Most commentaries tell you what the text means theologically. The IVP Background Commentary tells you why the text was written that way culturally.
and wondering why people acted the way they did? Why was a "Book of the Law" suddenly found in a wall? Or what did it actually mean to "weigh the heart"? These aren't just random details; they are deeply rooted in a world very different from our own IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament ivp bible background commentary old testament pdf
Walton, J. H., Matthews, V. H., & Chavalas, M. W. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament . InterVarsity Press. Most commentaries tell you what the text means theologically
You read about Abraham sacrificing a cow cut in half, David collecting 200 Philistine foreskins, or Ezekiel lying on his side for 430 days. To our modern eyes, these actions seem bizarre or even insane. But to an ancient Near Eastern reader, they made perfect sense. Why was a "Book of the Law" suddenly found in a wall
Published by InterVarsity Press (IVP), this volume (often paired with its New Testament counterpart by Craig Keener) has become the standard in its field. Here is why: