Recommended OT Commentaries

Please note this list was developed in 1985.  It has not been updated since then.

As a Pastor, your library is a tremendous tool for expository preaching. Realizing that my funds are limited and wanting the best tools available, I started compiling the recommendations of Seminaries which I believed were sound in theology. I have compiled these in a database consisting of over 600 commentaries. The following list includes commentaries recommended by at least 2 sources.  Please understand that some the works are liberal in sections, and have many differing views on eschatology. The information was taken from the following sources, which I would suggest you acquire since many other commentaries are mentioned in the material.

MASTERS = The Masters seminary. James Stitzinger has compiled a list of 750 books for biblical expositors. This is an excellent resource on the web and includes many other books. If the commentary includes a 1 beside it, this is the first commentary they recommend purchasing.

DALLAS = Dallas Theological Seminary. The department of New testament Literature and Exegesis compiled an annotated bibliography for the study of the Old Testament in April of 1988. This can be purchased from the bookstore  It lists commentaries with a short description of the commentaries.

CALVARY = Calvary Theological Seminary (Kansas City). The faculty of Calvary prepared a booklet entitled The Expositor’s Toolbox. They recommend commentaries and books for study. This booklet may be purchased from their bookstore. It was copyrighted in 1992. They have also selected the best commentary in each catagory, which I have designated with a 1.

CENTRAL = Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Minnesota)  Michael A. Grisanti has edited a list of recommended books for a Pastor’s library. This was compiled in April of 1988. I believe this can also be purchased from Central bookstore for a very nominal cost.

Again, These Seminaries do not endorse every view of these commentators. They simply recognize the value of these works within this field. My approach has been “in a multitude of counselors is safety.” I trust you will find these references valuable in your toolbox.  A number beside the name represents the ranking of that commentary at the time..

Genesis

Davis, John J. Paradise to Prison Baker 1976

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Kidner, Derek Genesis: An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1967

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Stigers, Harold G. A Commentary on Genesis Zondervan 1976

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Exodus

Childs, Brevard The Book of Exodus (Critical & Theological Comm) Baker 1986

Masters College = x

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central =

Cole, Alan Exodus InterVarsity 1973

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Davis, John J. Moses & the Gods of Egypt (2nd Edition) Baker 1986

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Leviticus

Bonar, Andrew A Commnentary on the Book of Leviticus Zondervan 1959

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Harrison, R,K, Leviticus: An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1980

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Wenham, George J. The Book of Leviticus (NICOT) Eerdmans 1979

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Numbers

Budd, Philip J. Numbers (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Harrison, R.K. The Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary Moody 1990

Masters College = 1

Central = x

Wenham, George J. Numbers: An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1981

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Deuteronomy

Cragie, Peter C The Book of Deuteronomy (NICOT) Eerdmans 1976

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Driver, S.R. A Critical & Exegetical Commentary T & T Clark 1902

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Thompson, J.A. Deuteronomy InterVarsity 1974

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Joshua

Boling, Robert G. Joshua (AB) Doubleday & Company 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Davis, John J. Conquest & Crisis Baker 1969

Masters College = x

Central = x

Woudstra, Marten H. The Book of Joshua (NICOT) Eerdmans 1981

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Judges

Cundall, Arthur E, & Leon Morris Judges & Ruth InterVarsity 1968

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Soggin, J. Albert Judges Westminister 1981

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Wood, Leon J. Distressing Days of the Judges Zondervan 1975

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Ruth

Barber, Cyril J. Ruth: An Expostional Commentary Moody 1983

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Cundall, Arthur E, & Leon Morris Judges & Ruth InterVarsity 1968

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Hals, Ronald M The Theology of the Book of Ruth Fortress Press 1969

Dallas = x

Central = 1

1 & 2 Samuel

Ackroyd, Peter R. The Second Book of Samuel Cambridge 1977

Dallas = x

Central = x

Klein, Raplh W. Word Biblical Commentary (1 Samuel) Word 1983

Masters College = x

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

McCarter, P.Kyle, Jr. 1 Samuel (WBC) Word 1983

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Payne, David F. 1 & 2 Samuel Westminsiter 1982

Dallas = x

Central = x

1 & 2 Kings

Jones, G.H. 1 & 2 Kings (NCBC) Eerdmans 1984

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Montgomery, James A. The Book of Kings (ICC) T & T Clark 1951

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

1 & 2 Chronicles

Williamson, H.G.M. 1 & 2 Chronicles Eerdmans 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Ezra & Nehemiah

Campbell, Donald K. Nehemiah: Man in Charge Victor 1979

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Fenshham, F. Charles The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah (NICOT) Eerdmans 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Kidner, Derek Ezra & Nehemiah, (TOTC) InterVarsity 1979

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Esther

Baldwin, Joyce C. Esther: An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1984

Calvary = x

Central = x

Job

Anderson, Francis I. Job (TOTC) InterVarsity 1976

Masters College = 1

Dallas = x

Calvary =

Central = 1

Dhorme, Edouard A Commentary on the Book of Job Nelson 1967

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Habel, Norman The Book of Job: A Commentary Westminister Press 1985

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Pope, Marvin H. Job: Introduction, Translation, Notes (AB) Doubleday 1965

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Psalms

Anderson, A.A. The Book of Psalms (NCBC) (2 vols) Eerdmans 1972

Calvary = x

Central = x

Craigie, Peter C. Psalm 1-50 (Word Biblical Comm) Word 1983

Dallas = x

Central = x

Kidner, Derek Psalms (2 vols) (TOTC) InterVarsity 1973

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Kirkpatrick, A.F. The Book of Psalms Baker rp 1906

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Perowne, J.J. Stewart The Book of Psalms (2 vols) Zondervan rp 1878

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Proverbs

Delitzsch, Franz Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs (2 vols) Eerdmans 1970

Masters College = x

Dallas = 1

Kidner, Derek Proverbs InterVarsity 1964

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

McKane, William Proverbs (OTL) Westminister 1970

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Central = x

Ecclesiastes

Eaton, Michael Ecclesiastes An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1983

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Central = x

Glenn, Donald R. Ecclesiastes (in BLC) Victor 1985

Dallas = 1

Central = 1

Kaiser, Walter C. Ecclesiastes: Total Life Moody 1979

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Leupold, H.C. Exposition of Ecclesiastes Baker 1952

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Song of Solomon

Carr, G. Lloyd The Song of Solomon InterVarsity 1984

Masters College = 1

Dallas = x

Central = x

Glickman, S. Craig A Song for Lovers InterVarsity 1976

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Isaiah

Young, Edward J. The Book of Isaiah (3 vols) Eerdmans 1965-72

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Jeremiah

Bright, John Jeremiah: A New translation (AB) Doubleday & Company 1965

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Feinberg, Charles L. Jeremiah, A Commentary (EBC vol 6) Zondervan 1982

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Lamentations

Harrison, R. K. Jeremiah & Lammentations (TOTC) InterVarsity 1973

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Hillers, Delbert Lamenentations : A New Translation (AB) Doubleday & Company 1972

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. A Biblical Approach to Personal Suffering Moody 1982

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Ezekiel

Feinberg, Charles L. The Prophecy of Ezekiel Moody 1969

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Taylor, John B. Ezekiel, An Introduction & Commentary (TOTC) InterVarsity 1969

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Zimmerli, Walther A Comm on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (2 vols) Fortress Press 1979-83

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Daniel

Baldwin, Joyce G. Daniel: An Introduction & Commentary InterVarsity 1978

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Walvoord, John F. Daniel, the Key to Prophetic Revelation Moody 1971

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Wood, Leon Commentary on Daniel Zondervan 1972

Masters College = x

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Minor Prophets

Feinberg, Charles L. The Minor Prophets Moody 1976

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Gaebelein, Frank E., ed Expositors Bible Commentary vol 7 Zondervan 1985

Calvary = x

Central = x

Hosea

Kidner, Derek The Message of Hosea (BST) InterVarsity 1982

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Wolf, Hans Walter Hosea, Hermeneia Series Fortress Press 1974

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Joel

Allen, Leslie C. Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT) Eerdmans 1976

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Wolf, Hans Walter Joel & Amos, Hermeneia Series Fortress Press 1974

Dallas = x

Central = x

Amos

Mays, James L. Amos: A Commentary (OTL) Westminister 1969

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Wolf, Hans Walter Joel & Amos, Hermeneia Series Fortress Press 1974

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Obadiah

Allen, Leslie C. Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT) Eerdmans 1976

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Gaebelin, Frank E. Four Minor Prophets Moody 1970

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Watts, John D.W. Obadiah: A Critical & Exegetical Commentary Eerdmans 1967

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Jonah

Allen, Leslie C. Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT) Eerdmans 1976

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Micah

Allen, Leslie C. Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT) Eerdmans 1976

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Mays, James Luther Micah: A Commentary Westminister 1976

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Nahum

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Habakkuk

Gowan, Donald E. The Triumph of Faith in Habakkuk John Knox 1976

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Zephaniah

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Haggai

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Zechariah

Baldwin, Joyce G. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi InterVarsity 1972

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Feinberg, Charles L. God Remembers Multnomah Press 1965

Dallas = x

Central = 1

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Unger, Merrill F. Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory Zondervan 1963

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Malachi

Baldwin, Joyce G. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi InterVarsity 1972

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. Malachi: God’s Unchanging Love Baker 1984

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = 1

Smith, Ralph L. Micah – Malachi (WBC) Word 1984

Dallas = x

Calvary = x

Central = x