As Israel's first king, was Saul a hero or a disaster? Was David a gifted leader, or a murderer and a cheat? You'll gain a deeper understanding of Israel's past - especially its monarchy - with Knoppers' thoughtful and exacting exegesis. Featuring a new translation and extensive research, this volume replaces the 1965 commentary by Jacob Myers.

In this latest addition to the esteemed "Anchor Bible series", scholar Gary Knoppers examines one of the most neglected books of the Hebrew Bible and establishes its importance to understanding the nation of Israel. What was the place of the monarchy in the history of ancient Israel? Was Israel's first king Saul a hero or a disaster? Was David a highly gifted leader and accomplished king or a murderer and a cheat? Did Solomon preside over the most glorious epoch in Israelite history or did he lead the nation into a fateful decline? Knoppers show how the Bible itself contains a variety of fascinating perspectives on major events and characters. One of the most misunderstood books of the Bible, "Chronicles" presents a distinctive and important viewpoint on much of Israel's past, especially the monarchy. Knoppers shows how "Chronicles" defends the transition from Saul to David and upholds the Davidic-Solomonic monarchy as a time of incomparable Israelite achievement and glory, a period in which the nation's most important public institutions - the Davidic dynasty, the Jerusalem Temple, the priests, and the Levites - took formative shape." I Chronicles 10-29", part of a two-volume set on "I Chronicles", is the first to employ systematically the witness of the Dead Sea Scrolls to reconstruct the biblical author's text. Knoppers shows how Chronicles is related to and creatively drawn from many earlier biblical books and presents a fascinating look at its connections in both compositional style and approach to historical writings attested in ancient Mesopotamia and classical Greece.

The Chronicler of Israel wrote as a pastoral theologian. The congregation he addressed was an Israel separated from its former days of blessing by a season of judgment. The two books of Chronicles address a divine word of healing and reaffirm the hope of restoration to a nation that needed to regain its footing in God's word of promise and to reshape its life before God.

In two volumes, Martin Selman provides a masterful interpretation of, and lucid commentary on these sorely neglected yet profound books of the Old Testament. This first volume, on 1 Chronicles, provides a full introduction that surveys the Chronicler's method, summarizes major theological themes and serves as a valuable entree into the heart of the work we now know as 1 & 2 Chronicles. A complete introduction surveying the author's methods and key theological themes accompanies the passage-by-passage commentary. The commentary is conservative and Evangelical in theology, with top-notch scholarship. A knowledge of Hebrew is not required.

The Chronicler of Israel wrote as a pastoral theologian. The congregation he addressed was an Israel separated from its former days of blessing by a season of judgment. The two books of Chronicles address a divine word of healing and reaffirm the hope of restoration to a nation that needed to regain its footing in God's word of promise and to reshape its life before God.

The Chronicler expounds the Bible as he knows it, skilfully weaving his commentary into the linear text of Israel's history. His theme is straightforward; the promises of God revealed in the Davidic covenant are as trustworthy and as effective as the God who first uttered them.

In two volumes, Martin Selman provides a masterful interpretation of, and lucid commentary on these sorely neglected yet profound books of the Old Testament. This volume on 2 Chronicles continues to build on the groundwork laid by its companion on 1 Chronicles.

The late Martin J. Selman was Deputy Principal at Spurgeon's College, London.

Pastors, lay Bible teachers and others who find their subject material rich and challenging - but their preparation time running out - will be informed and inspired by this commentary's approach to Old Testament scholarship which includes:
• importance of the Bible book under discussion
• Quick quotes - comments from noted writers and theologians suitable for citing in your own presentation
• Succinct Summaries - each main theme or lesson summarized clearly and accurately
• Details - illustrations, historical facts, grammatical notations, discussion points, teaching plans and more
The Holman Old Testament Commentary is based on the NIV translation.