Confession: I’m not an Old Testament guy. I like the OT, I think it should play a bigger role in the life of Christians (especially evangelicals), but I’m not as conversant; I’m a (historical) theology guy first, a New Testament guy second. This is why I was pleased to receive a new commentary on Deuteronomy by Edward J. Woods to review for IVP; it gave me a chance to become more familiar with this important book in a very important part of the Holy Scripture: the Torah. The Tyndale OT Commentaries Series is an oldie, but they are in the process of updating it. As the preface to this volume says, “The questions confronting readers in the first half of the 21st century are not necessarily those from the second half of the 20th century,” (7) hence the update. I’m glad IVP is updating it, and I’m glad for this particular commentary on Deuteronomy, because as I said: I’m not an OT guy.
What I like about this commentary is that it is an excellent overview commentary that doesn’t skimp on depth of insight. Yes, it’s not your Anchor Bible Commentary Series or NICOT on Deuteronomy, but it still does a great job of laying out the exegetical issues and interpretive options. For what it does, it does well.
So how does it do what it does?
Wood’s Deuteronomy commentary begins with a good, solid 50 page introduction, including a very nice outline analysis of the entire book (which I’d imagine would serve pastors well who want to do a sermon series through the book.) At the beginning of the introduction, Woods writes, “Deuteronomy is a pivotal book for the entire Bible,” (25) and this intro does a helpful job of explaining why. Woods explains how it is used in the NT and also how it functioned in the OT as a reflective attempt to systemize belief in Israel. From here Woods helps the reader understand the title; authorship, date, and origin—which marvelously established the “camps” who try and explain all three, and they do vary; the literary features of Deuteronomy; the structure—which was extremely helpful in giving an overview of the literary patterns, speeches, and codes; and ends with the theology of Deuteronomy. One of the more interesting sections focused on how Deuteronomy is an expanded form of the Decalogue, and he brings in Stephen Kaufman and John Walton to help that conversation. Again, a good intro that gives the down-and-dirty info on the book, especially when time is of the essence to understand what’s happening in preparation for sermons, or even exegetical papers.
Well, then how does the commentary itself comment on the text? When I come to a new commentary, and especially review one, I like to go to a section or two to see how it works through a passage. For this review I chose to look at the Shema passage in Deut. 6:4-25. One thing I like about how Woods does what he does in the commentary section is that each pericope is handled with the same structure: context, comment, and meaning. Perhaps each TOTC does this, but I like this consistent organizing structure as he worked through the Deuteronomy text.
What says Woods of this Shema pericope? First, he helps orient the reader with it’s context: “Already we have noted that Deuteronomy 4 and 6, like an envelope around the Decalogue of chapter 5, are really extended meditations on the first two commandments. These are then developed in chapters 6-11, and also take up fresh importance within the laws of chapters 12-26.” (133) That’s some good contextual insight, insight I guess I missed during OT 1 of my MDiv!
Second, his comment section works through the text and gives, well, commentary on it by bringing a depth of insight that doesn’t get bogged-down. For instance, at the beginning in verse 4, he notes there are at least four possible readings: 1) Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one; 2) Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone; 3) Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one; and 4) Yahweh our God is one Yahweh. He then goes on to say that he and his commentary, along with the NIV apparently, adopts the 3rd option. (134) This is a good example of how Woods clues the reader into some interpretive options, while also landing on a position; this method gives direction, while also giving options, which is fairly typical of commentaries, but my experience with smaller ones is they skimp on this important detail in order to skimp on page counts! He also helps the reader wrestle through whether the “these commandments” in v6 refer to the entire Decalogue or simply the words just given in 4-5. Both examples are representative of how Woods carries the interested reader along through the exegetical and interpretive issues of the book.
Finally, the meaning section helps “land the pericope plane” by helping the reader understand what the passage is saying. In this instance, “the Shema can be understood as both a statement about Yahweh’s uniqueness (as an answer to the question ‘Who is our ‘one and only’ God?=Yahweh) and also Israel’s response to this uniqueness implied in the translation ‘alone.'” Woods goes on to say, “But at another important level, verses 4 and 5 can be seen as a monotheistic confession based on the Lord’s redemptive actions in the past in answer to the question, ‘Who really is God?’ The answer to that question is: ‘Yahweh our God is God; he is the one (unique God), and beside him there is no other.)” (140) Boy does that preach, which is the point because I see this is as a preachers commentary, as much as it may be a students commentary, too.
This commentary, and probably others like it in the series, will serve pastors and students very well. Like I said at the beginning, Woods’ Deuteronomy commentary does a great job at giving a good overview of the exegetical issues and interpretive options without getting bogged-down in endless commentary. Despite it’s conciseness, though, it doesn’t sacrifice depth of insight. Yes, for some it may serve as more of a supplemental commentary to the more academically oriented ones, like ABCS or NICOT. For pastors, though, and even students, who don’t have the luxury of wading through ABCS‘s two-volume Deuteronomy—that blank page has to become a sermon somehow in the midst of meetings and visitations!—Wood’s exegesis and interpretation of this important book of the Torah will serve as an excellent primary source. This is why I give this commentary 5 stars for sure, because for what it does, it does it well. Since it’s Christmas soon, it would make a great gift for a pastor friend or student of the Holy Scriptures. Or do what Scot McKnight does: gift it as a Christmas present to yourself, from yourself!
