Allan M. Harman has written the Daniel volume for the EP Study Commentary, published by Evangelical Press (EP Books).
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Daniel (EP Study Commentary Series)
I am a big fan of the EP Study Commentary, and I highly recommend it to all. It is written to be an accessible series for anybody wishing to grow in their understanding of the Word of God, and yet it is academic/scholarly enough for the pastor and teacher as well. This volume on Daniel proves to be that case. Harman, who gives his own translation of the original Hebrew and Aramaic text, deals with technical and critical aspects of the book of Daniel, and yet it is written in such an easy to understand manner.
I really appreciate the format of this commentary. It begins with a concise summary of the passage that will be discussed. Then, verse by verse, Harman provides commentary on those verses. The verse (or verses) are always placed in italics and always double spaced from the surrounding commentary, making it very easy to find specific verses (and this is particularly helpful when utilizing this commentary as a resource). Finally, each chapter concludes with an application section. These sections are rather long as opposed to just a few sentences tacked on to the end of the chapter. These are very helpful sections!
I was very excited to get my hands on this volume due to the apocalyptic sections of the book of Daniel. This is not an easy book to interpret, and being a Presbyterian, I was looking forward to reading Harman’s work considering he is also a Presbyterian. Harman does not disappoint at all!
I really enjoyed his introductory matters section which dealt with topics such as the place and significance of Daniel in the Old Testament, the theology, structure, and date of the book, and the relationship between Daniel and the New Testament. I also really appreciated the fact that Harman provided a chapter on apocalyptic literature just prior to his part two of the book (which dealt with Daniel’s visions).
I also want to note that this is a book that I wanted to read from cover to cover. I can’t say that about all commentaries since I typically use them as resources that I consult. But this was a book that I didn’t want to put down!
Harman is an excellent writer/communicator, and his content was excellent! I cannot recommend this commentary highly enough! Tolle lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Evangelical Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
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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