Numbers (4)

by Jay Sklar, Tremper Longman III (Editor)

A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's Praise for "Pastors and lay people will welcome this new series, which seeks to make the message of the Scriptures clear and to guide readers in appropriating biblical texts for life today." -Daniel I. Block, Wheaton College and Graduate School "An extremely valuable and long overdue series that includes comment on the cultural context of the text, careful exegesis, and guidance on reading the whole Bible as a unity that testifies to Christ as our Savior and Lord." -Graeme Goldsworthy, author of According to Plan "Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations." -Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary "I love the SGBC series. It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh." -John Ortberg, Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "A perfect tool for helping every follower of Jesus to walk in the story that God is writing for them." -Judy Douglass, Cru

496 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Jay Sklar (PhD, the University of Gloucestershire), is Professor Old Testament and VP of Academics at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. His doctoral research was completed under Gordon Wenham and focused on the sacrificial system in Exodus through Numbers, resulting in the book Sin, Impurity, Sacrifice, Atonement: The Priestly Conceptions . He has continued to focus his work on the Bible’s first five books, writing commentaries on Numbers (Story of God, Zondervan) and two on Leviticus ( Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament , Zondervan; Tyndale Old Testament Commentary , IVP). He has also co-authored a Leviticus Bible study and written supplementary books on Leviticus ( Additional Notes on Leviticus ) and Numbers Additional Notes on Numbers ). He has just submitted a commentary on Exodus for Crossway’s ESV Expository Commentary series (for which he serves as one of three general editors and in which he wrote the commentary on Jonah .


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Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one, just no one in their right mind writes a commentary on the book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Hebrew Scriptures. No one with any sense would dare delve into the tedium and trivialities of censuses and ancestry. No one with any sense, right? But lo-and-behold, Jay Sklar, vice president of academics and professor of Old Testament at Covenant Seminary, St. Louis Missouri, did just that! Adding his voice to “The Story of God Bible Commentary” series put out by Zondervan Academic, Sklar gives readers a 472-page hardback that will walk them through all of Numbers in a way that will surprise them. This straightforward, readable, and engaging (yes, I said it) commentary will take those who dare, and give them hope and direction and, most of all, it will give them Jesus.

As is standard in Zondervan’s “The Story of God Bible Commentary” the Scripture text is the NIV (2011) as the starting point of each chapter. Then it works through the passage by explaining what was going on and how the whole episode functions, without becoming laborious and surgically detailed. Next, the chapter moves to the clear applications. But the applications have an ear for our Lord’s words in Luke 24, that Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all testify of him. The format leans the commentary toward homiletics (sermon preparation) and Bible teaching, but I found it also made the volume very useful for my personal devotional reading in the dark morning hours. There were several times, as I was working through the book, I found myself praying for myself, my congregation, and the larger church.

Sklar doesn’t step back from the difficult places in the story, nor soften the rougher edges of Numbers, and he doesn’t turn the softer rims into a hammer. There is a fittingness to the way the author moves from chapter to chapter, and event to event. And there is, similarly, a fittingness to the way the author brings out the applicable value of an episode. For example, in Numbers 16 the people of God shift the blame for the death of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram from the culprits to Moses. Not only that, but they moan for the good old days when they were back in Egypt, even calling Egypt (the land of their enslavement and oppression) a land flowing with milk and honey. Sklar rightly observes, “Sin distorts our perception so badly we turn every truth into a lie” (227). Bam! How many times has this happened in my own heart, and how many times have I sat with people listening to them tell their tales, and the story-spinning and truth-twisting comes out. But also, Sklar addresses Korah’s problem. He wanted greater leadership position and power, discontent with the privilege he had already been granted by the Lord. It’s in this discussion that the author spots an important purpose of what godly leadership is truly about, “when God calls us to positions of authority, it is for the sake of service, not privilege” (232).

This is a commentary very suitable and useful for ministers as they think about taking on Numbers in a sermon series. It is a valuable resource for those who will be teaching a class on this biblical book. But, without a doubt, this is a solid aid to the man or woman in the pew who wants to grasp the book of Numbers, find Jesus, and be drawn deeper into the steadfast love of the Lord that endures forever. I highly and happily recommend this commentary.

I’m very grateful to the author for inviting me to read and review the work. I’m also thankful to the publisher for sending me a gratis copy to review. Neither the author nor the publisher made any demands on me. There was no bribery involved, and no one was taken hostage. Therefore, my evaluation is all my own, freely made and freely given.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a pastor, I have never read a non-homiletical commentary straight through - until now! Jay Sklar’s new Numbers commentary in the Story of God Commentary Series is excellent. First, I was not familiar with this series, but the three-fold format for each section - Listen to the Story (focus on the text, Explain the Story (exposition of what the text means, especially the challenging parts), and Live the Story (show how the text applies today), was extremely helpful and user friendly. Dr. Sklar in particular achieves a hard balance of exhibiting his expertise and thorough research while keeping the explanations clear, understandable and relatable! His illustrations are selective and well-chosen. His applications are very thoughtful, and consistent with the meaning and spirit of the texts. Several sections of this work stand out for me. First, his explanation of the arrangement of the Israelites camps by tribes with the tabernacle in the center in Numbers 2 was crystal clear, and then the “Live the Story” application asking the question of the reader, “Are Our Lives Centered Around the King?” (pg. 64-65). Another would be his explanation and application of Numbers 3:1-4:49, with the requirements for Levites and Priests. The first of his “Live the Story” questions relating to these Levitical and Priestly roles were: “What is the Proper Posture to Have before a Holy King? was outstanding: “Why was there a danger of his wrath, and how did the Levites form a buffer of protection from it? First, they keep the Israelites from barging improperly into the Lord’s palace. Barging into the presence of an earthly king was an act of treasonous disrespect; how much more so when it concerned the King of heaven. In this case, the disrespect was heightened by the fact that the Lord is a holy King, unique in purity. Entering his presence with sin or impurity would be like walking across someone’s pristine, white carpet wearing muddy boots.” (pg. 87). His second “Live the Story” application for that section focuses on answering the question, “What Does a Substitute Do?” , which of course, reveals how the text prepares us for and ultimately points to Jesus as our substitute and the necessity of his work. (pgs. 88-90). “In short, Jesus’ death becomes the ultimate demonstration of substitution. Because of it, we can be forgiven and cleansed so deeply that we may boldly approach the throne of God, the holy King (Heb. 10:19-22). But it is also the ultimate demonstration of someone with spiritual authority serving others.” (pg. 90). There are many other excellent chapters, but hopefully these two give you a taste of what makes the commentary so helpful and so clear.

Again, as a pastor, the highest praise I can give for this commentary is that it both made me want to preach through Numbers, a book often neglected in preaching, and also made me feel that it would equip me to do so well. But it is not designed for pastors, but for anyone who wants to grow in their faith by exploring the richness of the Old Testament, learning to understand it better, grasping how it points so clearly to Jesus Christ, and applying it’s truths faithfully today.

I received a complimentary copy of this commentary from Zondervan Academic, but was given no restrictions or conditions to follow in reviewing it. The opinions are mine alone, but I think they are right! I look forward to checking out other commentaries in this series, and I hope that Jay Sklar writes more of them!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay Sklar’s commentary was a helpful companion as I preached through the book of Numbers. One strength was the quantity, variety, and depth of application in each section. Even when I used different applications for my own congregation, Jay’s thoughtful applications helped me think more deeply about the meaning of the text and its significance for us today. Additionally, the explanation sections were clear and helpful, and often accompanied by charts that summarized textual content in a visual way that aided my comprehension of the text. My thanks to Zondervan, for the complimentary copy provided for my review.

[Mark D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of my devotional reading, so I went beginning to end. Enjoyable and helpful. My 2nd in this series, and I am sure I will read more.

[Bill Dauster · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent engaging commentary that raises insightful and meningful questions

[J Van Dyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pastor and former student of Dr. Jay Sklar at Covenant Theological Seminary, I cannot study the Bible without his continued phrase “context is king” coming to mind. In Numbers: The Story of God Bible Commentary, Jay masterfully exemplifies that which he teaches.

First, Jay has his readers primarily focused on the text itself. He presents the text in light of the exodus Israelites immediate context; of their calling to walk by faith in-between their redemption from bondage (already accomplished) and their entry into the land that was promised them (yet complete).

Second, Jay explains the context. He provides his reader with a better understanding of how the Israelites perceived their present situation, how they received God’s spoken word within it, and how they responded to God’s ability to accomplish that which he promised, even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Third, Jay expands the context as seen through the lens of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and makes contextually appropriate, biblically-sound, modern-day applications; likening our own time as Christians to that of the Israelites. That, as those who are living in-between our own redemption through Christ (already accomplished) and our full restoration on earth upon his return (yet complete), we are also called to walk by faith in God’s promises as spoken in his word, regardless of the circumstances.

In The Story of God Bible Commentary on Numbers, Jay has provided an excellent, highly understandable, completely relatable resource for pastors and laypeople alike. In addition, though this is a non-technical commentary series, Jay’s contribution contains a wealth of information that even the most astute scholar will greatly benefit in reading. It is highly recommended!

I received an advanced copy of this commentary from Zondervan Academic. Zondervan did not place any requirements or conditions on my review as a condition of receiving a complimentary copy.