This series of commentaries on the New English Bible is designed for use in schools and colleges, and for the minister and the layman. Each volume comments on one book, or a few short books, of the Bible, and in each the text is given in full. Sections of text and commentary alternate, so that the reader does not have to keep two books open, or turn from one part of the book to the other, or refer to a commentary in small type at the foot of the page. Great care has been taken to see that the commentary is suitable for the student and the layman: there is no Greek or Hebrew, and no strings of...

Professor Ackroyd's introduction summarizes the place of the First Book of Samuel in the Old Testament canon, its relationship with history and its theological purpose.

The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English Bible itself, but the text is further subdivided for the purposes of the commentary, which draws out the kind of significance indicated in the introduction. As in the series of Cambridge Bible Commentaries on the New English Bible New Testament, short passages of text and the editor's commentary are interspersed so that the reader does not have to refer to...

Dr Whybray's volume, like the others in the series, contains the text in the New English Bible translation, with introductory material preceding, and a commentary directly following, each section of text.

Dr Whybray describes the ancient near-eastern tradition of producing collections of 'wisdom': instructions in the form of aphorisms and proverbs for the education of the young for a happy and successful career. He indicates the dependence of Proverbs on this tradition, but also points out how the Israelite authors modified it. The book contains three kinds of material: sections whose form...

The New English Bible has benefited not only from advances in the understanding of ancient languages and discoveries of new manuscripts and methods, but also from the recent growth in knowledge of the social and political history of the biblical period and the development of new ways of evaluating prehistory.

In "Understanding the Old Testament" the essentials of the background and context of the Old Testament and Apocrypha are set out as concisely as possible to enable the reader to understand the meaning and significance of much that can only be appreciated fully with the help of this...

The plan of this volume of commentary on the New English Bible text of the First Book of Kings follows the pattern of the now well-established series on the Old and New Testaments. The main divisions of the text are those provided by the New English Bible itself, but these are further subdivided for the purposes of the commentary, which is printed in short sections following the relevant portion of the text.

Canon Robinson suggests that the editors of I Kings compiled their history in order to teach the Hebrews that their existence as Israel, the covenant people of God, depended upon their...

Like the other volumes of the Cambridge Bible Commentary, this contains an introduction followed by the text of the New English Bible divided into sections. Each section of the text is followed by the commentary upon it. The Second Book of Samuel tells how David took full control of both the northern and southern Hebrew kingdoms and consolidated his power throughout the region. Professor Ackroyd's commentary concentrates on interpretation rather than historical reconstruction, and part of his introduction dealing with the theological significance of the Books of Samuel relates the religious...

As in other volumes of the Cambridge Bible Commentary, there are introductions to the books dealt with, followed by the text of the New English Bible divided into sections. Each section of the text is followed by the commentary upon it. The preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah gave a new impetus to the life of the 'remnant' of the Jewish people returned from the Babylonian exile. Haggai stresses the importance of the relationship to God of the community as a whole, while Zechariah is seen as a prophet of hope, promising Yahweh's salvation to his people. Dr Mason considers Malachi,...

The Book of Daniel was compiled in the second century B.C.; as we have it, it is written partly in Hebrew and partly in Aramaic. The first part contains stories about Daniel, a Jewish exile in the Babylonian captivity, and his companions. The later chapters consists of an account of visions granted by God to Daniel. Canon Hammer's commentary shows that the book carries a message of hope to those who live in the faith.

This volume contains an introduction dealing with the background and content of the book, following the pattern set by other commentaries in the series. A section-by-section...

In Isaiah 1 39 are included the oracles of a prophet who lived in the closing half of the eighth century B.C. His interest in contemporary politics and understanding of international affairs was the product of his faith in the Holy God, who rules in and over all history. Professor Herbert introduces the book with sections on its date, context, nature and content. The text is then given with the detailed commentary in the style now established for this series."

Like the other Cambridge Bible Commentary volumes, this contains an introduction followed by the text of the N.E.B. translation divided into sections. Each section of the text is followed by the commentary upon it.

Canon Robinson shows that 2 Kings is truly a continuation of the story told in the preceding historical books. The narrative now passes to the decline of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and their territorial absorption into the empires of Assyria and Babylon. The compilers of 2 Kings attributed this downfall to the Hebrews' disregard of the prophets and of the covenant with...