Digital Logos Edition
Many today find the Old Testament a closed book. The cultural issues seem insurmountable and we are easily baffled by that which seems obscure. Furthermore, without knowledge of the ancient culture we can easily impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (ZIBBC) series invites you to enter the Old Testament with a company of guides, experts that will give new insights into these cherished writings.
Volume 4 of the ZIBBC series brings to life the world of the Old Testament Major Prophets through informative entries and full-color photos and graphics. Here readers find a premier commentary for connecting with the historical and cultural context of the Old Testament.
“holars by and large agree that Nebuchadnezzar was not able to conquer Egypt at this time. N” (Page 331)
“It seems that here iron represents the enemy while the prophet Jeremiah is characterized by iron and bronze.” (Page 271)
“It appears that the king is here inspecting the water supply of the city, which would soon be under siege.” (Page 39)
“shaved’ is problematic, and there are a number of other alternative translations for this Hebrew verb.” (Page 241)
“is empire was eventually divided between four of his generals (” (Page 554)
This is a unique and important commentary. It is a milestone in the collection and comparative interpretation of ancient Near Eastern texts, pictures, and other archaeological materials as well as geographical, historical, and cultural information as they relate to the Old Testament. There is nothing else like it available today. . . . There will always be disagreements between scholars on such matters, but the many comparative and archaeological resources assembled in these volumes make it a veritable gold mine for those who desire to take the ancient context of the Lord’s work and word seriously in their study, teaching, and preaching of Holy Scripture.
—Richard E. Averbeck, Ph.D., Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
As a pastor, I am certain that the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament is a deeply valuable tool for ministry. With rock-solid scholarship, relevant commentary, and gripping visual illustrations, this will be a great tool for believers for years to come.
—Kevin G. Harney, pastor and author of Organic Outreach for Ordinary People
To me, every Christian should own these commentaries. I say that very seriously because when you study Scripture without looking into the historical and cultural background of what was happening when each part of the Bible was written, we miss incredibly so much meaning, understanding and depth. Using these commentaries when studying Scripture turns our study into a multi-dimensional and extremely colorful study. You will have so many ‘Oh! That’s what that means!’ or ‘Now that makes sense!’ moments when studying with this commentary. I cannot imagine doing any study of the Bible without it quite honestly and couldn’t recommend a commentary of this type any higher.
—Dan Kimball, pastor and author of They Like Jesus but Not the Church