Dead Sea Scrolls
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 53, No. 1 – Fall 2010
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Edited By John H. Walton. 5 Vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. 1,924 pages. Hardcover, $159.99.
True to its title, this is a backgrounds commentary, compiling and explaining a vast number of ancient cultural contexts and concepts (Egypt, Mesopotamia, etc) that will inform the biblical terms/concepts found in the Old Testament and may impact the interpretation of a text. The commentary offered is not trying to come up with the best biblical interpretation using backgrounds, but offers ancient background material as possible viewpoints to what the Bible text states. This work is easy to read and follow. John Walton is ideal as the editor as reflected in his well- considered methodology offered in the preface. As Walton indicates, ancient culture and texts, when presented correctly, inform the context of Scripture and aid in interpretation. In general, this work takes a high view of Scripture, but some issues such as the interpretation of “thousand” come from a more critical viewpoint. Some background material is not doctrinally orthodox, but that is the nature of this work (i.e. to present the views, culture, and context in which the Bible events and texts took place). The pictures, illustrations, charts, and maps are superb. Some caution must be noted on the graphic erotic nature of ancient religious art that occasionally exhibits itself in the pictures presented. More significantly everything is in color and on heavy paper making these five finely-bound volumes a great value. Each book of the Old Testament is presented by scholars who can elucidate the backgrounds of the text. The picture index in the back of each volume is helpful, but one wishes that these pictures would be offered as a part of a teaching slide set to go along with these volumes. Both topical and Hebrew word indices would make this work even more useful.
While backgrounds material is very helpful and can give a Bible teacher/ preacher insight, care must be taken in the use of this information because background materials can be easily misunderstood or misused. One must always check the source of the information to ensure its validity and Scripture must take preeminence in interpretation. One error that is often spread in our pulpits is the issue of the “eye of the needle.” When Jesus says in Matthew 19:24, “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (NASB). It is often stated that there was a small door within the city gate and a camel could be stripped of its load and caused to pass through. However, Timothy Boyd, in an article entitled “The Needle’s Eye” (Biblical Illustrator 20 (1994): 37–38), showed that this interpretation came about in the fifteenth century AD. There is no strong evidence for this type of small gate early. Even if there were, to understand Jesus as equating the “eye of the needle” to this small door in a city gate would lead to one teaching that through diligence and work a rich man could get into heaven. This would be a misuse of backgrounds material since the shocked response of the disciples to Jesus’ words indicates that they understood Jesus as saying it was impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God on his own.
This reference work is highly recommended. It is very easy to read with excellent content. Its doctrinal viewpoint is somewhat neutral, examining the evidence and not concerned with orthodox teaching—that is left to the teacher. This would make an excellent addition to a pastor’s or Bible student’s library.
