The Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries provide compact, critical commentaries on the books of the Old Testament for the use of theological students and pastors. The commentaries are also useful for upper-level college or university students and for those responsible for teaching in congregational settings. In addition to providing basic information and insights into the Old Testament writings, these commentaries exemplify the tasks and procedures of careful interpretation to assist students of the Old Testament in coming to an informed and critical engagement with the biblical texts themselves. The prophetic books gathered together in the book of the Twelve are sometimes called the "minor" prophets because of their relatively small size when compared with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. They are often neglected, at least partly because their words of judgment make the reader uncomfortable. Yet they have considerable theological and ethical value--for their call for social justice (especially Amos and Micah), their insights about the passionate love of God (in Hosea), God's grace and forgiveness (Jonah, Hosea, and elsewhere), and the finality of hope, even in the face of terrible catastrophes.

No other reference gets to the heart of the Old Testament as efficiently as The Holman Old Testament Commentary. When you've got the time, this series offers a detailed interpretation based on the popular NIV text. When time is short, this series delivers an essential understanding of the Old Testament with unsurpassed clarity and convenience. 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 approach to Old Testament scholarship which includes: The main idea - a brief yet accurate statement about the purpose, meaning, and 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. Make every minute of prep time more meaningful with The Holman Old Testament Commentary. Book jacket.

The eloquent and uncompromising calls for social righteousness by the Minor Prophets are familiar to many, yet the writings themselves are probably the least-studied and least-known texts of the Old Testament. Those who are familiar with these books are also aware of the historical and literary problems that plague their study. Drawing on theological, historical, and literary insights, Leslie Allen’s commentary on Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah carefully and imaginatively reconstructs the context in which the original Hebrew audience received the prophets’ messages. In turn, Allen shows what relevance they hold for contemporary Christians. For each of the books, Allen includes a substantial introduction, presenting and assessing a broad range of scholarship, a select bibliography, and an extensive commentary on the author’s own translation of the text. Allen pays special attention to Micah, in which he treats at greater length many of the forms and motifs that also appear in Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah. The introductory material for Joel includes discussions of canonicity and textual criticism that apply to the entire volume.

The Bible is simply a love letter compiled into sixty-six books and written over a period ofsixteen hundred years by more than forty authors living on three continents. Although theauthors came from different backgrounds, there is one message, one theme, one thread that runs throughout the entire Bible from the first book, Genesis, to the last book, Revelation. That message is God's redeeming love for mankind--a message that is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago.The scope of The Early Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah) is broad indeed. Chronologically, they span more than four centuries from approximately 848 to 425 BC. Geographically, they touch Israel, Judah, Syria, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Assyria. Thematically, they explore such topics as love, mercy, compassion, wrath, judgment, holiness, obedience, disobedience, hope, repentance, and many more.As you begin your study of these books, be prepared for gripping and graphic portrayalsof both God and man: Hosea's picture of God's love for his adulterous people symbolizedby the prophet's love for his adulterous wife; Jonah's portrayal of himself as a disobedient,runaway prophet pursued by a patient God; Amos's colorful visions of God's judgment that would come because of his continued disobedience; and Obadiah's classic portrait of pride.The setting of these books may be ancient, but their message is modern. You will meet the eternal God in them -- and you will meet yourself. Welcome to the Minor Prophets whose message is major.

Highly regarded Old Testament scholar John Goldingay offers a substantive and useful commentary on Hosea through Micah and explores the contemporary significance of these prophetic books. This volume, the first in a new series on the Prophets, complements the successful series Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Wisdom and Psalms (series volumes have sold over 55,000 copies). Each series volume is both critically engaged and sensitive to the theological contributions of the text. Series editors are Mark J. Boda and J. Gordon McConville.

Surrounded by military and political threats, the people of Israel were led into dangerous alliances and war. Survivors were subjected to steep taxation, exile, intermarriage, and more, and loyalty to God diminished. With the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians, all faith seemed lost. Enter the minor prophets, bringers of oracles, parables, and poems named "minor" not for their lack of significance but for the briefness of their texts. Like Jonah in the fish, they confess sin and foresee judgment but emerge from the darkness to tell of forgiveness, restoration, abundant blessings, and salvation. Like the Temple, which was rebuilt, the loyalty of the Lord will grow and prosper.