Deuteronomy: A commentary

by Gerhard von Rad

This commentary on Deuteronomy meets and exceeds the high standards of the Old Testament Library series. It provides one of the most sophisticated explanations to date of the compositional process that produced Deuteronomy, presenting that process as a combination of large-scale redactional activity and "micro-redaction." The commentary is also attentive to the historical background of Deuteronomy's origins in the reigns of Manasseh and Josiah. The fresh translation that heads each section is followed by insightful linguistic comments that highlight Deuteronomy's famous homiletical and didactic style. The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.

Genres: Biblical Studies

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Gerhard von Rad was Professor of Old Testament at the University of Heidelberg in Germany until his death in 1971. He is the author of several books, including Wisdom in Israel and Holy War in Ancient Israel.

Reviews

[John Pawlik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited for this because I like Von Rad, but this is an earlier work of his and he’s still so obsessed with form criticism that not much actual commentary comes through

[Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly learned a lot about the Deuteronomic source, but I’d love to find a more recent commentary (this book for example didn’t really consult the broader Semitic pantheon in the Divine Council) and maybe that’s just because it’s from 66?
I’m sure so much more has been discovered, theorized, since then
There is still a lot of good stuff in this - a cursory understanding of the identifiable portions of Deuteronomy and the ways it was shaping a relationship to God and secularizing certain cultic functions

Only reason I don’t give five stars is often the author would just say “we don’t really get this. Moving on!” a good few times when I’d like to know more. I would also have loved to see more about translation from Hebrew and Greek (touched upon a bit)

But look at me critique a book that came out more than half a century ago! If anyone happens to see this, read it, and get to this sentence - do we know any really good more contemporary commentaries?

[Steven Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a stereotype that biblical scholars hate theology and insist that it never encroach on their "pure" reading of the text. Von Rad obliterates that stereotype. Historical criticism and theological claims sit side by side in a very uncomfortable proximity in this commentary. It is clear that von Rad has read everything ever written on Deuteronomy, but he submerges almost all of his scholarly rabbit trails in this surprisingly concise work. Whether or not his fundamental claims about dating and authorship are correct, his commentary is still one of the best.

[Leviticus Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commentaries are on going reading projcts