Commentaries

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]

Click here for more resources on the book of Ruth.

Commentaries on the Books of Kings

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Joseph Rawson Lumby [1831-1895], The First Book of Kings.One of my aims in 2018 is to make available more biblical commentaries. Here are four on the books of first and second Kings; two short, two long. Colour maps are included, enhanced as much as possible to overcome the fading in the originals. All are in the public domain.

Joseph Rawson Lumby [1831-1895], The First Book of Kings. J.J.S. Perowne, gen.ed., The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1896. Hbk. pp.248. [Click to download in PDF]

Joseph Rawson Lumby [1831-1895], The First Book of Kings with Map, Introduction and Notes. The Smaller Cambridge Bible for Schools. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891. Hbk. pp.144. [Click to download in PDF]

Joseph Rawson Lumby [1831-1895], The Second Book of Kings. J.J.S. Perowne, gen.ed., The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1897. Hbk. pp.267. [Click to download in PDF]

Winfred Oldfield Burrows [1858-1929], The Second Book of Kings with Introduction, Notes and Maps. Rivington’s Books of the Bible. London: Rivingtons, 1910. Hbk. pp.118. [Click to download in PDF]

For more resources on the books of Kings click here.