A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
by Fred Zaspel
In recent weeks I have been studying Micah’s prophecy (thoroughly enjoying it, by the way) and have found several commentaries to be most useful. Dempster and Waltke (the Eerdmans volume) provide the most in-depth help on an academic level. Both of these provide textual and literary analysis and language help above all others. Frankly, both are superb (you can see my earlier notice about Dempster here). In keeping with his Two Horizons series Dempster has a bit more focus on theological implications, but Waltke is by no means lacking. Waltke’s TOTC commentary is excellent also, but briefer and aimed perhaps not quite as high. I used both Waltke volumes and didn’t find it overly redundant.
Kaiser is of course as informed, but his approach here is more popular level, in keeping with the Preacher’s Commentary series, and lacks detailed textual and literary analysis and such. The read is always easy and the message of the text clear. His approach is also verse by verse, and his “Conclusion” sections consistently provide helpful summary and reflection. For the pastor who is not accustomed to working with more technical commentaries, Kaiser may be the best first choice.
Another popular level commentary deserving of mention is James Boice’s two volume commentary on the minor prophets. Typical of Boice, he gets the heart and theme of the passage and explains it simply in more or less his sermonic style. This may be the best choice on the minor prophets for the layman, but the pastor will find it very useful also. I found Gary Smith’s NIV Application Commentary exceptionally good also – in keeping with the series it is informed yet highly accessible.
In brief:
- Waltke and Dempster provide the most in-depth help.
- Kaiser is as substantive but is more accessible (and, to boot, I find myself more often in agreement with his eschatology).
- Waltke TOTC provides the quickest help because of the brevity imposed by the series.
- Boice is the most “popular” level and thus perhaps the best first choice for laymen, but Smith and Kaiser are entirely accessible also.