approach which, while accepting critical views of the Bible, makes them secondary. And this Interpretation series is geared for pastoral application. Nevertheless, his critical assumption sometimes overwhelm his interpretations. I would not use this as my first or only commentary on Numbers.
Often lively and original, this makes solid (and readable) supplemental study for the student who wants a range of opinions on the text.
Olson has a 'canonical' approach which, while accepting critical views of the Bible, makes them secondary. And this Interpretation series is geared for pastoral application. Nevertheless, his critical assumption sometimes overwhelm his interpretations. I would not use this as my first or only commentary on Numbers.
Often lively and original, this makes solid (and readable) supplemental study for the student who wants a range of opinions on the text.
November 21, 2020
Olson has a somewhat liberal approach to the text of Scripture, but many of his insights are penetrating and illuminating. I especially appreciated his treatment of chapters 26-36.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews