1 Kings (2nd ed.)

I'm not sure why some would refer to the author as evangelical or conservative. He doesn't even seem to affirm inerrancy. This commentary is a bitter disappointment. He is a redactionist. He doesn't believe in any single author for 1 Kings (even God), and he spends an exceptional amount of his time arguing wether (1) verses in 1 Kings are should be there or not, (2) who wrote what verses, (3) wether the verses themselves can be trusted. If you are familiar with the JEDP theory and the Pentateuch -- then you are going to get the same theory, just a different book of the Bible. I'm surprised this book made it into the list for recommendations on 1 Kings. Basically, if you are a conservative, evangelical, believe in inerrancy divine inspiration of the text -- then this commentary will serve only to tell you what other liberal, unbiblical scholars are teaching these days.

After spending two years leading a bible study on 1 & 2 Samuel, and then spilling into 1 Kings and the end of David's life, I've spent quite a bit of time with my Samuel commentaries, but done less with Kings. This one on 1 Kings is my preferred of the three I currently own. As with all WBC volumes, there is a large emphasis on technical details- form, structure, vocabulary, etc. and less on theological interpretation.

Useful Evangelical commentary written without apology for the difficulties in the book. [Full Review]