Daniel (Apollos Old Testament Commentary)

Rating:
Summary: Informed and helpful, intelligently conservative
Review: This early entry in the Apollos Commentary Series has set a high standard for future volumes. The series features a new translation by the author (including footnotes); a section on Form and Structure which is largely concerned with the literary features of the text; a Comment section in which the text is exegeted; and an Explanation section where the author traces the "passage's interpretational development in Scripture and the church" in order to provide a theologically informed conclusion on the meaning of the text and suggested avenues of appropriation. Lucas has accomplished each of these tasks admirably.

Daniel is a difficult book to comment on because it has been the subject of much heated debate between conservative and liberal scholars, its visions have been wildly and carelessly interpreted, and its stories are familiar to the point of meaninglessness. On each of these points Lucas has provided a sane and helpful alternative.

While remaining somewhat noncommittal about the authorship and date of the book, he intelligently interacted with the most recent critical scholarship on Daniel and presented a reasoned defense of generally conservative positions. He leaves open the possibility that chapter 11 may be pseudonymous in keeping with the typical conventions of that genre.

Regarding the visions Lucas presents interpretations that are well informed by his familiarity with ANE parallels and relevant historical background. He takes the culmination of all the visions to be the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. His approach to these texts is strengthened by his sensitivity to the apocalyptic genre and its effects on the meaning of the language employed.

In dealing with the stories, Lucas employs the tools of literary criticism to great advantage. The result being fresh and deep interpretations of the text that can take the typical reader beyond the simplistic readings she is probably familiar with from childhood.

The commentary is highly recommended. The series is aimed at both scholars and pastors, so the discussions can get a bit technical for some, but generally they will be understandable to most lay people. As with any book, no one commentary can say everything nor get everything right. The reader may want to compare other volumes such as those by Collins, Goldingay, Baldwin, Lacocque, or Longman.