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O. Palmer Robertson — The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 1990). Readers of this blog will notice that my top 5 suggestions for Habakkuk commentaries is identical to my top 5 suggestions for Nahum commentaries. As mentioned previously, Robertson is very helpful at explaining the larger theological themes found within these books. Highly recommended.
Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (2009 [1992]). The commentary on Habakkuk in this volume was written by F. F. Bruce, who is always insightful. The commentary is technical and requires some knowledge of Hebrew. It is very helpful.
David W. Baker — Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1988). For those seeking an introductory-level commentary on Habakkuk, the best one available is the volume in the Tyndale series by David W. Baker. Although very brief, it does communicate the main ideas very well.
Kenneth L. Barker and Waylon Bailey — Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (New American Commentary, 1998). At about the same level of difficulty as the NICOT volume, the volume in the NAC series by Barker and Bailey is also a helpful commentary. It is also just as accessible as the NICOT volume. It is not quite as helpful as the NICOT volume, however, on theological issues.
Ralph Smith — Micah-Malachi (Word Biblical Commentary, 1984). Ralph Smith’s commentary on the last seven books of the Minor Prophets is not nearly as helpful as Douglas Stuart’s commentary on the first five Minor Prophets in the same commentary series, but it is still worth consulting.

Runners-Up: There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of Habakkuk. At an introductory level are the works by Heath Thomas, John Mackay, James Montgomery Boice, David Prior, and Walter Chantry. Pastors will find the NIVAC commentary by James Bruckner useful. At a more advanced level is the work by Francis Andersen.

This article is part of the Top 5 Commentaries collection.

Keith Mathison

3 min

Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Joel

While most of the other prophets can be dated with some degree of accuracy, it is notoriously difficult to date the book of Joel. Suggestions have been offered ranging from the ninth century to the second century B.C. Among conservative scholars, three main views are suggested. Some suggest an early pre-exilic date in the late ninth or early eighth century. Others suggest a late pre-exilic date in the seventh century. Still others argue that a post-exilic date in the late sixth to the mid-fifth century best explains the content of the book. While evidence for each of these views has been presented, no one has yet established a decisively compelling argument for any of them. In my opinion, the case for a late pre-exilic date is the most persuasive. There are a number of good commentaries on Joel, and the following are five of the most helpful.

Douglas Stuart — Hosea-Jonah (Word Biblical Commentary, 1987). I have already mentioned in my comments on Hosea commentaries that the best commentary on the first five minor prophets is the commentary by Douglas Stuart in the Word Biblical Commentary series. Stuart argues that Joel is a late pre-exilic prophet, a view with which I agree. He also takes a minority view on the interpretation of Joel chapter 1, seeing the locust invasion as a figurative description of a human army rather than a literal locust plague. I find his arguments persuasive on this point. Whether you agree or disagree on that point, however, his commentary is always worth consulting on these books. Very highly recommended.
Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (2009 [1992]). Also mentioned in connection with my post on Hosea is the commentary edited by Thomas McComiskey. The commentary on Joel in this volume was written by the late Raymond Dillard. I do not agree with Dillard’s conclusions regarding the date of the book (he suggests a post-exilic date in the late fifth to mid-sixth century) or the interpretation of the locust plague in chapter 1 (he argues that it is a description of a literal locust plague), but, nevertheless, his commentary is very useful, especially on the details of the Hebrew text.
David Allan Hubbard — Joel & Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1989). I placed Hubbard’s commentary on Hosea in fourth place in my post on Hosea commentaries. His commentary on Joel takes the bronze. He is in general agreement with Dillard on the date of the book and the interpretation of the locust plague in chapter 1. His commentary, however, is written at a much more accessible level.
O. Palmer Robertson — Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord: The Message of Joel (Welwyn Commentary Series, 1995). Also written at an accessible introductory level is the commentary by O. Palmer Robertson. Robertson places the book in the late ninth or early eighth century, in the very early pre-exilic period. He appears also to take the majority view of chapter 1, seeing the description of the locust

Keith Mathison

2 min

Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Jonah

The style of the book of Jonah is distinctive among the prophetic books. Aside from portions of the books of Jeremiah and Daniel, all of the other prophetic books focus primarily on the message of the prophet. The book of Jonah, on the other hand, is a biographical prose narrative focusing almost exclusively on the prophet himself. The predominantly narrative style of the book has more in common with the historical narratives about Elijah and Elisha than it does with the other prophetic books. The distinctive style of the book of Jonah has raised questions concerning its genre. Many recent scholars have questioned whether the book was intended to be understood as a factual historical narrative. Other scholars, however, have observed that the reasons given for rejecting the historicity of Jonah are generally based on unproven naturalistic assumptions. These same scholars have made a strong case for the historicity of the book. There are a number of helpful commentaries on Jonah, and the following are five of the best.

Douglas Stuart — Hosea-Jonah (Word Biblical Commentary, 1987). I have mentioned Stuart’s commentary in several previous posts. It is an outstanding commentary and a must-read on the first five Minor Prophets. On Jonah, Stuart argues for the historicity of the book.
Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets* *(2009 [1992]). I have also mentioned McComiskey’s work in several previous posts. The commentary on Jonah in this volume was written by Joyce Baldwin. Baldwin also questions the arguments of those who identify Jonah as a work of fiction.
Kevin J. Youngblood — Jonah (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament, 2015). The new Zondervan Exegetical Commentaries are proving, overall, to be quite helpful. This recent commentary on Jonah by Kevin Youngblood will prove useful to everyone from students to preachers.
David W. Baker, T.D. Alexander, & Bruce Waltke — Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1988). The most helpful introductory-level commentary on Jonah is in the Tyndale series. The commentary on Jonah in this volume is written by T. D. Alexander. It is clear and concise, and Alexander also argues for the historicity of the events described in the book.
Sinclair Ferguson — *Man Overboard!: The Story of Jonah (Banner of Truth, 2008). Like everything written by Sinclair Ferguson, his commentary on Jonah will be a treasure trove for preachers and teachers. Ferguson exhibits a rare combination today—the insights of one who is both a pastor and a scholar.

Runners-Up: There are a number of other notable commentaries on the book of Jonah including those by Gordon J. Keddie, O. Palmer Robertson, James Montgomery Boice, John Mackay, Franklin Page, JoAnna Hoyt, Reed Lessing, and James Bruckner.

Keith Mathison

2 min

Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Nahum

The prophetic oracles found within the seventh-century-BC book of Nahum concern Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Approximately a century before Nahum, Jonah had been sent to the Ninevites, and they had repented upon hearing the prophetic word. Their repentance, however, was apparently short lived because Nahum now addresses a wicked and brutal empire. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of Nahum, and the following are five of the best.

O. Palmer Robertson — The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 1990). The best commentary on the book of Nahum is the volume in the NICOT series by O. Palmer Robertson. Like most of the commentaries in this series, it is written from a more conservative perspective and is very accessible. Robertson is also very helpful at explaining the larger theological themes found within the book. Highly recommended.
Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (2009 [1992]). I have mentioned the commentary edited by Thomas McComiskey several times in previous posts. The commentary on Nahum in this volume was written by Tremper Longman III. Like the other commentaries in this volume, this one is somewhat technical and requires some knowledge of Hebrew. Very helpful on literary aspects of the text.
David W. Baker — Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1988). For those seeking an introductory-level commentary, the best one available is the volume in the Tyndale series by David W. Baker. It is very brief, but readers will get the big picture.
Kenneth L. Barker and Waylon Bailey — Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (New American Commentary, 1998). At about the same level of difficulty as the NICOT volume, the volume in the NAC series by Barker and Bailey is also a helpful commentary. It is also just as accessible as the NICOT volume. It is not quite as helpful as the NICOT volume, however, on theological issues.
Ralph Smith — Micah-Malachi (Word Biblical Commentary, 1984). Ralph Smith’s commentary on the last seven books of the Minor Prophets is not nearly as helpful as Douglas Stuart’s commentary on the first five Minor Prophets in the same commentary series, but it is still worth consulting.

Runners-Up: There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of Nahum. At an introductory level are the works by Gordon Bridger, John Mackay, and James Montgomery Boice. Pastors may find the volume by James Bruckner in the NIVAC series helpful. At a more advanced level is the work by Klaas Spronk.

Keith Mathison

2 min

Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Proverbs

book.

Runners-Up:

There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of Proverbs. Among them is the classic work by Charles Bridges. On an introductory level are the works by David Atkinson, Eric Lane, and Lindsay Wilson. In the intermediate to advanced range are the commentaries by Daniel and Jonathan Akin, Roland Murphy, Paul Koptak, Allen P. Ross, Duane Garrett, John Kitchen, and Michael Fox (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2).

Helpful Related Works:

A very helpful resource on the biblical theology of the wisdom books is O. Palmer Robertson’s The Christ of Wisdom. Two books in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series (edited by D.A. Carson) address the book of Proverbs. The first is Daniel Estes’s Hear, My Son on Proverbs 1–9. The second is Richard Belcher’s Finding Favour in the Sight of God: A Theology of Wisdom Literature.

Keith Mathison

2 min

Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Zephaniah

The book of the prophet Zephaniah indicates that he ministered during the reign of Josiah (640–609), the last of the godly kings of Judah (cf. Zeph. 1:1). He likely prophesied sometime between 622 and 612 BC. Just as Amos had prophesied about the imminent coming of the Day of the Lord upon the northern kingdom of Israel, Zephaniah now predicts the imminent coming of the Day of the Lord upon the southern kingdom of Judah. Zephaniah, however, does not stop there. He also looks forward to the future time of restoration, and in the third chapter of his book (verse 17), he includes a prophecy that O. Palmer Robertson calls “the John 3:16 of the O.T.” There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of Zephaniah, and the following are five of the best.

O. Palmer Robertson — The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 1990). Readers of this blog will notice that my top 5 suggestions for Zephaniah commentaries are identical to my top 5 suggestions for Nahum and Habakkuk commentaries. As mentioned previously, Robertson is very helpful at explaining the larger theological themes found within these books. Highly recommended.
Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (2009 [1992]). The commentary on Zephaniah in this volume was written by Alec Motyer, an outstanding Old Testament scholar who has written exceptional commentaries on books such as Exodus and Isaiah. This commentary is fairly technical and requires some knowledge of Hebrew. It is very helpful.
David W. Baker — Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1988). For those seeking an introductory-level commentary on Zephaniah, the best one available is the volume in the Tyndale series by David W. Baker. Although very brief, it does communicate the main ideas very well.
Kenneth L. Barker and Waylon Bailey — Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (New American Commentary, 1998). At about the same level of difficulty as the NICOT volume, the volume in the NAC series by Barker and Bailey is also a helpful commentary. It is also just as accessible as the NICOT volume. It is not quite as helpful as the NICOT volume, however, on theological issues.
Ralph Smith — Micah-Malachi (Word Biblical Commentary, 1984). Ralph Smith’s commentary on the last seven books of the Minor Prophets is not nearly as helpful as Douglas Stuart’s commentary on the first five Minor Prophets in the same commentary series, but it is still worth consulting.

Runners-Up: There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of Zephaniah. At an introductory level are the works by S. D. Snyman, Gordon Bridger, John Mackay, James Montgomery Boice, and Daniel Webber. Pastors will find the NIVAC commentary by James Bruckner useful. The expository commentary by Iain Duguid and Matthew Harmon is also very good. The helpful commentary by Richard Patterson that used to be in the Wycliffe series is now back in print.

Keith Mathison