Books in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series

J. G. McConville offers a theological interpretation of Deuteronomy, arguing that in the context of the ancient world this Old Testament book should be understood as the radical blueprint for the life of a people.

The book of Joshua presents a number of interpretative problems.On the basis of literary studies and archaeology, some have claimed that the book is a product of a much later age than the one it portrays and does not reflect actual events. Another important issue is how it should be read as Christian Scripture, given that it describes at least a partial annihilation of indigenous people groups. Related to this today is the ongoing struggle over essentially the same piece of land that is described in Joshua.To address these and other issues, Pekka Pitkanen reads Joshua in its Ancient Near Eastern context. He makes extensive comparisons with relevant contemporary literature and includes an archaeological survey of all places mentioned in the Masoretic text. He argues that Joshua helps conclude the pentateuchal tradition and is best understood as a conquest document originating from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age that helps define Israelite identity in Yahwistic terms and promulgates Yahwism in Israel as the exclusive religious ideology. In application, he engages with genocide studies and reflects on theodicy and the use and abuse of power.

In this Apollos Old Testament Commentary, Anthony Petterson offers detailed commentary on the prophetic books of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, setting them in their wider biblical-theological context. He shows the connections between the post-exilic world and our own, and explains how these books contain a vital message for the church today, living in the gap between promise and reality.

An excellent new commentary on the Old Testament book.

A new commentary on the Old Testament book.