Customer Reviews

Daniel Hermeneia Series (Hermeneia: A Critical & Historical Commentary on the Bible)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is massive, but justifies its size by giving a thorough and comprehensive survey of one of the strangest and most incomprehensible books of the Bible. It covers every aspect that would interest the diligent Bible scholar. Beginners will find it very tough going! Collins believes that Daniel himself had no hand in writing the book, but that it was the product of the age of the Maccabean struggle. However, he presents all the evidence and arguments fully, being fair to those of a more conservative viewpoint. What you will not find in this book is an attempt to show that Daniel was successfully predicting events in the 20th century or even further in the future.

This is the most complete commentary on this book I've seen. Collins' discussion covers both the Hebrew and Old Greek texts of Daniel as well as the apocryphal additions. Even though the book is quite extensive, the manner in which it is written and organized makes it readibly understandable, even to those just being to look at the book or the attendant areas of apocalypticism or post-exilic Judaism. Collins approaches the text with a balanced historical-critical approach which fairly discusses views upheld by both more conservative and more liberal scholars than himself. Any discussion or study of the Book of Daniel which ignores this work will be seriously lacking.

This commentary on the book of Daniel is great. There are many excellent historical details and extensive footnotes. The author interacts well with secondary literature and gives good text criticism. There are many references to many different manuscripts. The author devoted 20 years to the study of Daniel and this commentary is the fruit of his labor. The layout of this commentary is also excellent and worth every penny. There is also comments on the apocryphal portions of Daniel. The only reason this commentary did not get five stars is it comes from a somewhat liberal approach but that is to be expected with the goals of a critical commentary. Overall this is a commentary that should be in the hands of every student of Daniel. For the less informed student, read with discernment.

When it is understood that sacred history itself has throughout intermingled with it a prophetic element. Then any volume of work dealing with said subject matter, that embraces Hofmann's false notion, that history must be made the measure and rule of prophecy, will ultimately disappoint. And I find such is the case with Collins' treatment of the Book of Daniel. Although the "critical" view seems to hold the field today, it does in fact undermine the fundamental notion of Daniel's God who is revealed as unchangeably the same and the consummator of the world process.

However, from a purely sholastic point of view, Collins' work can not be lightly dismissed. It being, as the preface to the book states; "the fruit of more than two decades of research." And as such, I am confident, that all who thoughtfully engage this work will find that their efforts will prove the proverb true; "iron sharpens iron."

Additionally: Hermeneia should be congratulated on providing one of the clearest and accessable formats to be found in Bible commentaries.

This book is recommended for those who are unequivocally taken with the modern historical/critical methodology. A huge effort has obviously been put into the writing of the book. The method has been applied to almost every phrase of Daniel, with like or similar words or circumstances sought in all kinds of ancient literature.

Where does this take us? The author concludes (page 123) that, "The great achievement of two centuries of historical criticism of the Book of Daniel has been to clarify the genre of the book... Daniel is not a reliable source of factual information about either the past of the future... Its witness, however, is largely the language of legend and myth...".

The conclusions, based on the countless probabilities and theories about the text, sources, dates and intentions, etc, led me to classify the genre of this commentary: straining at gnats and swallowing camels.

I give one star for the historical study, but none for theology, for there is very litte of it. The question, "What is God revealing to us in Daniel?" seems to be assumed to be irrelevant.