Abstract
This concise commentary is an accessible and lucid treatment of the books of Joel and Obadiah. Its primary purpose is to illuminate the main themes and message of these prophetic texts for a contemporary Christian audience. The book is composed of two parts and devotes space to each Joel and Obadiah in proportion to their number of verses. An extended table of contents also serves as Jones’s structural outline for the texts. The first section briefly discusses the background and other introductory matters such as author, date, and theological themes. Each subsequent chapter moves through the biblical text, following the proposed literary structure. Seven or eight ‘questions for further study’ conclude most chapters for the purpose of reviewing content and stimulating further theological and personal reflection.
Particularly helpful is Jones’s appeal to the underlying Hebrew, cited in transliteration, especially when an important textual detail is not transparent in English translation. He identifies and explains, for example, key or repeated words such as ra’ah (‘evil, calamity’ (p. 54)) and literary features like wordplay. In substantive footnotes, Jones also dispels possible misinterpretations of English glosses (e.g., basar, ‘flesh’ (p. 67)). Also informative is the reference to other Old Testament texts and ancient Near Eastern culture for clarifying background. And, consistent with the purposes of the Focus on the Bible commentary series, Jones gives contemporary illustrations from history and literature. Where Jones does not offer justification for a contested interpretation, he typically points the reader to fuller treatments of the issue. A bibliography would have been helpful, given the frequent footnote referencing to these additional resources.
This commentary is a highly readable introduction to the books of Joel and Obadiah and accomplishes its purposes to explain the message of Joel and Obadiah for popular audiences. Its compact format, focus on exegetical issues of greatest significance for interpretation, and view toward contemporary application make it especially suited for pastors, Bible study groups, or anyone who is interested in learning more about these compelling prophetic books and their relevance to readers today.