Numbers

Concise and clear, Wenham gets to the meat of each passage right away. His short and informative commentary also provides helpful applications for the Christian reader. [Full Review]

The Tyndale series is a balancing act between keeping commentaries conservative and accessible yet answering questions about the text in an intellectually honest way. Doctor Wenham does a great job of answering lots of questions that come to mind when reading Numbers while still defending the inspiration of the text. It is fairly natural to wonder how many people were in that desert? Why are so many sacrifices so similar and what makes each type different? What was with this Balaam fellow anyway? What route did Israel take across the desert? The author anticipates these types of questions and offers answers from several perspectives. While he might suggest that one answer fits the facts or the spirit of the Scripture better than others, he doesn't cram a single one down your throat. At the same time you are aware that you are studying God's Word and not simply taking an ancient lit course on say the Epic of Gilgamesh. There are thoughts of application and as always with the series how the text looks forward to the Christ. I suspect this volume could be used the basis for sermons on Numbers without fear of going astray theologically. I came away from reading Numbers and this commentary feeling that I had a significantly better understanding of the book and even the Pentateuch as a whole than I had going in. There were some times when I had to re-read some pages and look up some new words, but it was worth the effort. This is a fine read for a layman dedicated to learning more about the Lord and his Covenant with Israel and the World.

Outstanding! Numbers became a favorite book of mine after reading this. I underline what I believe to be insightful points as I read. My copy is saturated with underlining.

Once again, as with both Genesis and Leviticus, Gordon Wenham finds himself right at the top of the list. Keith Mathison says Wenham is “among the best contemporary writers of commentaries,” a judgment that seems to fit the evidence. The experts agree that his commentary is theologically sound and that, though limited by the constraints of the TOTC series, it is a must-have for anyone who intends to study or preach Numbers. At $10 is seems quite the bargain [Full Review]

For a more evangelical commentary on a more popular level, Gordon Wenham's TOTC (1981) is very good but extremely brief to be of too much value for someone used to reading the kind of work Wenham usually does. His commentaries on Genesis (WBC) and Leviticus (NICOT) are absolutely first-rate, and I expect his current work on Psalms for Apollos will become my favorite commentary on that book. His less detailed work here is as good quality, just not as helpful because of what he didn't have space to do. It may still be the best Numbers commentary at this level of detail. He does offer some good help into matters of theology and literary structure. As with his earlier and lengthier Leviticus commentary he displays good insight on anthropological matters and the meaning of sacrifice and the priesthood. I read this commentary alongside Ashley, and it did not seem redundant even alongside a much more detailed work. Wenham is a moderate evangelical, but there is almost nothing in here that should bother even more conservative evangelicals. Wenham later wrote the Old Testament Guide (Sheffield) for Numbers, which many people regard as the best introduction to this book. [Full Review]

Overall, a good, brief exposition of the text. While his introductory discussions are solid (esp. on typology), his discussion on the transmission of the text is at points muddied.

Gordon Wenham is among the best contemporary writers of commentaries. I consider his commentaries on Genesis and Leviticus the best available commentaries on those books. He has also written the most generally helpful commentary on the book of Numbers. The format of the Tyndale series means that this commentary is written at an introductory level. It is not as lengthy as his other works, but Wenham is able to say more of significance in one page than most commentators say in ten pages. Highly recommended. [Full Review]

Evangelical perspectives on the literary structure of the book. [Full Review]