Commentaries

Commentary on the Book of Joshua by G.F. Maclear

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George Frederick Maclear [1833-1902], The Book of Joshua.

This commentary on the Book of Joshua was written by the Rev. George Frederick Maclear [1833-1902], Warden of St Augustine’s, Canterbury and headmaster of King’s College School, London. This book is in the public domain and includes a couple of helpful maps.

George Frederick Maclear [1833-1902], The Book of Joshua. J.J.S. Perowne, gen.ed., The Cambridge Bible for Schools. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 18973. Hbk. pp.228. [Click to download complete book in PDF]

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  1. Introduction
    1. The Book of Joshua
    2. The Life of Joshua
    3. The Work of Joshua
    4. Joshua as a type of Christ
    5. Analysis of the book
  2. Text and Notes
  3. General Index
  4. Index of Words and Phrases explained

Introduction

1. The Pentateuch is followed in the Jewish Canon by a series which bears the name of Neviim Rishonim, “the earlier Prophets 1”, and comprises Joshua, Judges, the first and second Books of Samuel, and the two Books of Kings. This series contains the history of the Israelites,

(a) As governed by the successor of Moses and the elders who outlived him;

(b) As governed by native kings;

(c) As subject to foreign invaders.

2. The first of these Books, the Book of Joshua, derives its name, not from its Author, but from the great hero, whose exploits are therein related, and who succeeded to the command of the people after the death of the great Hebrew Lawgiver, and led the nation into the Promised Land.

3. The claims of the Book to a place in the Canon of the Old Testament have never been disputed, and its authority is confirmed by allusions to the events recorded in it, which are found in other Books of Holy Scripture. [Continue reading]

More resources on the book of Joshua can be found here

Commentary on the Book of Judges by Professor J.J. Lias

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John James Lias [1834-1923], The Book of JudgesAccording to WikiSource John James Lias [1834-1923] was Chancellor of Llandaff Cathedral and Hulsean Lecturer in Divinity and Lady Margaret Preacher at the University of Cambridge. This is the full text of his commentary on the Book of Judges. This title is in the public domain.

John James Lias [1834-1923], The Book of Judges, J.J.S. Perowne, gen.ed., The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1884. Hbk. pp.220. [Click to download complete book in PDF]

Contents

  • Preface
  1. Introduction
    1. Contents, Authorship and Date, Genuineness, Canonicity, of the Book of Judges
    2. The Political, Moral, and Religious condition of Israel under the Judges
    3. The Personal character of the Judges
    4. The Song of Deborah
    5. The Chronology of the Period
    6. Analysis
  2. Texts and Notes
  3. Appendix
  4. Index

Introduction

I. Contents. The book of Judges consists of three parts. The first part (ch. i. 1, iii. 7) forms an Introduction, obviously designed to connect the book with the previous narrative in Joshua. We have first a description of the condition of the Israelites immediately after Joshua’s death, and their relations with the Phoenician peoples whom Joshua had left only half subdued (ch. i. i-ii. 10). Then (ch. ii. ii-iii. 7) the writer proceeds to give a brief summary of his history chiefly from a moral and religious point of view, pointing out the cause of national misfortunes, namely the disobedience of the people to the national law, and their apostasy from the national religion. The second part (ch. iii. 8-xvi. 31) contains the history of the Judges. In the third part (ch. xvii. to end) the historian adds two episodes of a more private and personal character… [Continue reading]

Commentary on the Book of Ruth by George Albert Cooke

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George Albert Cooke [1865-1939], The Book of Ruth in the Revised Version with introduction and notes.A brief commentary on the book of Ruth by G.A. Cooke, who was successively Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University. This title is in the public domain.

George Albert Cooke [1865-1939], The Book of Ruth in the Revised Version with introduction and notes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1913. Hbk. pp.22. [Download complete volume in PDF]

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • List of Principal Abbreviations
  1. Contents and Aims of the Books
  2. Date of the Book
  3. Place of the Book in the Canon
  • Text and Notes
  • Index

Introduction

Contents and Aim of the Book

The ancient narratives of the Book of Judges carry us back to a half-barbarous age of struggle and disorder, memorable chiefly for the deeds of Israel’s heroes: the Book of Ruth, although the scene is laid in the same age, gives us a very different picture. It introduces us to the peaceful life of the home and of the village, with its sorrows and joys, its wholesome industry and kindly virtues; a life which is by no means barren of heroic qualities, but they take the form of unselfish affection and generosity and loyalty to the ties of kindred; a simple community, tenacious of long established customs, and penetrated throughout by a spirit of unaffected piety. No doubt the picture is idealized; but the author, so far from inventing facts which never existed, is evidently describing a life with which he was familiar. [Continue reading]

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