Numbers

Milgrom’s commentary is one of the great modern studies of Numbers and perhaps the most consistently original technical treatment of the book. His mastery of ritual, ancient Israelite institutions, Hebrew, rabbinic interpretation and comparative material enables him repeatedly to explain details that other commentators merely describe. Particularly valuable are his attention to the carefully constructed relationship between law and narrative, his extensive identification of chiasms and other literary structures, and his conviction that literary form frequently communicates theology. His famous treatment of the red heifer as a purification offering whose purgative substance absorbs impurity is an excellent example of the explanatory power of his approach. Milgrom occasionally presses structural patterns too far and, as a Jewish commentary, naturally does not provide the Christian biblical-theological synthesis some readers will want. Nevertheless, for understanding the rituals, institutions and literary craftsmanship of Numbers, it is indispensable.

Jewish commentators are incredibly helpful for Christians working in the Pentateuch. The rabbis have thought about these texts for centuries and often have insightful things to say. Among Jewish readers of Numbers, there’s no one more helpful than Jacob Milgrom. He has insights on every page. Note that while he’s often commenting on the final form of the text, he is working broadly from a higher critical perspective. [Full Review]

This commentary also provides a Jewish perspective on the text. It’s filled with insights. Milgrom is one of the best scholars ever to study books like Numbers. So, while the commentary came out in 1990, it’s still very good. [Full Review]

 

This is this series’ first exposure to the JPS Torah Commentary series which is written by Jewish scholars. Nevertheless, it receives high commendation from most of the experts with Tremper Longman saying that it is “a masterpiece of erudition.” Of course I wouldn’t expect this volume to help with references to New Testament fulfillments of Old Covenant shadows and types [Full Review]

Jacob Milgrom's JPS commentary (1990) is by far my favorite commentary from mainstream academia. It's much briefer than Levine (below), but I appreciate what Milgrom is up to, and he doesn't spend as much time on things that I don't find very helpful. His Leviticus commentary is the best academic work on that book, and this one is nowhere near as detailed but equally scholarly and insightful. Milgrom tends to have a higher view of the historicity of Numbers than most of the other mainstream works. His academically focused treatment does not tend to lose the forest for the trees the way his three-volume Anchor Bible commentary on Leviticus sometimes does, and he argues for a unified structure. This commentary is strong in both details and overall message. Milgrom has a special interest in rabbinic traditions, particular in the medieval period, and that history of interpretation finds its way into these pages frequently. This book isn't cheap, but it's much less expensive than the Anchor Bible set by Levine. [Full Review]

The JPS Torah commentaries are written by Jewish scholars and are quite technical, but for those who are interested in digging deeply into the text, they usually offer numerous valuable insights. This is certainly the case with Milgrom's commentary on Numbers. [Full Review]

Commentary on the Hebrew text which accepts a substantial historicity to the accounts. [Full Review]