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The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (IVP Bible Background Commentary Set) Hardcover – November 8, 2012

4.8 out of 5 stars 661 ratings
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Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference

An Expansive Old Testament Resource You Can Trust

How can we account for the "Book of the Law" suddenly being discovered during Josiah's renovation of the temple (2 Chron 34:14)? We know from Egypt and Mesopotamia that it was common to seal important documents–including theological documents–in the masonry or foundations of a palace or temple in order to inform a future king who might undertake restoration of the building.

What might the psalmist have had in mind when praising God for removing our transgressions "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps 103:12)? In an Egyptian hymn to Amun-Re, the deity is praised for his judgment of the guilty. As a result of the god's discernment the guilty are assigned to the east and the righteous to the west.

What is meant by God "weighing the heart" (Prov 21:2)? In Egyptian religious tradition we find the notion of the dead being judged before the gods. As the soul is examined, the dead person's heart is weighed in a scale against a feather symbolizing Truth. If the answers are correct and the heart does not outweigh the feather, the soul may enter the realm of everlasting life.

The narratives, genealogies, laws, poetry, proverbs and prophecies of the Old Testament are deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists, historians and social scientists have greatly advanced our knowledge of the ancient world of the Bible. When we illuminate the stories of Abraham or David, the imagery of the Psalms or Proverbs, or the prophecies of Isaiah or Jeremiah with this backlight of culture and history, these texts spring to new life.

The unique commentary joins The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament in providing historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge, making it available and accessible to ordinary readers of the Old Testament. Expert scholars John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas have included along with the fruits of their research and collaboration

  • a glossary of historical terms, ancient peoples, texts and inscriptions
  • maps and charts of important historical resources
  • expanded explanations of significant background issues
  • introductory essays on each book of the Old Testament

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament will enrich your experience of the Old Testament–and your teaching and preaching from Scripture–in a way that no other commentary can do.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    IVP Bible Background Commentary Set
  2. Print length
    832 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    IVP Academic
  5. Publication date
    November 8, 2012
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 2.3 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0830814191
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0830814190
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From the Publisher

Explore the Historical & Cultural Background of the Old Testament
'The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament' book cover

Based on decades of in-depth study, best-selling The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament is an accessible commentary, valuable for:

  • pastors in sermon preparation
  • Sunday-school and other church teachers as they build lessons
  • missionaries concerned not to import their own cultural biases into the Bible
  • college and seminary students in classroom assignments
  • everyday Bible readers seeking to deepen and enhance their study of Scripture

Map of Rivers and Wadis of Egypt and Sinai

Expert scholars John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas have included these along with the fruits of their research and collaboration:

  • a glossary of historical terms, ancient peoples, texts and inscriptions
  • maps and charts of important historical resources
  • expanded explanations of significant background issues
  • introductory essays on each book of the Old Testament

Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference

Praise from Harry Hoffner about the book 'The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament'
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament
Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars 661
4.8 out of 5 stars 833
Price $26.58 $34.51
Description From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge--making it available and accessible to ordinary readers of the Old Testament. This unique commentary provides, in verse-by-verse format for each book of the New Testament, the crucial cultural background you need for responsible—and richer—Bible study.
Authors John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas Graig S. Keener
Ebook available? ✓ ✓

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Users of Craig Keener's IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament will be delighted to have a companion volume on a period both more remote in time and exotic in cultural background. . . . This volume . . . fills a need not addressed by any other book I know. It will open the eyes of lay readers to the vast and still largely untapped resources of ancient Near Eastern archaeology and texts for the understanding of the Old Testament. I predict a warm and enthusiastic reception for the book."

-- Harry A. Hoffner Jr., Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago

"This volume [The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Genesis--Deuteronomy, a precursor to this new, complete OT volume] provides Bible readers who have little knowledge of the ancient world an abundance of information on the sociocultural background of texts throughout the Pentateuch. The authors present the materials in a clear, concise, straightforward manner. . . . This book is a splendid tool that provides ready access to the cultural background of the books of the Pentateuch."

-- Themelios

About the Author

John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament, emeritus, at Wheaton College and Graduate School. His many books include The Lost World of Genesis One and Wisdom for Faithful Reading.



Victor H. Matthews is dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs and professor of religious studies at Missouri State University (Springfield, Missouri). He has written several books on the Old Testament, including Manners and Customs in the Bible: An Illustrated Guide to Life in Bible Times, (with James Moyer) The Old Testament: Text and Context and (with Don C. Benjamin) The Social World of Ancient Israel.



Mark W. Chavalas is professor of history at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse. He is also editor of Emar: The History, Religion, and Culture of a Syrian Town in the Late Bronze Age, (with John L. Hayes) New Horizons in the Study of Ancient Syria and (with K. L. Younger Jr.) Syria-Mesopotamia and the Bible.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP Academic
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 832 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0830814191
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830814190
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.7 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 2.3 x 9 inches
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ IVP Bible Background Commentary Set
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 661 ratings

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  1. John H. Walton

    John H. Walton

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    John H. Walton (Ph.D., Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. Previously he was professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Some of his books include Ancient Near Eastern Thought Essential Bible Companion), Old Testament Today (with Andrew Hill), Genesis NIV Application Commentary and IVP Bible Background Commentary (with Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas).

    See more on the author's page
  2. Victor Harold Matthews

    Victor Harold Matthews

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4.8 out of 5 stars
661 global ratings

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Customers find this Bible commentary to be an excellent resource for understanding cultural context and background information on certain passages. The commentary is well-written and easy to read and follow.

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65 customers mention "Information quality"65 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be an excellent resource for Bible study, providing valuable background information on certain passages and helping to understand the cultural context.

"...In itself, the book is very good, you don't have to agree with all the interpretation written there, but without a doubt there is very good..." Read more

"...The story of the Bible shines through when we are able to gain some of the insights the original audiences understood, but for us, the context is..." Read more

"...but filled with excellent comments that explain how Bible passages are better understood with a bit of knowledge of the background panorama..." Read more

"...the curious, the reader, the seeker of meditation and the devout to hear the Word of God and gain a fresh insight of possibilities and understanding." Read more

29 customers mention "Commentary quality"25 positive4 negative

Customers find the commentary well-written, with one customer noting it provides brief verse-by-verse analysis and another mentioning how it helps understand the original audience.

"...doctrine to give background information that make the scripture readable in its proper context...." Read more

"...Not technical, but filled with excellent comments that explain how Bible passages are better understood with a bit of knowledge of the background..." Read more

"...The inclusion of many carefully chosen mega themes is very welcome and are very pertinently located within the books...." Read more

"...This one is a unique genre of commentary. It is really contextual only...such as information like the Greek writer chose a certain word because it..." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and follow.

"...It is easy to read and follow, and the concepts presented are not complex...." Read more

"...It is simple to read and easy to understand. Should you enjoy the feel of history in the bible as I do...." Read more

"Easy to use. Doesn't miss any of the very interesting historical notes and covers literally every verse that there might be anything to illuminate...." Read more

Pages are all upside down and backwards.
4 out of 5 stars
Pages are all upside down and backwards.
This commentary looks amazing and I am very excited to use it for further Bible study. I am disappointed the entire inside of the book is completely backwards from title page all the way through to the topical index. I assume the cardboard cover was glued on upside down. I can turn it wrong side up and then the inside is correct. I know this doesn’t change the actual text, so I will keep it, though it does bother me it is upside down.
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Top reviews from the United States

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  • Ruben Hernandez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Without a doubt an excellent book, which shows a historical and cultural perspective of the biblical passages of the Old Testament. I only have one complaint, and it has to do with the chapter of Isaiah 53, since the comment in that chapter, in my view and understanding, has nothing to do with what Isaiah is talking about, so instead of clarifying that chapter, for me it was quite confusing. In itself, the book is very good, you don't have to agree with all the interpretation written there, but without a doubt there is very good information.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Cirella Regua
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Commentary
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
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    All should have this book on their shelf
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ronald W Zimmer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Secret Weapon in understanding the Bible
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    We have spent most of the last 17 centuries trying to get Theology right. This book actually side steps the questions of doctrine to give background information that make the scripture readable in its proper context. The story of the Bible shines through when we are able to gain some of the insights the original audiences understood, but for us, the context is largely lost through centuries, hemispheres and translations. This book helps to discover for yourself just how amazing the Bible really is in context!

    Now, if all of you people would ask for it to be published on the Kindle, I would personally be grateful!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Dale Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars but filled with excellent comments that explain how Bible passages are better understood ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A volume from a library of reference works from Intervarsity Press (IVP), this offers a general overview of the background against the Old Testament was lived out and written. Not technical, but filled with excellent comments that explain how Bible passages are better understood with a bit of knowledge of the background panorama against which events took place or daily customs were practiced and were the subject of Biblical writing. Highly recommended. (There is also a volume for the NT which is equally recommended.)
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Ramon Antonio
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really useful and commendable commentary
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    I favor the use of commentaries when studying Bible passages as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of the Scripture through the times and then ease my understanding of the personal message in it for me. This excellent commentary is clearly organized and well focused on the hundreds of phrases subject to analysis. The inclusion of many carefully chosen mega themes is very welcome and are very pertinently located within the books. Overall, this commentary will definitely help the student, the curious, the reader, the seeker of meditation and the devout to hear the Word of God and gain a fresh insight of possibilities and understanding.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Kelly Clark
    4.0 out of 5 stars Useful but...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I am a 55 year old Bible college student. I have used Matthew Henry's commentary in the past and several commentaries through BibleHub .com. This one is a unique genre of commentary. It is really contextual only...such as information like the Greek writer chose a certain word because it was often used in pagan religions of that time and listeners/readers of that period would understand it. It is helpful. However, I really like other commentaries better. Right now my favorite is RT France "The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)."
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Luverta Reames
    5.0 out of 5 stars Game changer!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
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    This commentary is a game changer during my devotion time. I’m so glad a friend recommended these. I purchased the OT & NT commentary.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Alexis
    5.0 out of 5 stars ¡Excelente!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
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    Excelente comentario sobre el trasfondo cultura bíblico. Muy detallado, muy informativo y demasiado útil. 100% recomendado. Si sabes inglés, cómpralo a ojos cerrados, que no te vas a arrepentir.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Solomon raj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Every pastor should buy this copy
    Reviewed in India on May 23, 2019
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    Love this
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource that offers easy access to the historical and ...
    Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent resource that offers easy access to the historical and contextual world of scripture. A helpful resource for preachers and students of scripture.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very comprehensive, interesting and useful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Haven’t begun using it yet but I had a quick skim through it and it looks very comprehensive. Looking forward to reading it alongside my Bible.
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  • Dmo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good, understandable, generally objective background commentary
    Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2020
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    👌
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  • Simon Rubi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Resource
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2020
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    Amazing source, covering almost every verse of the Bible. Very useful as a study addition.
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