Isaiah: A Commentary (Old Testament Library) [Hardcover]

Brevard S. Childs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000 | Series: Old Testament Library

In this important addition to the Old Testament Library, renowned scholar Brevard Childs writes on the Old Testament's most important theological book. He furnishes a fresh translation from the Hebrew and discusses questions of text, philology, historical background, and literary architecture, and then proceeds with a critically informed, theological interpretation of the text.

The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brevard S. Childs is Sterling Professor of Divinity and Fellow of Davenport College at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. He is the author of two volumes in the WJK Old Testament Library series: The Book of Exodus and Isaiah.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 750 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664221432
• ISBN-13: 978-0664221430
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lot in a small compass, July 24, 2001

By 

Michael Baxter (LONDON United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Isaiah: A Commentary (Old Testament Library) (Hardcover)

There has been so much written about the Book of Isaiah that it would take a huge, multi-volume work to do justice to it all. This book cannot do so, but it does cover a surprising amount, though at the cost of being too concise for easy readability. He includes everything from textual criticism to his controversial canonical criticism (see his book "Introduction to the Old Testament As Scripture"). The latter means, in this case, that he does not deny that the book can be split into Isaiahs 1, 2 and 3 but he dismisses it as irrelevant and concentrates on the book as part of scripture. Someone making a detailed study of Isaiah would want several commentaries, of which this should be one. Someone wanting a more modest library with only one commentary on Isaiah could do worse than choose this one.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Single Volume Commentary on Isaiah, November 13, 2006

By 

Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Isaiah: A Commentary (Old Testament Library) (Hardcover)

Brevard Childs packs a wealth of information into this 550 page commentary. He sees Isaiah as a work which was lovingly composed by Isaiah and his followers down through the years. He has an excellent grasp of the theological message of the book, and he is very astute at seeing how chapters 34-35 prepare us for the division between Isaiah 1-39 and 40-66.

Childs also makes many helpful comments on the text itself, giving strong arguments for his interpretations (cf. his excellent discussion on the tested stone of Isaiah 28:16). If I could only use one commentary on Isaiah, this one would be it, although it is kind of expensive at $60. You may want to check to see if you can get it for less.

Rev. Marc Axelrod

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Commentary on Isaiah, March 19, 2006

By 

Justin Gohl "JMG" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Isaiah: A Commentary (Old Testament Library) (Hardcover)

I am something of a neophyte to Isaiah studies so I lack extensive knowledge about the commentary market for Isaiah. But Childs' commentary must rank near the top. As commentaries go, Childs' volume is very accessible and concise, that is for a commentary on Isaiah 1-66!

Anyone who is familiar with Childs' previous and extensive body of work can expect more of the same. His interests in theological exegesis and so-called canonical criticism charactise this volume and make it especially suited for those who want a commentary on Isaiah, not a commentary on commentaries on Isaiah, although Childs of course does interact with secondary literature where necessary.

Childs' volume on Isaiah is certainly one which all will find helpful, from student to pastor to scholar. One might wish to supplement Childs' volume with the commentaries by Blenkinsopp (AB) and Oswalt (NICOT).