Biblical Theology: Past, Present, and Future (I)
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 55, No. 2 – Spring 2013
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
By James D. Nogalski. Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2011. 488 pages. Hardcover, $60.00.
The title alone of Nogalski’s two-part commentary, The Book of the Twelve, shows the focus of his study and the uniqueness of his contribution. Nogalski stands out as a mature and steady voice in the conversation of the Twelve, noted since the publication of his influential dissertation. One can see his fingerprints in the creation and direction of the Book of the Twelve group in the Society of Biblical Literature. What is more, he has written and edited numerous articles, essays, and books specifically on the Twelve. Nogalski fills the commentary with decades worth of scholarly and, at times, groundbreaking insights. Given the length and depth of Nogalski’s study of the Twelve, it would be tempting to cram all of his sagacious knowledge into a commentary, leaving it commendable only to a specialist. Such a commentary, however, would counter the purpose of the commentary series, which seeks to provide accessible scholarship for students and ministers.
The commentary commences with a brief introduction to the Twelve, laying the groundwork for comments on the redactional layers, intertextual links, and theological reflection found in the commentary proper. Nogalski then moves through each Biblical book by dividing the text into logical units based on the Hebrew Bible. In this sense, the commentary may seem conventional, allowing for innovation only by fresh translation, exegetical insights, or updated connections to contemporary life. The format of the series, along with Nogalski’s scholarship, however, provides a highly innovative, educational, and easy-to-understand resource for students and ministers.
Let us take the ingenious hyperlink format as the point of departure. Two types of hyperlinks in the commentary are called “Sidebars” and “Interpretation.” This commentary series puts a given topic (e.g. Intertextual Features of Hosea 13) in relief by using orange ink within the commentary proper, while placing the full discussion in margin of the page using the same orange ink (177-78). The hyperlink format makes the work easy to follow. It also provides Nogalski the opportunity to discuss often intertextuality in a concise and easy-to-reference way.
Nogalski moves into fairly uncharted waters by programmatically introducing how each book functions within the Twelve, giving the commentary a distinctive mark. A few examples allow one to see this commentary as a weather vane of sorts, showing where Old Testament scholarship is likely heading. He begins the introductory section of Hosea and the Twelve with the claim, “It is no longer adequate to treat Hosea in isolation from the other writings in the Twelve” (30). He then moves to Joel, which, according to him, was compiled in order to be placed in its location within the Twelve (204). While discussing Joel, he puts forth an original argument that “this” in Joel 1:2 serves to connect to Hosea rather than a reflexive comment about Joel (206). He also positions Obadiah in an interpretative framework with Amos because of Obadiah’s placement in the Twelve, linking the narratives about Israel and Edom to the Twelve (378). While the study of intertextuality within the Twelve seems to be early in its development, the implications of this study for preaching ministry could be extensive.
With his work, Nogalski serves students and ministers well. Highlighted, succinct discussions on literary features in the Hebrew Bible, such as parallelism (356), irony (419), word play (171), and catchwords (132) help the reader to become sensitive to important aspects of exegesis out of reach by English translations. Additionally, Nogalski appropriately introduces the reader to terms and issues related to Old Testament scholarship, such as imprecatory Psalms (394), synchronic and diachronic (9), tradition history (389), and woe oracle (320).
Several additions would have made the commentary even better: canonical and intertextual connections shared by the Old Testament and the Twelve; the plot(s) of the Twelve; further explanations of literary development (e.g. Joel); and summaries detailing the theological inter-connectedness of each prophetic book. Nogalski’s work will stimulate one’s thinking about the Minor Prophets. What is more, his comments on application will sober a reader to be sensitive to the theological message of these prophetic books. Nogalski models well for younger scholars how one deals firstly with the finer points of a discipline for a long time, then writes with expert knowledge for students and ministers. Nogalski’s commentary gives clarity to ministers who desire to preach these significant yet neglected prophetic books.
