The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah

The New International Commentary on the Old Testament

by Charles Fensham

Fensham's study on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah is a contribution to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Like its companion series on the New Testament, this commentary devotes considerable care to achieving a balance between technical information and homiletic-devotional interpretation.

Genres: Reference, Theology, Old Testament, Biblical Studies, Christian, Nonfiction

301 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 1983

Reviews

[Vincent Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

This commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah gives off the impression that it is detailed and not so detailed. It was helpful in studying through during our church's preaching series on Ezra and Nehemiah, providing a fair amount of historical and cultural detail.

[Greg Mathis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly thorough and granular technical work that remains unsatisfying.

Readers, particularly those given to reading commentaries through, should be aware of the series and volume purpose before taking up and reading. This volume is highly technical - even to the point of its near uselessness in determining the theological meaning of passages. Fensham is no doubt unparalleled in his knowledge of his subject matter and of the Semitic languages. But readers should be warned that this text represents more a sustained textual criticism than a treatment of Ezra-Nehemiah’s import, let alone Ezra-Nehemiah’s import for pastoral exposition.

Textual critical works are important and represent the foundation upon which more work can be done. However, in the present volume, many opportunities were missed to convey the *message* of Ezra-Nehemiah, even without risking a drift into undue emphasis on application.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update:
Read again in 2025, I no longer find this very thorough. To be fair, Ezra and Nehemiah present challenges because of the limited insight we have into the Chronicler’s editorial intent. I haven’t yet read the re-release by a different author, but I assume it was intended to address some of these shortcomings in the scholarship and perhaps to offer more substantial exegetical material.


2016 review:
Very thorough commentary. The book is really a critical analysis of the original Hebrew language used in the composition of Ezra and Nehemiah, but it also includes some helpful insights into the cultural and historical setting.

[Peter]

Worthy but pretty dull. I read this alongside Kidner and Williamson. Kidner is much more lively and warm; Williamson brings much more out of the details. Between these two Fensham added very little. (In fairness to him, I think his is the earliest of the three commentaries, so perhaps his insights seemed old because the other two filched the best ones!)

[Ian Caveny · Rating 1 out of 5]

By and large, the New International Commentary series from Eerdmans is recognized as representing some of the best of biblical-exegetical commentary work in the world today, with the highest standards of scholarship, biblical depth, and theological nuance while still communicating its work to a theologically-diverse and ecumenical audience. Douglas Moo's Romans, Gordon Fee's First Corinthians, and, most recently, Scot McKnight's Philemon are all exemplary commentaries.

But F.C. Fensham's Ezra-Nehemiah is a mess. Sure, from time to time Fensham brings to the fore some conglomerate data mined by archaeological and/or historical scholars in such a manner that sheds light on some of the minutiae of the text, and some times his capacity for managing Hebraic and Aramaic aphorism (and dittography) is invaluable for certain technical sections, but by and large Fensham fails to accomplish the central task of a commentary: that is, to speak to the text as Scripture.

It isn't that Fensham is overly-concerned with historical-critical matters, per se (he repeatedly defends traditional readings over-against historical-critical arguments); it is that Fensham seems utterly unconcered with the theological matters at the heart of the text. Other than a few banal throwaways (Nehemiah should pray, because God answers prayer; sort of things), Fensham sticks to an archaeological / historical mining through the story of Ezra-Nehemiah, and he does this so consistently that one wanders through his commentary wondering when he will actually begin to discuss the narrative and literary character of the text.

Beyond this central problem, Fensham's writing is stilted and his scholarship dated.

In short, Eerdmans is critically overdue for a new NICOT volume on Ezra-Nehemiah.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONLY READ PORTION ON EZRA: This was a really great commentary. Fensham provides the depth of inquiry that allows you to either continue reading while grasping the context, or to dig in deeper if it's an item you are interested engaging in. Of the commentaries on Ezra, this was one of the most helpful in prep. Not so much from an application's perspective, but more for interpretation.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall treatment of the post-exilic books of Ezra-Nehemiah from a conservative standpoint. While a helpful guide to the book, it wasn't the most engaging read hence the four stars. Despite this, worth consulting

[Russell Hayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highly technical, dispassionate, without significant application or exposition. Useful only for language or ivory tower textual studies and comparisons, not for the pastor or layman. Trying another commentary on these books.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical of the academic approach to commentary- tells the reader what the text says in light of the cultural situation, but rarely engages what the text means spiritually to the people then or now.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid theology. Very academic. I was grateful for Fensham showing weaknesses in liberal theology, but would've also appreciated a bit more devotional application throughout.

[Marshall Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technical commentary. Came highly recommended as one of the best commentaries on Ezra/Nehemiah, however I either set my expectations too high or there just isn't a good enough group of commentaries on these two books.

[Michael Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exceptionally good for preparing to teach on Friday Night for our youth group. This was one of my main books I used to study the book of Nehemiah.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fensham's study on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah is a contribution to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Like its companion series on the New Testament, this commentary devotes considerable care to achieving a balance between technical information and homiletic-devotional interpretation.

[Радостин Марчев]

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