The Message of Exodus

Motyer’s commentary is an accessible guide to the Exodus text. He offers a helpful overview that explores God’s character and faithfulness to his covenant promises. [Full Review]

Though this commentary is quite short compared to many (a necessity due to the format of the BST series) it still receives many accolades. Keith Mathison says that “on almost every page, the reader finds helpful insights into the meaning of the second book of Moses” while Derek Thomas says (alliteratively) that it is superb, scholarly, simple, and sensible.

Excellent commentary with warm theological and pastoral insights into the text.

I was disappointed in this contribution to the Bible Speaks Today Series. Mainly because I loved Motyer's commentary on Philippians. I felt this one fell below the usually high quality in this commentary series. I do not feel he has meditated on the text as deeply as some of the better commentaries and was in many places quite simplistic missing the larger implications of the text. For example Motyer believes that Moses was disobedient in his first encounter with Pharoah in chapter 4 because he brought the wrong people and said the wrong things. He was clearly disobeying God coming with an “authoritarian approach” which God had not authorized. I see no reason to blame this failure of Pharaoh to listen on some sort of disobedience in Moses. Of course for the most part I did not necessarily disagree with Motyer, but the commentary just feel flat for me.

A superb commentary. Scholarly, simple, and sensible. While focusing on the text his footnotes will point eager students in the right direction for further study.

J. Alec Motyer has written a large number of books and commentaries over the course of his career. He is particularly well known for his extensive work of the book of Isaiah. Because of the space limitations in the BST series, my expectations for his commentary on Exodus were minimal, but I was pleasantly surprised. On almost every page, the reader finds helpful insights into the meaning of the second book of Moses. Very highly recommended. [Full Review]