The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament

by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas

This edition has a new cover

Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference for 2014 (General Reference) How can we account for the "Book of the Law" suddenly being discovered during Josiah's renovation of the temple (2 Chron 34:14)? We know from Egypt and Mesopotamia that it was common to seal important documents--including theological documents--in the masonry or foundations of a palace or temple in order to inform a future king who might undertake restoration of the building. What might the psalmist have had in mind when praising God for removing our transgressions "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps 103:12)? In an Egyptian hymn to Amun-Re, the deity is praised for his judgment of the guilty. As a result of the god's discernment the guilty are assigned to the east and the righteous to the west. What is meant by God "weighing the heart" (Prov 21:2)? In Egyptian religious tradition we find the notion of the dead being judged before the gods. As the soul is examined, the dead person's heart is weighed in a scale against a feather symbolizing Truth. If the answers are correct and the heart does not outweigh the feather, the soul may enter the realm of everlasting life. The narratives, genealogies, laws, poetry, proverbs and prophecies of the Old Testament are deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists, historians and social scientists have greatly advanced our knowledge of the ancient world of the Bible. When we illuminate the stories of Abraham or David, the imagery of the Psalms or Proverbs, or the prophecies of Isaiah or Jeremiah with this backlight of culture and history, these texts spring to new life. The unique commentary joinsThe IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament in providing historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge--making it available and accessible to ordinary readers of the Old Testament. Expert scholars John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas have included along with the fruits of their research and collaboration
a glossary of historical terms, ancient peoples, texts and inscriptions
maps and charts of important historical resources
expanded explanations of significant background issues
introductory essays on each book of the Old Testament
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament will enrich your experience of the Old Testament--and your teaching and preaching from Scripture--in a way that no other commentary can do.

Genres: Reference, Christian, Theology, Biblical Studies, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity

832 pages, Hardcover

First published December 8, 2000

About the author

John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament; Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context; Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan; The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; and A Survey of the Old Testament.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See:

John H. Walton, Agriculture
John H. Walton, ceramics.

Reviews

[Joseph Benhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wish I had the NT to go along with

Perfect, as for me. The in sight is what all a commentary should be. Most commentaries I owned never gave more than what I could read from the text

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of context, many times we take books quotes and other things out of their proper context to suit our own personal needs. This happens at Foley in the secular world but often in matters relating to Holy scripture. We live in the twenty-first century and we live in a contact very different from that of Holy Scripture, there are so many cultures represented by that of the ancient near East, the physical nation of Israel, and the Greco-Roman Empire as well as second temple Judaism, just to name a few. All of which are vastly different from our culture today. Each of these cultures and how they operate are usually out of the purview of many people, including pastors. Which is why a study into these ancient cultures is necessary. Yet without getting a degree in archaeology, how does one attain this needed information.
The answer has arrived. I do p academic has recently published a great “commentary” , I bet more of a reference work on the cultural background of most cultures represented in the New Testament of Holy Scripture. Authored by noted New Testament scholar the Craig S. Keener this work adds a new dimension to sermon preparation. Keener has taken each section of the New Testament of scripture and added a see a logical commentary on these vs. Well he does at his own personal exegesis to this passage Keener does a phenomenal job in breaking down the wall in front of the reader so that scripture, specifically that of the New Testament, can be read in its proper context.
Now just a reminder, this work is not a traditional commentary. You will not see exegesis of each word, phrase, or section. Despite this, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Second Edition), is a phenomenal tool for pastors, Scholars, and laymen alike. Keener, does described in part to the, New Perspective on Paul, which color some of his cultural investigation, yet the majority of the work in this book is exceptional and becomes invaluable when teaching for preaching. Furthermore the accessibility of this work is second to none for no matter what level of Education a person has they can understand the culture of which a particular section of scripture was written in. In the end this book is needed resource to any and all who read it, so that any and all people they understand the proper context of Holy Scripture.

I received this book through IVP Academic Publications for the purpose of writing a review, I was not required to write positive review.

[Walker Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

****1/2

[Anne Wisniewski Vogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource on the cultural context of the Ancient World. Added a whole new dimension to my reading of the Old Testament.

[Marcus Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic tool to aid in the historical/cultural background of the Old Testament. Must have resources!

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walton, J.H., V.H. Matthews and M.W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP, 2000.

E.g.
Amos used paired polar opposites “fruit” and “root”, a literary device known as a merism, to depict the total destruction of the Amorites. This common practice in prophetic speech is found in a Phoenician curse formula (fifth-century Eshmun 'asor inscription): “May they have no trunk below or boughs above.” (p767)

[Bill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to refer to for additional information as it applies to the scripture being studied. This is not the type of book one reads through but Goodreads.com does not seem to have a "reference book" option.

[Arnold hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old Testament commentary is "an indispensable resource for all students of the bible, accessibly providing the cultural background of every passage in the Old Testament" according to the front cover of the book.

This is a great resource book that you will really enjoy.

[Aswindo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karena buku ini adalah tafsiran, saya hanya menakainya untu persiapan dalam PA. Sangat membantu.....!!!!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reference book, not a book to read cover to cover. But as a reference book, it is superb in giving the context of a passage of Scripture. There is an additional New Testament volume.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

only have read bits and pieces of this but it's fantastic!