Ralph W. Klein
Christ Seminary-Seminex Professor of Old Testament
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Last Updated: November 25, 2000

Interpretation, November 25, 2000; Word November 27, 1996; ICC, April, 1997; FOTL, November 19, 1999; NICOT, Summer, 1997, AB December 19, 1997; Continental September 5, 2000. Hermeneia, September 5, 2000 19, 1999; OTL, November, 2000; ICC, November, 1999.

This list of commentaries represents my judgment on what are the best commentaries on each book of the Old Testament. I recognize that there is some subjectivity here, but I have kept in mind the special needs of pastors, associates in ministry, and diaconal ministers rather than of scholars.

The New Interpreter's Bible. Nashville: Abingdon. These volumes are written by outstanding scholars who provide not only exegesis but hermeneutical and even homiletical helps. If one were to buy a series for oneself or a congregation, this would be the series to buy.

Volume 1 General and Old Testament Articles; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, 1994, $65.

Volume 2 Numbers, Deuteronomy, Introduction to Narrative Literature, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1998

Volume 3 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Tobit, Judith, 1999.

Volume 4 Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, 1996. $65

Volume 5 Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Book of Wisdom, Sirach, 1997, $55

Volume 7 Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel, The Twelve Prophets, 1996, $55.

The commentaries are listed in order of preference, though that order may vary depending on the user's needs or linguistic skills and interests.

Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1-15. Word Biblical Commentary 1. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1987. $29.99; Genesis 16-50. Word Biblical Commentary 2. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1994. $29.99.

Westermann, Claus. Genesis 1-11. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984. $52.00.

Genesis 12-36. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1985. $52.00.

Genesis 37-50. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986. $42.00

Rad, Gerhard Von. Genesis. The Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1973. $34.95.

Fretheim, Terence E. Exodus. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991. $28.95.

Childs, Brevard S. The Book of Exodus, a Critical, Theological Commentary. The Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974. $39.95.

Budd, Philip J. Leviticus. The New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. $26.

Gerstenberger, Erhard S. Leviticus, A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996. $44.95.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16 The Anchor Bible 3. Garden City: Doubleday, 1991. $55.

______. Leviticus 17-22. The Anchor Bible 3A. Garden City: Doubleday, 2000. $50.

______. Leviticus 23-27. The Anchor Bible 3B. Garden City: Doubleday, 2001. $50.

Olson, Dennis T. Numbers. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996, $24.95.

Budd, Philip J. Numbers. Word Biblical Commentary 5. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1984. $29.99.

Levine, Baruch A. Numbers 1-20. Anchor Bible 4. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1993. $42.50.

______. Numbers 21-36. Anchor Bible 4a. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 2000. $45.00.

Mayes, A. D. H. Deuteronomy. New Century Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979. $21.00 (paper).

Weinfeld, Moshe. Deuteronomy 1-11. Anchor Bible. Garden City: Doubleday, 1991. $39.95.

Miller, Patrick D. Deuteronomy. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1990. $28.95.

Nelson, Richard D. Joshua. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1997. $44.95.

Boling, Robert G. and Wright, G. Ernest. Joshua. The Anchor Bible 6. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1982. $42.50.

Butler, Trent C. Joshua. Word Biblical Commentary 7. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983. $29.99.

Boling, Robert G. Judges. The Anchor Bible 6A. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975. $35.00.

Nielsen, Kirsten. Ruth, A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1997. $24.95.

Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. Ruth. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999. $21.95.

Bush, Frederic. Ruth, Esther. Word Biblical Commentary 9. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1996. $29.99.

Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary 10. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983. $29.99.

McCarter, P. Kyle. I Samuel. The Anchor Bible 8. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980. $40.00.

McCarter, P. Kyle. II Samuel. The Anchor Bible 9. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1984. $40.00.

Anderson, A. A. 2 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary 11. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1989. $29.99.

Jones, G. H. 1 and 2 Kings. Two Volumes. The New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984. 18.00 each.

Nelson, Richard. First and Second Kings. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1987. $28.95.

Cogan, Mordachi and Tadmor, Hayim. 2 Kings. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1988. $20.

Japhet, Sara. I & II Chronicles. The Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993. $54.95.

Williamson, H. G. M. 1 and 2 Chronicles. New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982. $21.00.

Braun, Roddy L. 1 Chronicles. Word Biblical Commentary 14. Waco: Word Books, 1986. $29.99.

Dillard, Raymond B. 2 Chronicles. Word Biblical Commentary 15. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1987. $29.99.

Williamson, H. G. M. Ezra, Nehemiah. Word Biblical Commentary 16. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1985. $29.99.

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezra-Nehemiah. Old Testament Library, Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1988. $39.95.

Levenson, Jon D. Esther, A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1997. $24.95.

Bush, Frederic. Ruth, Esther. Word Biblical Commentary 9. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1996. $29.99.

Moore, Carey A. Esther. The Anchor Bible 7B. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1971. $29.00.

Habel, Norman. Job. Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1985. $44.95.

Clines, David J. A. Job 1-20. Word Biblical Commentary 17. Waco, TX: Word, 1989. $29.99.

Janzen, Gerald J. Job. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1986. $28.95.

Craigie, Peter C. Psalms 1-50. Word Biblical Commentary 19. Waco TX: Word Books, 1983. $29.99.

Tate, Marvin E. Psalms 51-100. Word Biblical Commentary 20. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1990. $29.99.

Allen, Leslie C. Psalms 101-150. Word Biblical Commentary 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983. $29.99.

Anderson, A. A. Psalms. Two volumes. New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, $26.00; 21.00.

Kraus, Hans Joachim. Psalms 1-59. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1988. $51.00; Psalms 60-150. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1999. $51.00.

Clifford, Richard. Proverbs. The Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999. $39.95.

Murphy, Roland E. Proverbs. Word Biblical Commentary. Word Books, 1998. $29.99.

Perdue, Leo G. Proverbs. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000. $29.95

Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1-9. Anchor Bible 18A. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 2000. $42.50.

Crenshaw, James L. Ecclesiastes, A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1987. $24.95.

Murphy, Roland E. Ecclesiastes. Word Biblical Commentary 23A. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1992. $29.99.

Seow, Choon-Leong. Ecclesiastes. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1997. $39.95.

Murphy, Roland. The Song of Songs: A Commentary on the Book of Canticles or the Song of Songs. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990. $43.00.

Keel, Othmar. The Song of Songs. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994. $36.00.

Pope, Marvin H. Song of Songs. The Anchor Bible 7C. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977. $44.95.

Childs, Brevard S. Isaiah. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000. $59.95.

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Isaiah 1-39. Anchor Bible 19. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 2000. $50.00.

Jensen, Joseph, O.S.B. Isaiah 1-39. Old Testament Message 8. Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1984. $14.95.

Seitz, Christopher R. Isaiah 1-39. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993. $28.95.

Sweeney, Marvin A. Isaiah 1-39, with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature. The Forms of the Old Testament Literature 16. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. $45.

Wildberger, Hans. Isaiah 1-12. Continental Commentary Series. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991. $51.

______. Isaiah 13-17. Continental Commentary Series. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997. $65.

Hanson, Paul D. Isaiah 40-66. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995. $28.95.

Clifford, Richard J. Fair Spoken and Persuading: An Interpretation of Second Isaiah. New York: Paulist, 1984. $8.95.

Westermann, Claus. Isaiah 40-66. The Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969. $34.95.

Lundbom, Jack R. Jeremiah 1-20. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1999. $47.50.

Thompson, J. A. The Book of Jeremiah. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. $48.00.

Holladay, William L. Jeremiah 1. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986. $53.00. (covers Jeremiah 1-25)

______. Jeremiah 2. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1989. $53.00 (covers Jeremiah 26-52; introductory matters).

McKane, William. Jeremiah 1. International Critical Commentary. T & T Clark, 1986. $69.95. (covers Jeremiah 1-25)

______. Jeremiah 2. International Critical Commentary. T & T Clark, 1996. $69.95 (covers Jeremiah 26-52)

Provan, Iain. Lamentations. New Century Bible Comentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. $16.00.

Hillers, Delbert R. Lamentations. Anchor Bible 7A. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1972. $28.00.

Zimmerli, Walther. Ezekiel 1, A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, Chapters 1-24. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979. $51.00.

______. Ezekiel 2, A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983. $52.00.

Klein, Ralph W. Ezekiel. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1988. $29.95.

Allen, Leslie C. Ezekiel 1-19. Word Biblical Commentary 28. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1994. $29.99; Ezekiel 20-48. Word Biblical Commentary 29. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1990. $29.99.

Block, Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel. Chapters 1-24. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997. $48.

______. The Book of Ezekiel. Chapters 25-48. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. $50.

Greenberg, Moshe. Ezekiel, 1-20. Anchor Bible 22. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1983. $29.00.

______Ezekiel, 21-37. Anchor Bible 22A. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1997. $39.95.

Collins, John J. Daniel. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, $50.00.

Towner, W. Sibley. Daniel. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1985. $24.95.

Davies, G. I. Hosea: The New Century Bible Commentary. Grands Rapids, Eerdmans, 1992. $21.00). (paper)

Mays, James Luther. Hosea. The Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969. $29.95.

Wolff, Hans Walter. Hosea. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, $48.00.

Limburg, James. Hosea-Micah. Interpretation A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1988. $24.95.

Crenshaw, James L. Joel. Anchor Bible 24C. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1995. $34.95.

Wolff, Hans Walter. Joel and Amos. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, $49.00.

Limburg, James. See under Hosea

Allen, Leslie C. The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, $36.00.

Paul, Shalom. Amos. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991. $53.00.

Jeremias, Jörg. The Book of Amos. The Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998. $29.95.

Wolff, Hans Walter. See under Joel.

Limburg, James. See under Hosea.

Raabe, Paul R. Obadiah. Anchor Bible 24D. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1996. $34.95.

Limburg, James. See under Hosea

Allen, Leslie C. See under Joel.

Limburg, James. Jonah, A Commentary. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993. $24.95.

Sasson, Jack M. Jonah. Anchor Bible 24B. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1990. $32.50.

Wolff, Hans Walter. See under Obadiah

Allen, Leslie C. See under Joel.

Wolff, Hans Walter. Micah. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1981. $38.00.

Hillers, Delbert R. Micah. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984. $33.00.

Limburg, James. See under Hosea

Allen, Leslie C. See under Joel.

Roberts, J. J. M. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. The Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991. $29.95.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. Nahum--Malachi. Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1986. $28.95.

Roberts, J. J. M. See under Nahum.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. See under Nahum.

Roberts, J. J. M. See under Nahum.

Berlin, Adele. Zephaniah. Anchor Bible 25A. New York: Doubleday, 1994. $29.00.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. See under Nahum.

Petersen, David L. Haggai and Zechariah 1-8. The Old Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1984. $34.95.

Meyers, Carol L. and Eric M. Meyers. Haggai, Zechariah 1-8. The Anchor Bible 25B. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1987. $40.00.

Redditt, Paul L. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. NCBC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995. $16.00. (Paper)

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. See under Nahum.

Meyers, Carol L. and Eric M. Meyers. Zechariah 9-14. The Anchor Bible 25C. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1993. $40.

Petersen, David L. Zechariah 9-14, Malachi. The Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995. $34.95.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. See under Nahum.

Hill, Andrew. Malachi. Anchor Bible 25D. Garden City, Doubleday, 1998. $37.95.

Petersen, David L. See under Zechariah 9-14.

Redditt, Paul L. See under Haggai.

Achtemeier, Elizabeth. See under Nahum.

Verhoef, Pieter A. See under Haggai.

By far the best:

Brown, Raymond E., S. S., Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S. J., Murphy, Roland E., O. Carm. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall, 1990. $

Also useful:

Mays, James L. ed. Harper's Bible Commentary. $32.50.

Of special interest because of its perspective:

Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. The Women's Bible Commentary. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1992. $30; Paper $21.

© 2001 Ralph W. Klein