Amos, Jonah, & Micah is written by JoAnna M. Hoyt. This is a volume in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series which is published by Lexham Academic.
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What is the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Series?
This is personally one of my favorite commentary series! As the inside front cover mentions, “The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series is a premier biblical commentary rooted in the original languages of Scripture. Incorporating the latest in critical biblical scholarship and written from a distinctively evangelical perspective, each volume provides historical and literary insights and examines exegetical, pastoral, and theological details. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the text and how to apply it to everyday life.”
Amos, Jonah, & Micah: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary
One of the reasons that I really enjoyed Hoyt’s volume is because of the depth and breadth that it covers. This is not a short, concise commentary by any means! Even many other commentaries that I love do not get even close to this level of interaction with the text. This is incredibly thorough! This is an 800-page book that covers three minor prophets (named minor due to their shorter length in comparison to the major/longer prophets). Hopefully that gives you an idea of just how thorough this work actually is!
I love how this volume deals with the original languages. The Hebrew is dealt with all over this book. It is not transliterated, nor is it relegated to footnotes. The main body of the text provides the original language which is very helpful for pastors, teachers, and serious Bible students that want to see exactly how the author is dealing with the text. However, please don’t be discouraged if you are unfamiliar with the original languages, for the author provides an English translation immediately following the verse in the original language.
Hoyt’s introduction covers the typical issues that are found in intros of commentaries. She discusses the author, recipients, date, occasion and setting, purpose, and more. I like that she added a section on intertextual issues and theology. Her section on structure was very neat, as I never realized that there were numerous structural proposals for Amos.
The layout of this volume is very user-friendly and helpful. Each section, or chapter, begins with an introduction to that particular passage. This is followed by the text in its original language. After that, there is a section on textual notes that deal with variants and reasons for choosing one manuscript over another. There is then an English translation of the text. This is then followed by the commentary. I appreciate that every verse is in bold, which makes it very helpful when searching for a specific verse. At the end of the commentary section, there is a section with “Biblical Theology Comments”. This is pure gold, and an excellent addition to any already outstanding volume. Then, to make it even better, there is an “Application and Devotional Implications” section. If it seems like I’m getting too excited, please let me explain. Most commentaries are either technical (dealing with the original languages and critical issues), theological, or pastoral/devotional in nature. This series runs the full gamut! There is nobody left out. All will find something in this volume that is very satisfying to them, and if you’re like me, you’ll find all of its features to be satisfying!
Hoyt shows herself to be an incredible scholar who knows these three biblical books inside and out. Not only that, but she also proves to be an excellent and wise teacher who knows how to apply God’s Word to all of life. Her writing is easy to understand and will help the reader to love God’s Word and to be able to apply it to this life. I want to heartily recommend this volume to all Christians wanting to grow in their understanding of these glorious books of the Bible!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Lexham Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Other Books We’ve Reviewed in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Series:
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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