1 Chronicles

Braun and Dillard’s commentaries on First and Second Chronicles are both technically serious and theologically insightful. These volumes also boast of the Chronicles’ many New Testament connections, which can be rare in a more critical scholarly commentary. These volumes will be a helpful resource for serious evangelical pastors and scholars looking to explore these inter-biblical connections. [Full Review]

1 Chronicles is not necessarily a book that is regularly preached, dived into devotionally, or particularly popular. It is not a book I’ve heard described as a favourite by anyone, but it is part of the Bible, God’s authoritiative word, and so it is useful, instructive, and has much to teach us. I found Roddy Braun’s 1987 entry in the Word Biblical Commentary to be a helpful, and surprisingly readable guide in my devotional study of the book. The WBC is somewhat notorious for having a slightly clunky, over-realised and flow-lacking format – even by commentary standards they feel like books that are explicitly not designed to be read cover to cover. Normally, this is an irritation, and why my small collection of WBC volumes tends to be used for reference rather than reading! However, due to the text of 1 Chronicles being a blend of genres (genealogies, narrative, psalm, to name just three), this format actually helps to illuminate and open up the text of the book. [Full Review]

Dillard is one of my favorite commentaries, but Braun is also quite good. They take the historical aspects of Chronicles seriously and nicely explain the interpretive differences between Samuel-Kings and Chronicles. [Full Review]

This is a textual analysis rather than a theological or historical commentary - of value to translators rather than pastors or teachers. It assumes a knowledge of Hebrew and an interest in manuscript variants and translational difficulties. There is little insight into the historical or theological context, and no help for a reader wanting to understand the motivations and consequences of the progression to elaborate ceremonial Temple worship replacing the earlier expressions of devotion to Yahweh derived from Moses.

WBC’s volumes on 1 & 2 Chronciles are written by different authors which makes them a little bit uneven. Most agree that Dillard’s is superior but that both are excellent resources. Longman praises Dillard’s volume by saying, “This commentary makes 2 Chronicles come alive. It is superb in its analysis of the theological message, given 2 Chronicle’s composition in the postexile period. It is one of the few Old Testament commentaries that explores connections with the New Testament.” [Full Review]

Although they are on the more technical side, the commentaries by Braun and Dillard in the Word Biblical Commentary series are indispensable for serious study of the text. Each also offers helpful theological insight, sometimes missing from technical commentaries. The layout of the Word Biblical Commentaries can take some getting used to, but in the case of these two works, it is worth the effort. [Full Review]

An Evangelical contribution with appreciation of the historical worth of the text. [Full Review]