The Complete text of each biblical book is given, with the commentary on the same or facing page. Review aids and discussion topics make the series practical and useful for individual or group Bible study.

These books, from what are often called the twelve prophets, continue to recount the story of the return from Babylonian exile. They speak with immediacy and power to the generation that was responsible for writing down and organizing the Hebrew Scriptures and founding Judaism as a religion, not just an ethnic identity. Haggai demonstrates how not to be a prophet, as his wildly optimistic and date-specific predictions don't come true. Zechariah then tries to restore the reputation of the prophets after Jeremiah denounces them as liars. A central issue is the rebuilding of the temple-how can it replace the celebrated temple of Solomon? Should it be built before the people even have the resources to build their own houses? When did God leave the temple, and what will convince God to return? These postexilic prophets affirm the many traditions of the people of Judah and Israel, who are still reeling from exile, offering them hope and direction. They promise that God's justice will include punishment of their enemies and a full restoration of God's people. John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. A native of Ireland, he has a doctorate from Harvard University, and earlier taught at the University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame. He has published widely on the subjects of apocalypticism, wisdom, Hellenistic Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls and served as president of both the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Verhoef's study on the Books of Haggai and Malachi is part of The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, a series which devotes considerable care to achieving a balance between technical information and homiletic-devotional interpretation. The commentary itself is based on the author's own translation of the Hebrew text.

Babylonia fell and the Temple was rebuilt, miracles were at once present and hidden but Judea remained subject to the Persian Empire. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah spoke of imminent redemption yet most Jews remained in exile. Prophecy ceased with Malachi, and a chapter in Jewish history came to an end, paving the way for a new era with the Oral Law at its heart: the era of the rabbis. At the end of the age of the prophets, hope mixed with disappointment as the people of Israel tried to come to terms with this partial salvation, wondering what it meant for the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. Often overlooked, the books of the final prophets hold the key to understanding the monumental transition that overtook the Jewish world at the beginning of the Second Temple Era and that ushered in the postbiblical age. In Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi: Prophecy in an Age of Uncertainty, Rabbi Hayyim Angel brings to life one of the least understood eras of Jewish history.

In this all-new Tyndale Old Testament Commentary, we meet the three prophets who were sent to reform the Israelite community after exile. Andrew Hill shows how their oracles remain timely for the church today.

The New Testament Scriptures will never be properly understood by a person if the Old Testament Scriptures essentially remain a mystery to him,' says Paul Benware.Most Christians do not have a clear understanding of the pattern, unity, or progression of the Old Testament. They can tell stories of Moses, Noah, and David but aren't sure how all these events fit together. And they don't fully appreciate the doctrines found in the thirty-nine books between Genesis and Malachi.But the Old Testament does not have to be mysterious or confusing. Newly revised, Dr. Benware offers a chronological approach to give you a bird's-eye view of the historic value of the Old Testament, while his book-by-book analysis reveals important details and emphases.If you want a better understanding of the whole Bible, Survey of the Old Testament is the place to start.

Where is the line between God’s mercy and judgment? In the latest volume of the New International Commentary on the Old Testament, James D. Nogalski offers a new translation of and commentary on several of the Minor Prophets—the Books of Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah—that grapple with this theme in radically different ways. This volume includes a robust introduction for each book, delineating its textual transmission, historical context, literary form, and major themes. The introduction also discusses the role of each book within the collection of the Twelve (Minor) Prophets. The commentaries proper explain the texts verse by verse, illuminating each book’s structure and canonical significance, yet always with an eye toward pastoral application. Academically rigorous and accessibly written, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah is an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and pastors.