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Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible
1 & 2 Kings: A Theological Bible Commentary on 1 & 2 Kings from Leading Contemporary Theologians - BTC
1 and 2 Kings , like each volume in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible, is designed to serve the church--through aid in preaching, teaching, study groups, and so forth--and demonstrate the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the Bible.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2006
74 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Leithart
130 books364 followersPeter Leithart received an A.B. in English and History from Hillsdale College in 1981, and a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1986 and 1987. In 1998 he received his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in England. He has served in two pastorates: He was pastor of Reformed Heritage Presbyterian Church (now Trinity Presbyterian Church), Birmingham, Alabama from 1989 to 1995, and was founding pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, Moscow, Idaho, and served on the pastoral staff at Trinity from 2003-2013. From 1998 to 2013 he taught theology and literature at New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho, where he continues to teach as an adjunct Senior Fellow. He now serves as President of Trinity House in Alabama, where is also resident Church Teacher at the local CREC church. He and his wife, Noel, have ten children and five grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 6, 2022
An extraordinary commentary. Leithart’s comments are sharp, astute, sometimes disputable, but always interesting. I slowly read Kings alongside of this and benefitted immensely. Recommended.
February 9, 2017
Really just an excellent book all-around. Appropriately scholarly yet pastoral, thorough yet easily accessible, a book you can sit down and digest or just skim through for quick Bible study notes. Leithart here brings out facets of the biblical text that rekindled my excitement to dive deep into Holy Scripture.
February 18, 2021
So, so rich. I'll have to revisit this one.
April 24, 2018
In the series preface, R.R. Reno writes of the Brazos commentary series, "Theology has lost its competence in exegesis. Scripture scholars function with minimal theological training. Each decade finds new theories of preaching to cover the nakedness of seminary training that provides theology without exegesis and exegesis without theology." This volume is an exception to that paradigm within biblical scholarship. Peter Leithart has written a marvelous commentary on 1 & 2 Kings.
Leithart shows in manifold ways that there is much more in Kings than we customarily understand. He writes, "a Christian reading of 1–2 Kings must regard it not primarily as historical, prophetic, or sapiential but as evangelical." It is Leithart's stress on the "evangelical" aspect of the books that sets this commentary apart.
As anyone familiar with Leithart's exegetical method should expect, this book is full of theological foundations that are explored later in Scripture. Common themes emerge from earlier books in the Bible, and Leithart shows how they are expanded in Kings, and then reach their fulfillment in Christ.
For example, he writes of David and Omri: "More subtly, the writer of Kings indicates that Omri is a David-like king who initiates a counterfeit of the Davidic dynasty in the northern kingdom. Virtually everything that is said about Omri here has some parallel in the life of David." He also writes extensively of the parallels between Elijah/Elisha and John/Jesus. We naturally understand and see the parallels between Elijah and John, but Elisha and Jesus are natural parallels as well.
He writes, "Like John, Elijah is a lone voice in the wilderness, but Elisha is surrounded by disciples. Jesus’s ministry is a ministry of life-giving miracles—cleansing lepers (Mark 1:40–45), raising dead sons and restoring them to their mothers (Luke 7:11–17), relieving distress. Similarly, Elisha raises the dead (2 Kgs. 4:18–37), provides a meal for one hundred men from twenty loaves of barley bread (4:42–44), cleanses a leper (2 Kgs. 5)." He says much more of this as well, noting other parallels with the gospels.
Ultimately, Leithart's commentary succeeds because he takes biblical theology very seriously and considers all of Scripture when trying to understand 1&2 Kings. The book is rich with it, and it oozes out of the text. Like everything else I've read from Leithart, the book is a pleasure to read, and a wonderful resource for further study of not only 1&2 Kings, but all of Scripture, for his exegetical method should be applied to the rest of the Bible as well, and he helps his readers to do this for themselves.
This is an indispensable commentary and should be on every pastor's bookshelf.
Leithart shows in manifold ways that there is much more in Kings than we customarily understand. He writes, "a Christian reading of 1–2 Kings must regard it not primarily as historical, prophetic, or sapiential but as evangelical." It is Leithart's stress on the "evangelical" aspect of the books that sets this commentary apart.
As anyone familiar with Leithart's exegetical method should expect, this book is full of theological foundations that are explored later in Scripture. Common themes emerge from earlier books in the Bible, and Leithart shows how they are expanded in Kings, and then reach their fulfillment in Christ.
For example, he writes of David and Omri: "More subtly, the writer of Kings indicates that Omri is a David-like king who initiates a counterfeit of the Davidic dynasty in the northern kingdom. Virtually everything that is said about Omri here has some parallel in the life of David." He also writes extensively of the parallels between Elijah/Elisha and John/Jesus. We naturally understand and see the parallels between Elijah and John, but Elisha and Jesus are natural parallels as well.
He writes, "Like John, Elijah is a lone voice in the wilderness, but Elisha is surrounded by disciples. Jesus’s ministry is a ministry of life-giving miracles—cleansing lepers (Mark 1:40–45), raising dead sons and restoring them to their mothers (Luke 7:11–17), relieving distress. Similarly, Elisha raises the dead (2 Kgs. 4:18–37), provides a meal for one hundred men from twenty loaves of barley bread (4:42–44), cleanses a leper (2 Kgs. 5)." He says much more of this as well, noting other parallels with the gospels.
Ultimately, Leithart's commentary succeeds because he takes biblical theology very seriously and considers all of Scripture when trying to understand 1&2 Kings. The book is rich with it, and it oozes out of the text. Like everything else I've read from Leithart, the book is a pleasure to read, and a wonderful resource for further study of not only 1&2 Kings, but all of Scripture, for his exegetical method should be applied to the rest of the Bible as well, and he helps his readers to do this for themselves.
This is an indispensable commentary and should be on every pastor's bookshelf.
February 10, 2022
Don’t write a lot of reviews, but this commentary is fantastic and is worth a shoutout. 1&2 Kings as a unified writing (which it is) is a complex literary achievement; in other words it can be a hard book to read and understand deeply without some help. Leithart does a fantastic job of giving readers a list of handles on the book that are faithful to the minutia of the text, but are also consistently considerate to the broader motifs of the book. It’s a definite recommendation.
May 4, 2019
This commentary was so engaging
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this commentary by Peter Leithart. His observations are stirring, My reading was devotional and not scholarly in purpose and I found this book to stir up my heart quite considerably. I love how Leithart takes an overarching look at what is going on in the world of the text and how he ties it in to today’s world. Some might find the tie-in to be forced but I found it to be astute.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this commentary by Peter Leithart. His observations are stirring, My reading was devotional and not scholarly in purpose and I found this book to stir up my heart quite considerably. I love how Leithart takes an overarching look at what is going on in the world of the text and how he ties it in to today’s world. Some might find the tie-in to be forced but I found it to be astute.
August 4, 2011
eithart employs intricate typologies to show Israel/Judah undergoes a death and resurrection in this narrative, pointing to the death and Resurrection of One who will be the New Israel.
Whether people like it or not, and granted that it can be overdone, typology is becoming the norm in biblical studies in all traditions (post Liberal, Reformed, and Catholic). And so it is common to see how, for example, David typifies Christ. However, there are intra-textual types as well, showing how later Israelite kings are antitypes of David and Solomon.
Pros of the Book:
The writing is typical Leithart: masterful. Leithart has also successfully interacted with the best of modern biblical, theological, and ethical scholarship. He is the most underappreciated Reformed writer. His interactions with Aquinas O'Donovan, and Milbank provided for stimulating ethical reflections and the book leaves us hanging with the hope for a renewed Christendom. I mean, really, if anyone can successfully interact and dialogue with John Milbank and Oliver O'Donovan, they automatically deserve our respect.
Cons:
This book cannot easily be translated into aids for sermon prep. He doesn't do verse by verse exposition, but rather "text by text." While that is more faithful to the "flow of the passage," most congregations do not let you preach from two or three chapters at a time
Whether people like it or not, and granted that it can be overdone, typology is becoming the norm in biblical studies in all traditions (post Liberal, Reformed, and Catholic). And so it is common to see how, for example, David typifies Christ. However, there are intra-textual types as well, showing how later Israelite kings are antitypes of David and Solomon.
Pros of the Book:
The writing is typical Leithart: masterful. Leithart has also successfully interacted with the best of modern biblical, theological, and ethical scholarship. He is the most underappreciated Reformed writer. His interactions with Aquinas O'Donovan, and Milbank provided for stimulating ethical reflections and the book leaves us hanging with the hope for a renewed Christendom. I mean, really, if anyone can successfully interact and dialogue with John Milbank and Oliver O'Donovan, they automatically deserve our respect.
Cons:
This book cannot easily be translated into aids for sermon prep. He doesn't do verse by verse exposition, but rather "text by text." While that is more faithful to the "flow of the passage," most congregations do not let you preach from two or three chapters at a time
November 17, 2012
I generally find the historical books of the Old Testament hard to understand and/or to fit in to the broader text of the Bible. This book, which focuses on First and Second Kings, does a good job of analyzing the text in depth, and in fitting it in to the broader text of the Gospel. The author brings out a lot of the parallels in the text, as well as a considerable amount of historical background. Although there is a lot of in-depth theology in this book, it is readable for the average person.
January 31, 2016
Really enjoyed this. Leithart's hermeneutical method is both illuminating and challenging. On the one hand, I gleaned so many new insights from him out of the book of Kings, but on the other hand I am cautious about some of his interpretive maneuvers, even as I seek to learn from his approach to Scripture. Overall, the commentary is worthwhile.
June 18, 2011
Some have criticized this book for being overly typological, but they don't have a biblical mindset. This is a wonderful book with a "multidisciplinary hermeneutic" that sees the forest and the trees.
November 9, 2009
Really very good. A lot of application material, given our political/cultural troubles today.
March 13, 2023
(4.5 stars)
One of my hobbies is reading commentaries on Scripture, this commentary is unlike any I've ever read and I found it quite engaging. Mr. Leithart doesn't really go verse by verse so much as he goes storyline by storyline and he does an excellent job of pointing out how the individual story fits into the whole, while riffing on an amazingly diverse array of issues which he somehow manages to make relevant to the text. Here is one example where he incorporates economics into his commentary:
"In a world where economic relationships are destroyed by greed and injustice and meanness, God in Christ has established an economics of life among his people. In a hungry world, God in Christ has given us true, life-giving bread. Within the culture of death, God is shaping a culture of life for those whom the Father has joined to his risen Son by his Spirit."
He begins his commentary on 2 Kings 21.1-26, the reign of Manasseh, by pointing out how the name Manasseh is relevant to the storyline. He writes: "Judah's ultimate end came through forgetfulness, under a king whose name means forgetfulness."
He then starts with a commentary on the protestant church and its "communal amnesia," then this application:
"Forgetfulness is ingratitude, and ingratitude is one of the original sins. Worship is history class, where we are renewed in our communal memory and where we confess our forgetfulness of the Lord and his commandments."
All of this before he gets to the exegesis of the passage. He does this again and again in a remarkably compelling way.
Another good example of his insight is his discussion of the story of Naaman being cured from leprosy in 2 Kings 5: "Ultimately 2 Kgs 5 points to the mechanism by which the Lord will bring salvation to the Gentiles. The exchange between Naaman and Ghazi points to the blessed exchange of the cross, where the one who knows no sin is made sin for us where Jesus the Jew takes on the leprosy of the world and is excluded from the presence of God, so that Gentiles and Jews might be washed and brought near in him."
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Leithart, but more will come. He really is an extraordinary writer.
One of my hobbies is reading commentaries on Scripture, this commentary is unlike any I've ever read and I found it quite engaging. Mr. Leithart doesn't really go verse by verse so much as he goes storyline by storyline and he does an excellent job of pointing out how the individual story fits into the whole, while riffing on an amazingly diverse array of issues which he somehow manages to make relevant to the text. Here is one example where he incorporates economics into his commentary:
"In a world where economic relationships are destroyed by greed and injustice and meanness, God in Christ has established an economics of life among his people. In a hungry world, God in Christ has given us true, life-giving bread. Within the culture of death, God is shaping a culture of life for those whom the Father has joined to his risen Son by his Spirit."
He begins his commentary on 2 Kings 21.1-26, the reign of Manasseh, by pointing out how the name Manasseh is relevant to the storyline. He writes: "Judah's ultimate end came through forgetfulness, under a king whose name means forgetfulness."
He then starts with a commentary on the protestant church and its "communal amnesia," then this application:
"Forgetfulness is ingratitude, and ingratitude is one of the original sins. Worship is history class, where we are renewed in our communal memory and where we confess our forgetfulness of the Lord and his commandments."
All of this before he gets to the exegesis of the passage. He does this again and again in a remarkably compelling way.
Another good example of his insight is his discussion of the story of Naaman being cured from leprosy in 2 Kings 5: "Ultimately 2 Kgs 5 points to the mechanism by which the Lord will bring salvation to the Gentiles. The exchange between Naaman and Ghazi points to the blessed exchange of the cross, where the one who knows no sin is made sin for us where Jesus the Jew takes on the leprosy of the world and is excluded from the presence of God, so that Gentiles and Jews might be washed and brought near in him."
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Leithart, but more will come. He really is an extraordinary writer.
September 18, 2017
This is not a traditional Bible commentary in that it does not go verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible (nor does it attempt to, and Leithart sets all these qualifications out in the beginning). But the commentary aims to read 1 and 2 Kings theologically. And by and large it is successful. Leithart is extremely good at inter-textual readings of Scripture (redemptive-historical readings), and this makes the brain synapses fire 'a plenty in this book. That's good. That's really good.
However, part of the goal of this commentary series is to be theological, and in my judgment Leithart was not as successful. This theological discussions felt tacked on, and not always very closely connected to the text. In other places they were too brief, leaving ideas inadequately discussed.
Readers may also be aware of the Leithart kerfuffle in the PCA related to Federal Vision stuff. Some elements of those views do come through in the commentary at times (but if like me you determine not to read this as a way of learning classical Reformed theology, then you'll be fine). DESPITE this background, I think there is plenty good in this commentary. I learned a lot. Leithart helped me get closer to the text of Scripture. That's what I want out of a book like this, and Leithart delivered.
However, part of the goal of this commentary series is to be theological, and in my judgment Leithart was not as successful. This theological discussions felt tacked on, and not always very closely connected to the text. In other places they were too brief, leaving ideas inadequately discussed.
Readers may also be aware of the Leithart kerfuffle in the PCA related to Federal Vision stuff. Some elements of those views do come through in the commentary at times (but if like me you determine not to read this as a way of learning classical Reformed theology, then you'll be fine). DESPITE this background, I think there is plenty good in this commentary. I learned a lot. Leithart helped me get closer to the text of Scripture. That's what I want out of a book like this, and Leithart delivered.
February 1, 2018
Leithart has written a brilliant and accessible theological commentary that serves as a Christian reading of 1-2 Kings. Each chapter (usually corresponding to the chapter divisions in Scripture) contains several evangelical and ecclesial reflections, showing how Israel's history is ultimately all about the gospel and relevant for the church today. While he is quick to point out shadows, symbols, types, and allusions to the rest of Scripture (and rightly so), he still takes the meaning for the original audience into consideration. In other words, he's not simply throwing in "Jesus jukes" at the end of each chapter.
Leithart's reading of the OT through the lens of the NT is breath of fresh air. His reflections on Christ and the gospel are worth the price of the book and make it a must-read, especially for those who find the historical books "dry and boring." Just make sure to have a Bible handy as you read. The chapters don't have titles and there is no translation of the text provide (which makes this book an excellent resource to have in your Logos library).
Leithart's reading of the OT through the lens of the NT is breath of fresh air. His reflections on Christ and the gospel are worth the price of the book and make it a must-read, especially for those who find the historical books "dry and boring." Just make sure to have a Bible handy as you read. The chapters don't have titles and there is no translation of the text provide (which makes this book an excellent resource to have in your Logos library).
June 6, 2020
Leithart will Leithart: when he is good, he is very good, but when he is bad, he is horrid.
Leithart's Brazos Commentary is a mixed bag. It's clearly a compilation of sermons on the text and--as Leithart is wont to do--filled chock full with Christological exegesis, narrative connections, theological and canonical readings. About half of these are truly excellent; the other half are a bit of a stretch and some of them border on the absurd. But Leithart is well-read, well-spoken, and will do what no other commentary does and he often does it well. Leithart is the type of author where you'll be rolling your eyes for several pages in a row but then realize that you've just block-quoted an entire paragraph or page because it's simply pristine.
I read Leithart because my training and person strenghts lie in archaeology and history; Leithart doesn't care much about that, but his strengths help fill in my weaknesses and I'd strongly recommend reading him if you're like me and want to get a different look at a text you know pretty well.
Leithart's Brazos Commentary is a mixed bag. It's clearly a compilation of sermons on the text and--as Leithart is wont to do--filled chock full with Christological exegesis, narrative connections, theological and canonical readings. About half of these are truly excellent; the other half are a bit of a stretch and some of them border on the absurd. But Leithart is well-read, well-spoken, and will do what no other commentary does and he often does it well. Leithart is the type of author where you'll be rolling your eyes for several pages in a row but then realize that you've just block-quoted an entire paragraph or page because it's simply pristine.
I read Leithart because my training and person strenghts lie in archaeology and history; Leithart doesn't care much about that, but his strengths help fill in my weaknesses and I'd strongly recommend reading him if you're like me and want to get a different look at a text you know pretty well.
December 18, 2024
Leithart's commentary of 1 & 2 Kings may not be a "go-to" commentary, but it is an excellent resource. It doesn't proceed verse-by-verse, or even in a way that covers each passage comprehensively; instead, each chapter (or so) is viewed as a unit and analyzed as a whole. It is a "theological commentary," which means Leithart considers and discusses the theology developed by the authors of 1&2 Kings, with each chapter ending in a final look forward to Christ. Each chapter also focuses on the literary structure and meaning--noting and detailing the many allusions and references to other Biblical sources, chiasms and parallels involved, and other marks that are really helpful to see but difficult to spot on the surface. I found these discussions to be illuminating.
September 23, 2022
Leithart is a commentator that sees patterns and resonances like few do. Sometimes I’m not convinced they’re actually there. But mostly I think he’s right about those patterns. This helps the reader see and hear even more of the riches and beauty of Scripture, something I struggled with for these particular books. Leithart occasionally has angles or emphases that makes me cock my head in surprise or even in disagreement. But mostly this commentary left me thinking about the dangers of idolatry and the incredible work of Jesus. For that, I am very grateful.
July 11, 2024
Leithart is someone who takes the OT seriously and is set upon walking down its streets and breathing its air (even if that at times means taking more boggy or speculative paths). Throughout the pages of this commentary his seriousness and commitment to breathing the air of the old world, transforms the books of Kings from a dead or strange history to something very much alive, recognizable, and near. Despite some theological quibbles, Leithart accomplishes what I look for in every commentary: to draw me into the world of the Word. And this he does with sparkling insight and clarity to boot
November 21, 2022
This book was one of my resources as I preached through the kings of Israel and Judah this year. I loved it. Leithart is a champion of noting patterns that are easy to lose because of all the chaos in the stories. Though his "theological takes" are sometimes stretched, I looked forward to reading this book every time I preached on another king. It is not exhaustive and certainly not the most academic but I found it enjoyable and illuminating.
July 11, 2017
Controversial guy, but fantastic commentary. I find working through these OT histories pretty tough, but Leithart draws so many connections to other places in the Bible - nearly ever chapter has one or two deep insights into the text. The typology in 1 & 2 Kings is truly astounding and Leithart's really helped me to see the coherence of Scripture as a whole.
June 16, 2023
One of the few useful commentaries for preaching and spiritual edification. If you know Hebrew/Greek and history, then many commentaries repeat what you can see by reading. This commentary goes beyond those interesting things and exposes the theological meaning of the text, which is another way of saying: it will help you preach.
March 15, 2025
There are definitely some uncomfortable ideas in here, including ones I don't agree with. However, this lively commentary helped me think about Kings, especially within our contemporary world and theological discussions. Leithart is especially good at pointing out patterns in the text and typologies. Worth reading in conjunction with a more traditional commentary.
April 20, 2018
Really good!
A very unique commentary in its approach. In addition to comments on the text, Leithart would offer connections to philosophy, political science, historiography, sociology, and other subjects that were very illuminating!
A very unique commentary in its approach. In addition to comments on the text, Leithart would offer connections to philosophy, political science, historiography, sociology, and other subjects that were very illuminating!
April 10, 2018
Dense. Very helpful for diving into Kings 1-2.
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April 1, 2022Not as brilliant as I expected, but still a great non-technical commentary.
July 9, 2022
A thrilling commentary. It has a depth that I was not exactly expecting having read several Leithart books prior to this one. Highly recommend!
February 10, 2024
Classic Leithart — clearly conversant with all the major works on Kings and yet manages to offer unique insight and wisdom.
January 12, 2024
Highly recommend this resource. Each time I read through Kings I use this book for helpful insight. Very easy to read with great, biblical insight.
July 25, 2020
Peter Leithart is one of my favorite theologians and authors. This commentary is unique in its focus on theological matter over historical or social concerns. Better yet, Leithart cares deeply about taking the power of the Word and making it applicable in the readers world. For instance, because of the subject matter, he constantly is making comparisons of our current political and nationalistic ideologies and constraining them with the narrative of 1&2 Kings.
I always highly recommend buying Leithart’s books whenever you can find them.
I always highly recommend buying Leithart’s books whenever you can find them.
February 19, 2010
What a great book. Leithart takes us narrative chunk by narrative chunk (these chunks are usually the chapters, but occasionally spans 2-3 chapters at a time) through the Book of Kings. As he repeatedly points out, there really aren't two books of 1 & 2 Kings, but rather one book that had been divided into two scrolls because of its length. He gives us all the juicy typological and symbolic details you could want, while taking the surface story as real history. He's most famous for noticing parallelism and chiastic structures, and there is oodles of those as well. The book's strong point is its lack of pretension and academic language. Leithart's prose expects some familiarity with the book, and occasionally cites the Hebrew language, but the commentary functions just fine if you can't read the original languages. He also has plenty of contemporary application as well, from discussing the merits of political theology to God's seemingly spendthrift ways. A nice thing about the book too is that Leithart isn't writing from a place high above us unwashed plebs. He can be astonished by what he reads, admitting God does all sorts of things that doesn't fit into the little box we try to force Him into. We tend to think of the Yahweh of the OT as harsh, mean, vindictive, and whose whrath is quickly kindled. The picture, points out Leithart, is quite the opposite:
"The impression we get from 1-2 Kings is not that God is a stingy disciplinarian with an anger problem. If anything, the God of 1-2 Kings is irresponsibly indulgent towards his people, a God who does not seem to realize he cannot run the world without a dose of law and order. By the time Judah is sent into Babylonian exile in 2 Kings 25, we are not saying 'My, what a harsh God'; if we read attentatively, we are saying, 'It's about time! What took him so long?' The offense of the theology proper of 1-2 Kings is not that God is angry with the innocent. The offense is the offense of Jonah--the offense of God's mercy, the offense of Yahweh's unearthly patience with the irascible and unresponsive" (p. 22).
The biggest difficulty with the book is that no translation is provided. You have to be either really familiar with 1-2 Kings and know what each chapter is about, or be constantly flipping open your Bible to read the chapter, then flip back to the commentary, then back to your Bible for the next chapter, and so on. That can get tiresome, and a lot of times, because Leithart is following the Hebrew text, he can quote a verse or passage translated very differently in the version of your Bible, which can be jarring. Overall, though, no harm, no foul. I mightily recommend it.
"The impression we get from 1-2 Kings is not that God is a stingy disciplinarian with an anger problem. If anything, the God of 1-2 Kings is irresponsibly indulgent towards his people, a God who does not seem to realize he cannot run the world without a dose of law and order. By the time Judah is sent into Babylonian exile in 2 Kings 25, we are not saying 'My, what a harsh God'; if we read attentatively, we are saying, 'It's about time! What took him so long?' The offense of the theology proper of 1-2 Kings is not that God is angry with the innocent. The offense is the offense of Jonah--the offense of God's mercy, the offense of Yahweh's unearthly patience with the irascible and unresponsive" (p. 22).
The biggest difficulty with the book is that no translation is provided. You have to be either really familiar with 1-2 Kings and know what each chapter is about, or be constantly flipping open your Bible to read the chapter, then flip back to the commentary, then back to your Bible for the next chapter, and so on. That can get tiresome, and a lot of times, because Leithart is following the Hebrew text, he can quote a verse or passage translated very differently in the version of your Bible, which can be jarring. Overall, though, no harm, no foul. I mightily recommend it.
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