Minor Prophets II (Understanding the Bible Commentary | UBC)
Overview
This volume includes commentary on the second six books of the Minor Prophets: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. With clear writing and technical expertise, the authors skillfully navigate the various interpretive challenges these books present, helping the reader understand and apply these ancient messages from God in today’s world.
Top Highlights
“There is an odd thing about being an Israelite (or a Christian). It means being able to continue to rejoice or exult or be triumphant (ʿalaz) and be joyful when there is no visible reason for that.” (Page 86)
“The book’s message, then, is that Yahweh’s way of dealing with a situation in which a society is characterized by unfairness and violence involves making use of the unfairness and violence of some other power, even though (or precisely because) such superpowers are themselves ruthless and violent. That fact means that a superpower must itself be put down in due course—an event in which ordinary peoples can then rejoice and which constitutes a new embodiment of a known pattern of God’s activity in the world. The vocation of the people of God is to wait on God for the fulfillment of these faithful intentions.” (Pages 50–51)
“Strife (rib) and conflict (madon) are both legal words. They insinuate that the wrongdoers are able to use the law so as to wrong other people who are less adept at working the legal system. It seems that the usual rule holds, that the powerful and clever people in the community and the people who exercise authority there are themselves heavily involved in the wrongdoing, in fraud and violence. Community life is totally broken down.” (Page 54)
“Like Jeremiah (and Job), Habakkuk addresses forceful words of confrontation to Yahweh (cf. also Ps. 82) and receives responses which do not necessarily please him or confirm his way of looking at things. Habakkuk engages Yahweh in an argument—not one concerning his own needs or suffering, but those of his people. Yahweh does not rebuke him for engaging in this argument; Yahweh’s answers do put him in his place.” (Page 48)
John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is ordained in the Episcopal Church and is the author of numerous books, including Old Testament Theology volumes 1–3 and commentaries on Daniel, the Psalms, and Isaiah.
Pamela Scalise is an associate professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, Seattle Campus. She is the author, with Gerald Keown and Thomas Smothers, of Jeremiah 26–52.