Judges and Ruth

Cundall’s commentary is accessible to a wide range of readers, and it’s conservative in content. Longman points out that Cundall “argues for a conservative position on the historicity of Judges and Joshua, believing the two books give complementary, and not contradictory, perspectives on the conquest.” [Full Review]

These two commentaries in one volume are both solid though quite different. Judges is aimed more at the introductory student, while Ruth edges toward the technical but both are understandable for the layman. In Judges, Dr. Cundall is respectful of the text, but not afraid to explore several options or meanings where appropriate. His thoughts about the dating of the book were quite helpful. He is good at supplying explanations for some of the odder parts of the book like the two passages at the end. When I read something that has me scratching my head and after reading the commentary I have some understanding, I consider the commentator to have done a good job. Dr. Morris presented a more textual commentary based on the Hebrew in the short book of Ruth. I must admit some of this just was beyond my level or interest such as why the fields of Moab were singular or plural. However his discussion on the name of God as the Patriarchs knew it was very enlightening. He has a light enough touch to get away with the technical in this sort of volume.

Cundall and Morris combined on this commentary with Cundall commenting on Judges and Morris on Ruth. The commentators on the commentaries point to it as a useful volume but one that is superseded by the other four on the list. It is probably not a necessary volume for your collection unless you just need to have a fifth commentary or want to round out the TOTC series. [Full Review]

Arthur Cundall contributed the commentary on Judges in the TOTC series. Like the other contributions to this series, it is written at an introductory level and is accessible to all readers. [Full Review]