Table Of Contentexamining…
ThE EDITORS
• ancient contexts • interpretive traditions
• contemporary questions “The Fortress Commentary on
the BiBle offers general readers an
informed and accessible resource
The Fortress Commentary on the BiBle: the old testament and apoCrypha sets each book of the
Old Testament and Apocrypha in its historical and cultural context, discusses the themes in each book that have for understanding the biblical
Fortress
proven most important for the Christian interpretive tradition, and introduces the most pressing questions facing the writings in their ancient contexts; for
responsible use of the Bible today. The writers are renowned authorities in the historical interpretation of the Bible, Commentary
recognizing how the texts have come
sensitive to theological and cultural issues arising in our encounter with the text, richly diverse in social locations and on the BiBle
vantage points, representing a broad array of theological commitment, and alive to the ethical consequences of down to us through the mediation
interpretation today.
of different interpretive traditions;
Gale a. yee is Nancy W. King
Professor of Biblical Studies at The result is a commentary that is comprehensive and useful for gaining insights on the texts for preaching, and for engaging current discussion
Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, teaching, and research. In addition to the commentary essays on each book, this volume, like its companion of the Bible’s sometimes perplexing,
Fortress Commentary on the New Testament, contains introductions, notes, and comprehensive bibliographies for
Massachusetts. sometimes ambivalent, but always
each book; major section introductions; and articles that explore critical questions of context and interpretation. O
influential legacy in the contemporary
a
Praise for Fortress Commentary on the BiBle world. The commentary is designed
n l
“The Fortress Commentary on the Bible provides an excellent resource for beginning not only to inform but also to invite
d
students and Bible study groups. It includes many fine contributions by experienced and d and empower readers as active
reliable scholars, and the bibliographies are a treasure trove.” a interpreters of the Bible in their own
John J. Collins right.
Yale Divinity School p T
“The Fortress Commentary on the Bible provides a rich smorgasbord of literary, historical, and theological insight, O “We . . . understand the work
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served with rich global, diverse voices and perspectives. By addressing texts in their ancient contexts and interpre-
of biblical interpretation as a
tative traditions, and situating interpretation in contemporary milieus, the contributors invite readers to become
c s T
responsible interpreters themselves. This work is a must read for those with an appetite of curiosity and desire for a responsibility far wider than the
huGh r. paGe Jr. is associate h
new recipe for reading. It is exquisite and profound, yet quite accessible.” T bounds of any religious community.
professor of Theology and Africana
Cheryl A. KirK-DuggAn r e
Studies as well as vice president, Shaw University Divinity School a In this regard, we participate in many
associate provost, and dean of the y and diverse identities and social
“Unlike many commentaries, this one is more interested in stimulating a critical encounter with the biblical text than
First Year of Studies at the University of m locations, yet we all are conscious of
in providing a set of answers about what it once may have meant. It offers to be particularly useful to intelligent p
Notre Dame, Indiana. modern readers of the Bible, who respect its role as a formative text in the development of the Christian tradition, reading, studying, and hearing the
but who also approach the text sensitive to its potential dysfunction. The commentary not only invites but insists on a h Bible today as citizens of a complex
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thoughtful response to the text. It promises to be a welcome tool for pastors and teachers seeking to encourage a
and interconnected world. We
thoughtful but critical engagement with the Bible.”
n
hArolD W. AttriDge a recognize in the Bible one of the most
Yale Divinity School important legacies of human culture;
T
its historical and literary interpretation
“I am intrigued by this new project. Although I am still a fierce crank about and critic of the commentary as an
academic-intellectual genre and religio-cultural-political refraction, the editors seem to me—certainly, in the fram- is of profound interest to religious and
ing material, with its raising of ex-centric and broad problems, questions, and issues—to be working in the direction
nonreligious peoples alike.”
of destabilization of [the commentary] genre. And so, as an effort in destabilization of genre, I applaud this ‘com-
mentary.’”
VinCent l. Wimbush from the Introduction
Institute for Signifying Scriptures, Claremont Graduate University
matthew J. m. CoomBer is
assistant professor of biblical studies
RElIGION / BIBlE / REFERENCE
at St. Ambrose University, Davenport,
Iowa.
Fortress Commentary on the Bible
THE
OLD TESTAMENT
AND APOCRYPHA
Fortress Commentary
on the Bible
THE
OLD TESTAMENT
AND APOCRYPHA
Gale A. Yee
Hugh R. Page Jr.
Matthew J. M. Coomber
Editors
Fortress Press
Minneapolis
FORTRESS COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE: The Old Testament and Apocrypha
Copyright © 2014 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles and reviews, no part of this
book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.augsburgfortress.
org/copyrights/contact.asp or write to Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division
of Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Advisory Board: Walter Brueggemann, William R. Herzog II, Richard A. Horsley, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Gale A. Yee
Fortress Press Publication Staff: Neil Elliott and Scott Tunseth, Project Editors; Marissa Wold, Production Manager; Laurie
Ingram, Cover Design.
Copyeditor: Jeffrey A. Reimer
Typesetter: PerfecType, Nashville, TN
Proofreader: David Cottingham
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available
ISBN: 978-0-8006-9916-1
eISBN: 978-1-4514-8966-8
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—
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CONTENTS
Contributors vii
Abbreviations xi
Introduction 1
Reading the Old Testament in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts
Matthew J. M. Coomber 5
The People of God and the Peoples of the Earth Hugh R. Page Jr. 31
Reading the Christian Old Testament in the Contemporary World
Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 43
Themes and Perspectives in Torah: Creation, Kinship, and Covenant Sarah Shectman 67
Genesis Rodney S. Sadler Jr. 89
Exodus Thomas B. Dozeman 137
Leviticus Robert Kugler 179
Numbers Karl N. Jacobson 211
Deuteronomy Harold V. Bennett 233
Themes and Perspectives in the Historical Writings Norman K. Gottwald 277
Joshua Pekka M. A. Pitkänen 301
Judges Victor H. Matthews 329
Ruth Gale A. Yee 351
1, 2 Samuel Hugh S. Pyper 361
1, 2 Kings Gale A. Yee 401
1, 2 Chronicles Alejandro F. Botta 439
Ezra-Nehemiah Katherine E. Southwood 467
Esther Judy Fentress-Williams 487
Introduction to Wisdom and Worship: Themes and Perspectives in the Poetic Writings
Timothy J. Sandoval 495
Job Alissa Jones Nelson 519
Psalms W. Derek Suderman 547
Proverbs Carole R. Fontaine 601
Ecclesiastes Micah D. Kiel 627
Song of Songs Hugh R. Page Jr. 643
v
vi CONTENTS
Themes and Perspectives in the Prophets: Truth, Tragedy, Trauma Carol J. Dempsey, OP 649
Isaiah 1–39 Marvin A. Sweeney 673
Isaiah 40–66 Chris A. Franke 699
Jeremiah Kelly J. Murphy 725
Lamentations Wilma Ann Bailey 767
Ezekiel Corrine L. Carvalho 775
Daniel Anathea E. Portier-Young 805
Hosea Alice A. Keefe 823
Joel Ronald A. Simkins 837
Amos M. Daniel Carroll R. 845
Obadiah Joseph F. Scrivner 857
Jonah Matthew J. M. Coomber 861
Micah Matthew J. M. Coomber 871
Nahum Wilhelm J. Wessels 885
Habakkuk Hugh R. Page Jr. 893
Zephaniah Jin Hee Han 899
Haggai J. Blake Couey 909
Zechariah Amy Erickson 917
Malachi Richard J. Coggins and Jin Hee Han 931
Introduction to the Apocrypha Eileen M. Schuller 941
Tobit Micah D. Kiel 953
Judith Corrine L. Carvalho 963
Esther (the Greek Additions) Vivian Johnson 973
Wisdom of Solomon Emerson B. Powery 979
Sirach Stacy Davis 999
Baruch Karina Martin Hogan 1027
The Letter of Jeremiah Patricia K. Tull 1035
Introduction to All Additions to Daniel Lawrence M. Wills 1041
Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men Lawrence M. Wills 1043
Susanna Nyasha Junior 1047
Bel and the Dragon Lawrence M. Wills 1051
1 Maccabees Michael S. Moore 1055
2 Maccabees Michael S. Moore 1065
1 Esdras Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 1073
Prayer of Manasseh Christopher Frechette 1083
Psalm 151 Christopher Frechette 1087
3 Maccabees Samuel I. Thomas 1091
2 Esdras (4, 5, and 6 Ezra) Robin Darling Young 1099
4 Maccabees Samuel I. Thomas 1107
CONTRIBUTORS
Volume Editors
Gale A. Yee
Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies
Episcopal Divinity School
Ruth
1, 2 Kings
Hugh R. Page Jr.
Associate Professor of Theology and Africana Studies
Vice President, Associate Provost, and Dean of the First Year of Studies
University of Notre Dame
The People of God and the Peoples of the Earth
Song of Songs
Habakkuk
Matthew J. M. Coomber
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
St. Ambrose University
Reading the Old Testament in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts
Jonah
Micah
Wilma Ann Bailey Alejandro F. Botta
Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible
Christian Theological Seminary Boston University School of Theology
Lamentations 1, 2 Chronicles
Harold V. Bennett M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas)
President and Dean Distinguished Professor of Old Testament
Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary Denver Seminary
Deuteronomy Amos
vii
viii CONTRIBUTORS
Corrine L. Carvalho Carole R. Fontaine
Professor of Hebrew Bible Taylor Professor of Biblical Theology and
University of St. Thomas History
Ezekiel Andover Newton Theological School
Judith Proverbs
Richard J. Coggins Chris A. Franke
Emeritus Lecturer in Old Testament Professor of Bible and Theology Emerita
King’s College London St. Catherine University
Malachi Isaiah 40–66
J. Blake Couey
Christopher Frechette
Assistant Professor of Religion
Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Gustavus Adolphus College
Boston College School of Theology and
Haggai
Ministry
Prayer of Manasseh
Stacy Davis
Psalm 151
Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Coordinator, Gender and Women’s Studies
Norman K. Gottwald
Saint Mary’s College
Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus
Sirach
New York Theological Seminary
Themes and Perspectives in the Historical Writings
Carol J. Dempsey, OP
Professor of Theology (Biblical Studies)
Jin Hee Han
University of Portland
Professor of Biblical Studies
Themes and Perspectives in the Prophets: Truth,
New York Theological Seminary
Tragedy, Trauma
Zephaniah
Thomas B. Dozeman Malachi
Professor of Old Testament
United Theological Seminary Karina Martin Hogan
Exodus Associate Professor of Bible and Christianity
in Antiquity
Amy Erickson Fordham University
Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible Baruch
Iliff School of Theology
Zechariah Karl N. Jacobson
Teaching Pastor
Judy Fentress-Williams
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
Professor of Old Testament
Edina, MN
Virginia Theological Seminary
Numbers
Esther
CONTRIBUTORS ix
Vivian Johnson Alissa Jones Nelson
Professor of Old Testament Acquisitions Editor, Religious Studies
United Theological Seminary De Gruyter Publishing
Esther (The Greek Additions) Job
Nyasha Junior
Pekka M. A. Pitkänen
Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old
Senior Lecturer in Old Testament/Hebrew
Testament
Bible
Howard University School of Divinity
University of Gloucestershire
Susanna
Joshua
Alice A. Keefe
Anathea E. Portier-Young
Professor of Religious Studies
Associate Professor of Old Testament
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Duke Divinity School
Hosea
Daniel
Micah D. Kiel
Emerson B. Powery
Associate Professor of Theology
Professor of Biblical Studies
St. Ambrose University
Messiah College
Ecclesiastes
Wisdom of Solomon
Tobit
Robert Kugler Hugh S. Pyper
Paul S. Wright Professor of Christian Studies Professor of Biblical Interpretation
Lewis and Clark College The University of Sheffield
Leviticus 1, 2 Samuel
Victor H. Matthews Rodney S. Sadler Jr.
Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of the Associate Professor of Bible
College of Humanities and Public Affairs Union Presbyterian Seminary at Charlotte
Missouri State University Genesis
Judges
Timothy J. Sandoval
Michael S. Moore Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible
Faculty Associate in Old Testament Brite Divinity School
Fuller Theological Seminary Introduction to Wisdom and Worship: Themes and
1, 2 Maccabees Perspectives in the Poetic Writings
Kelly J. Murphy Eileen M. Schuller
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies Professor of Religious Studies
Central Michigan University McMaster University
Jeremiah Introduction to the Apocrypha
