Ruth, Esther

Bush’s Ruth/Esther is an outstanding WBC volume and one of the strongest technical commentaries on both books. On Ruth, his detailed Hebrew exegesis is combined with unusually perceptive literary analysis: he presents Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi as embodiments of hesed, carefully explores the difficult relationship between redemption, marriage, and levirate custom, and shows how divine providence works through ordinary human loyalty and kindness to reverse Naomi’s emptiness and ultimately lead to David. His treatment of Esther is equally strong, combining close grammatical and textual work with sophisticated analysis of narrative structure, characterization, the Alpha-text, redaction, Diaspora existence, and the book’s deliberately implicit theology of providence. Particularly impressive in both commentaries is Bush’s ability to integrate fine linguistic detail with the larger literary movement of each story. The WBC format and extensive technical discussion make the volume demanding, and some redactional reconstructions remain debatable, but this is a remarkably rich commentary that continues to reward sustained use.

Bush’s volume on Ruth is extensive in its scope and detailed in its analysis. The commentary provides thorough exegesis, but it will likely come off as too technical and philosophical for the armchair theologian. A solid resource for scholars. Bush’s commentary is a key source for understanding the text and translation of Esther. It is one of the most thorough commentaries available on the book and incredibly helpful for those seeking an in-depth analysis of the text. Bush’s technical writing will be especially helpful for seminary students who need an introduction to the main areas of scholarly debate. [Full Review]

In this commentary series, each chapter starts with a bibliography, author’s translation of the text, critical notes followed by form/structure/setting, comments of the verses, and ends with explanations. I find this commentary, though technical, full of theological insights. [Full Review]

Having read Jobes' commentary on Esther, and loving it, I wanted to add a more technical commentary for the detailed linguistic and historical bits. Bush was highly recommended, and has not disappointed. I haven't done much at all with the Ruth portion, but the little I have checked is solid. Strong on history, as well as theology. Avoids lengthy speculation about redactions, sources, dating, etc. though not completely uninterested in such discussion. Thorough, but still very usable for various audiences; pastors, upper level students, scholars.

This commentary is significantly more technical than the others in the list, and a little more philosophical. Yet it is also very thorough and very helpful. Like Duguid’s commentary, this one covers both Ruth and Esther together. It will prove significantly more technical than the others in the list, and a little more philosophical. Yet it is also said to be very thorough and very helpful, especially for pastors preparing sermons on this book. [Full Review]

For those seeking a more extensive commentary on the book of Esther, Frederic Bush's work in the WBC series is a good place to start. Although a bit too technical for most readers, it will be of benefit to seminary students and others doing in-depth study of the text. [Full Review]

An extensive, if somewhat technical, commentary on the Book of Ruth, but one well worth consulting. [Full Review]

An Evangelical scholar of the Bible and Ancient Near East brings his knowledge to these two books. [Full Review]