examining… ThE EDITORS • ancient contexts • interpretive traditions • contemporary questions “The Fortress Commentary on the BiBle offers general readers an informed and accessible resource The Fortress Commentary on the BiBle: the old testament and apoCrypha sets each book of the Old Testament and Apocrypha in its historical and cultural context, discusses the themes in each book that have for understanding the biblical Fortress proven most important for the Christian interpretive tradition, and introduces the most pressing questions facing the writings in their ancient contexts; for responsible use of the Bible today. The writers are renowned authorities in the historical interpretation of the Bible, Commentary recognizing how the texts have come sensitive to theological and cultural issues arising in our encounter with the text, richly diverse in social locations and on the BiBle vantage points, representing a broad array of theological commitment, and alive to the ethical consequences of down to us through the mediation interpretation today. of different interpretive traditions; Gale a. yee is Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies at The result is a commentary that is comprehensive and useful for gaining insights on the texts for preaching, and for engaging current discussion Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, teaching, and research. In addition to the commentary essays on each book, this volume, like its companion of the Bible’s sometimes perplexing, Fortress Commentary on the New Testament, contains introductions, notes, and comprehensive bibliographies for Massachusetts. sometimes ambivalent, but always each book; major section introductions; and articles that explore critical questions of context and interpretation. O influential legacy in the contemporary a Praise for Fortress Commentary on the BiBle world. The commentary is designed n l “The Fortress Commentary on the Bible provides an excellent resource for beginning not only to inform but also to invite d students and Bible study groups. It includes many fine contributions by experienced and d and empower readers as active reliable scholars, and the bibliographies are a treasure trove.” a interpreters of the Bible in their own John J. Collins right. Yale Divinity School p T “The Fortress Commentary on the Bible provides a rich smorgasbord of literary, historical, and theological insight, O “We . . . understand the work e served with rich global, diverse voices and perspectives. By addressing texts in their ancient contexts and interpre- of biblical interpretation as a tative traditions, and situating interpretation in contemporary milieus, the contributors invite readers to become c s T responsible interpreters themselves. This work is a must read for those with an appetite of curiosity and desire for a responsibility far wider than the huGh r. paGe Jr. is associate h new recipe for reading. It is exquisite and profound, yet quite accessible.” T bounds of any religious community. professor of Theology and Africana Cheryl A. KirK-DuggAn r e Studies as well as vice president, Shaw University Divinity School a In this regard, we participate in many associate provost, and dean of the y and diverse identities and social “Unlike many commentaries, this one is more interested in stimulating a critical encounter with the biblical text than First Year of Studies at the University of m locations, yet we all are conscious of in providing a set of answers about what it once may have meant. It offers to be particularly useful to intelligent p Notre Dame, Indiana. modern readers of the Bible, who respect its role as a formative text in the development of the Christian tradition, reading, studying, and hearing the but who also approach the text sensitive to its potential dysfunction. The commentary not only invites but insists on a h Bible today as citizens of a complex e thoughtful response to the text. It promises to be a welcome tool for pastors and teachers seeking to encourage a and interconnected world. We thoughtful but critical engagement with the Bible.” n hArolD W. AttriDge a recognize in the Bible one of the most Yale Divinity School important legacies of human culture; T its historical and literary interpretation “I am intrigued by this new project. Although I am still a fierce crank about and critic of the commentary as an academic-intellectual genre and religio-cultural-political refraction, the editors seem to me—certainly, in the fram- is of profound interest to religious and ing material, with its raising of ex-centric and broad problems, questions, and issues—to be working in the direction nonreligious peoples alike.” of destabilization of [the commentary] genre. And so, as an effort in destabilization of genre, I applaud this ‘com- mentary.’” VinCent l. Wimbush from the Introduction Institute for Signifying Scriptures, Claremont Graduate University matthew J. m. CoomBer is assistant professor of biblical studies RElIGION / BIBlE / REFERENCE at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Fortress Commentary on the Bible THE OLD TESTAMENT AND APOCRYPHA Fortress Commentary on the Bible THE OLD TESTAMENT AND APOCRYPHA Gale A. Yee Hugh R. Page Jr. Matthew J. M. Coomber Editors Fortress Press Minneapolis FORTRESS COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLE: The Old Testament and Apocrypha Copyright © 2014 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.augsburgfortress. org/copyrights/contact.asp or write to Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Advisory Board: Walter Brueggemann, William R. Herzog II, Richard A. Horsley, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Gale A. Yee Fortress Press Publication Staff: Neil Elliott and Scott Tunseth, Project Editors; Marissa Wold, Production Manager; Laurie Ingram, Cover Design. Copyeditor: Jeffrey A. Reimer Typesetter: PerfecType, Nashville, TN Proofreader: David Cottingham Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available ISBN: 978-0-8006-9916-1 eISBN: 978-1-4514-8966-8 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences— Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329, 48-1984. Manufactured in the U.S.A. CONTENTS Contributors vii Abbreviations xi Introduction 1 Reading the Old Testament in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts Matthew J. M. Coomber 5 The People of God and the Peoples of the Earth Hugh R. Page Jr. 31 Reading the Christian Old Testament in the Contemporary World Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 43 Themes and Perspectives in Torah: Creation, Kinship, and Covenant Sarah Shectman 67 Genesis Rodney S. Sadler Jr. 89 Exodus Thomas B. Dozeman 137 Leviticus Robert Kugler 179 Numbers Karl N. Jacobson 211 Deuteronomy Harold V. Bennett 233 Themes and Perspectives in the Historical Writings Norman K. Gottwald 277 Joshua Pekka M. A. Pitkänen 301 Judges Victor H. Matthews 329 Ruth Gale A. Yee 351 1, 2 Samuel Hugh S. Pyper 361 1, 2 Kings Gale A. Yee 401 1, 2 Chronicles Alejandro F. Botta 439 Ezra-Nehemiah Katherine E. Southwood 467 Esther Judy Fentress-Williams 487 Introduction to Wisdom and Worship: Themes and Perspectives in the Poetic Writings Timothy J. Sandoval 495 Job Alissa Jones Nelson 519 Psalms W. Derek Suderman 547 Proverbs Carole R. Fontaine 601 Ecclesiastes Micah D. Kiel 627 Song of Songs Hugh R. Page Jr. 643 v vi CONTENTS Themes and Perspectives in the Prophets: Truth, Tragedy, Trauma Carol J. Dempsey, OP 649 Isaiah 1–39 Marvin A. Sweeney 673 Isaiah 40–66 Chris A. Franke 699 Jeremiah Kelly J. Murphy 725 Lamentations Wilma Ann Bailey 767 Ezekiel Corrine L. Carvalho 775 Daniel Anathea E. Portier-Young 805 Hosea Alice A. Keefe 823 Joel Ronald A. Simkins 837 Amos M. Daniel Carroll R. 845 Obadiah Joseph F. Scrivner 857 Jonah Matthew J. M. Coomber 861 Micah Matthew J. M. Coomber 871 Nahum Wilhelm J. Wessels 885 Habakkuk Hugh R. Page Jr. 893 Zephaniah Jin Hee Han 899 Haggai J. Blake Couey 909 Zechariah Amy Erickson 917 Malachi Richard J. Coggins and Jin Hee Han 931 Introduction to the Apocrypha Eileen M. Schuller 941 Tobit Micah D. Kiel 953 Judith Corrine L. Carvalho 963 Esther (the Greek Additions) Vivian Johnson 973 Wisdom of Solomon Emerson B. Powery 979 Sirach Stacy Davis 999 Baruch Karina Martin Hogan 1027 The Letter of Jeremiah Patricia K. Tull 1035 Introduction to All Additions to Daniel Lawrence M. Wills 1041 Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men Lawrence M. Wills 1043 Susanna Nyasha Junior 1047 Bel and the Dragon Lawrence M. Wills 1051 1 Maccabees Michael S. Moore 1055 2 Maccabees Michael S. Moore 1065 1 Esdras Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 1073 Prayer of Manasseh Christopher Frechette 1083 Psalm 151 Christopher Frechette 1087 3 Maccabees Samuel I. Thomas 1091 2 Esdras (4, 5, and 6 Ezra) Robin Darling Young 1099 4 Maccabees Samuel I. Thomas 1107 CONTRIBUTORS Volume Editors Gale A. Yee Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies Episcopal Divinity School Ruth 1, 2 Kings Hugh R. Page Jr. Associate Professor of Theology and Africana Studies Vice President, Associate Provost, and Dean of the First Year of Studies University of Notre Dame The People of God and the Peoples of the Earth Song of Songs Habakkuk Matthew J. M. Coomber Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies St. Ambrose University Reading the Old Testament in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts Jonah Micah Wilma Ann Bailey Alejandro F. Botta Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic Scripture Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible Christian Theological Seminary Boston University School of Theology Lamentations 1, 2 Chronicles Harold V. Bennett M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas) President and Dean Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary Denver Seminary Deuteronomy Amos vii viii CONTRIBUTORS Corrine L. Carvalho Carole R. Fontaine Professor of Hebrew Bible Taylor Professor of Biblical Theology and University of St. Thomas History Ezekiel Andover Newton Theological School Judith Proverbs Richard J. Coggins Chris A. Franke Emeritus Lecturer in Old Testament Professor of Bible and Theology Emerita King’s College London St. Catherine University Malachi Isaiah 40–66 J. Blake Couey Christopher Frechette Assistant Professor of Religion Assistant Professor of Old Testament Gustavus Adolphus College Boston College School of Theology and Haggai Ministry Prayer of Manasseh Stacy Davis Psalm 151 Associate Professor of Religious Studies Coordinator, Gender and Women’s Studies Norman K. Gottwald Saint Mary’s College Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus Sirach New York Theological Seminary Themes and Perspectives in the Historical Writings Carol J. Dempsey, OP Professor of Theology (Biblical Studies) Jin Hee Han University of Portland Professor of Biblical Studies Themes and Perspectives in the Prophets: Truth, New York Theological Seminary Tragedy, Trauma Zephaniah Thomas B. Dozeman Malachi Professor of Old Testament United Theological Seminary Karina Martin Hogan Exodus Associate Professor of Bible and Christianity in Antiquity Amy Erickson Fordham University Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible Baruch Iliff School of Theology Zechariah Karl N. Jacobson Teaching Pastor Judy Fentress-Williams Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Professor of Old Testament Edina, MN Virginia Theological Seminary Numbers Esther CONTRIBUTORS ix Vivian Johnson Alissa Jones Nelson Professor of Old Testament Acquisitions Editor, Religious Studies United Theological Seminary De Gruyter Publishing Esther (The Greek Additions) Job Nyasha Junior Pekka M. A. Pitkänen Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Senior Lecturer in Old Testament/Hebrew Testament Bible Howard University School of Divinity University of Gloucestershire Susanna Joshua Alice A. Keefe Anathea E. Portier-Young Professor of Religious Studies Associate Professor of Old Testament University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Duke Divinity School Hosea Daniel Micah D. Kiel Emerson B. Powery Associate Professor of Theology Professor of Biblical Studies St. Ambrose University Messiah College Ecclesiastes Wisdom of Solomon Tobit Robert Kugler Hugh S. Pyper Paul S. Wright Professor of Christian Studies Professor of Biblical Interpretation Lewis and Clark College The University of Sheffield Leviticus 1, 2 Samuel Victor H. Matthews Rodney S. Sadler Jr. Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of the Associate Professor of Bible College of Humanities and Public Affairs Union Presbyterian Seminary at Charlotte Missouri State University Genesis Judges Timothy J. Sandoval Michael S. Moore Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible Faculty Associate in Old Testament Brite Divinity School Fuller Theological Seminary Introduction to Wisdom and Worship: Themes and 1, 2 Maccabees Perspectives in the Poetic Writings Kelly J. Murphy Eileen M. Schuller Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies Professor of Religious Studies Central Michigan University McMaster University Jeremiah Introduction to the Apocrypha