1, 2 Samuel

Nice

Ronald Youngblood's EBC (1992) is highly regarded by a number of evangelical commentary reviewers. I have never opened a page of it, preferring to wait to get it until the revision appears. It's possible that Youngblood is a better option than Bergen (NAC) for a primary evangelical commentary at a detail greater than Arnold (WBC on I Sam) will allow. Youngblood is more substantial than either, and his revision should be even moreso. He does interact significantly with the literature available at the time, which is less true of most entries in the EBC, and he does treat textual issues. He's also particularly strong on literary issues. Some reviewers have recommended him over Bergen, but others pay him less attention. I suspect Arnold would still be my favorite. Either way, the revision will be better than the original. Those teaching or studying Samuel before that point may well want to get a copy of this volume (which includes Deuteronomy by Earl Kalland, Joshua by Donald Madvig, Judges by Herbert Wolf, and Ruth by F.B. Huey). Otherwise it may be best to wait. [Full Review]

Although volume 3 of the Expositor's Bible Commentary contains commentaries on Deuteronomy - 2 Samuel, Youngblood's work on Samuel takes up approximately half of the entire volume. It is one of the three best commentaries in this series (along with Carson on Matthew and VanGemeren on the Psalms). It is probably the most helpful intermediate level commentary on the books of Samuel. [Full Review]