My Favourite Commentaries or Monographs on Biblical Books:

N.B. This page is in development and I will add to it in spare moments or when I am watching my cousin’s show Vikings or Walking Dead when it starts up again. This list is not comprehensive. Rather it is based on the best commentaries and monographs that I have read and am comfortable recommending to you.

For suggested reading that will introduce you to the art of biblical interpretation, check out my page How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

Level of Difficulty: E for Easy, ME for Medium to Easy, M for Medium, MD for Medium to Difficult, and D for Difficult (but worth the effort)

Old Testament
- Old Testament Background
  - The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter M
  - The Art of Biblical Poetry by Robert Alter MD
  - Lost Treasures of the Bible: Understanding the Bible through Archaeological Artifacts in World Museums by Clyde E. Fant and Mitchell G. Reddish ME
  - Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible by John Walton MD
- Genesis:
  - Commentaries:
    - NIV Application Commentary Genesis by John Walton ME
      - I am incredibly impressed by the commentaries in the NIV Application series. Often commentaries that try to bridge conversations like they do in this series end up being very light on one side and heavy on the other. The authors in this series seem to have found the balance.
    - Genesis: A Commentary by Bruce K. Waltke M
  - Monographs:
    - He Swore an Oath by R.S. Hess
    - The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John Walton
    - The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate by John Walton
- Exodus:
  - NIV Application Commentary Exodus by Peter Enns
  - How to Read Exodus by Tremper Longman III
- Leviticus:
  - NIV Application Commentary Leviticus/Numbers by Roy Gane
  - The Book of Leviticus (NICOT) by Gordon Wenham
- Numbers:
  - NIV Application Commentary Leviticus/Numbers by Roy Gane
  - Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone by John Goldingay
- Deuteronomy:
  - Commentaries:
    - Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone by John Goldingay
  - Monographs:
    - Deuteronomy and the Death of Moses by Dennis T. Olson
- Joshua:
  - Judges:
  - Ruth:
  - Samuel:
  - Kings:
    - Commentaries:
      - 1 & 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Series) by Iain W. Provan
    - Monographs:
      - 1 & 2 Kings (Sheffield Academic Press, 1997) by Iain W. Provan
        
        This book may be out of print but if you can get hold of it. It is of great value not only for what Provan has to say about Kings but about the nature of biblical history in general. Some of what he has to say can also be found in the introduction to A Biblical History of Israel.
  - Chronicles:
  - Ezra-Nehemiah:
  - Job:
    - Job (The NIV Application Commentary) by John Walton
      - In my humble opinion, this book is by far the best available commentary available on Job. Walton is able to present amazing scholarship in an accessible and engaging way. Moreover, his decision to have one of his students contribute her experience with illness as the application portion of this commentary really sets this apart. Watch for the kindle edition of Application commentaries to go on sale. You might be able to get one for a significantly lower than regular price. I am incredibly impressed by the commentaries in the NIV Application series. Often commentaries that try to bridge conversations like this one end up being very light on one side and heavy on the other. The authors in this series seem to have found the balance.
  - Isaiah
  - Jeremiah
  - Lamentations
    - Commentaries
    - Monographs
    - Other
      - “The Pastoral Work of Pain-Sharing: Lamentations” in Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene H. Peterson
  - Ezekiel
  - Daniel