1. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
    John H. Walton, Victor Matthews, Mark Chavalas
    InterVarsity Press / 2000 / Hardcover
    Our Price$34.99 Retail Price$50.00 Save 30% ($15.01)
    3.4 out of 5 stars for The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. View reviews of this product. 18 Reviews
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    Stock No: WW81419
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  1. Neil
    Safford, AZ
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    As a ready reference for background studies, it is the best resource available
    June 18, 2016
    Neil
    Safford, AZ
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This article is a review of the IVP Bible Background Commentary of the Old Testament.

    The most pressing question is, does this resource compare favorably or unfavorably with other available resources. For what it does, does it do it well?

    This commentary examines historical Biblical background situations as they may be pertinent to Bible study. Of the available resources to date that provide that service to Bible students, the best are the Manners and Customs of the Bible and the Oxford Companion to the Bible. Of those two, I have come to respect the Oxford simply for having more accurate information. I compared the Oxford with the IVP Background Commentary.

    The IVP offers background information in Bible order according to the Protestant cannon. If you are reading a section of Scripture and you want to utilize this resource, you will have it open to the same Biblical citation. If you are reading Genesis 15, you will have the commentary open to Genesis 15. It is not redundant. If the same information is useful in understanding a different passage, the note at the passage will refer the reader to the reference that contains the information. It will say something like, See comment on [Bible citation].

    Interspersed throughout the commentary are special studies on certain topics. They are placed in the commentary near a passage citation that would be most relevant. I could not find a place where the commentary referred the reader to a relevant article that appears somewhere else in the commentary. For example, in Genesis 38:18, Tamar asks Judah for his signet and cord. The commentary gives some quick pertinent information about what that object was that Tamar requested. The commentary does not refer the reader to an article about Seals and Bullae that appears way over in the Jeremiah 32 section. I think the article is relevant; but maybe others do not.

    By comparison, the Oxford Companion has information about many topics related to Bible study and the topics are organized in alphabetical order, like an encyclopedia. In fact, it works more like a one volume encyclopedia than a Bible dictionary because it covers related topics. That is why it works as a Bible background resource. The Oxford features many more in depth studies on topics but there is not much notice that there is something in the Bible companion book that pertains to what you are reading in the Bible.

    A case example: At Genesis 15 God is pictured in a dream as a torch and smoking pot. He enters into solemn covenant with Abraham. There is very good information about covenant ratification at the matching citation in the IVP commentary. There is no notice that there is a special study on covenants somewhere in the volume (in the section on Deuteronomy 2). I dont know if a regular person reading the Bible would think to look up information about covenant ratification as he/she came to Genesis 15. There is very good much fuller information about covenant in the Oxford but I am not sure a first-time reader of Genesis 15 would even know what is going on in that chapter. Would he/she even think that it would be a good idea to look up covenant in the Oxford Bible companion. Probably not.

    The IVP works as a read-along-with-me reference.

    I wish the page numbers in the corners rather than in the gutter. Just one of my peeves I guess.

    In my humble judgment, the IVP Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament ought to replace the Oxford Companion and the Manners-and-Customs resources as the preferred backgrounds reference for students of the Bible. It is a far better ready-reference.
  2. Dee Keith
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    January 2, 2008
    Dee Keith
    Craig Keener, in this masterful commentary, has brought to the fingertips of every Christian, whether a new believer, a seminary student, or pastor, a work that will aid your understanding of the Old Testament and enliven your study of it. I heartily recommend it.
  3. Steve
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    August 28, 2007
    Steve
    For a single volume this book is packed w/ helpful information that can be used for your own Bible study as well as helping the seasoned Pastor prepare a teaching or sermon on any book of the OT.I also own the vol. that tackles the NT. Highly recommended!
  4. John L.
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The Bible Background Commentary
    July 18, 2017
    John L.
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    The commentary helped me right away. I was teaching VBS about the spies on Rahab's roof. The commentary gave a great description of the roofing material. It was written at a level that was easy to understand and was easy to relay the info to others. It's also helping me teach through the book of Joel. I like the unique perspective this commentary offers.
  5. redeemed
    Middleburg, Pa
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    book is a gotta have it for serious Bible study
    November 8, 2010
    redeemed
    Middleburg, Pa
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This book goes into GREAT detail for the background of Biblical times. A great help for discovering the geography, culture, and history of Biblical people and places.
Displaying items 1-5 of 18
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