Derek Kidner - Ezra and Nehemiah (TOTC)

The aim of this series of Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, as it was in the companion volumes on the New Testament, is to provide the student of the Bible with a handy, up-to-date commentary on each book, with the primary emphasis on exegesis. Major critical questions are discussed in the introductions and additional notes, while undue technicalities have been avoided.

In this series individual authors are, of course, free to make their own distinct contributions and express their own point of view on all debated issues. Within the necessary limits of space they frequently draw attention to interpretations which they themselves do not hold but which represent the stated conclusions of sincere fellow Christians. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah have long been the subject of special and complex academic controversy, not least concerning the order of events recorded. Mr Kidner sincerely maintains the traditional order of their appearance on the stage of history of these two influential Jewish leaders at a time of great national crisis. Other views are by no means ignored; the author purposefully places detailed discussion of some aspects of them in Appendices, to enable the general reader to concentrate on the overall teaching, message and relevance of these Old Testament books.

In the Old Testament in particular no single English translation is adequate to reflect the original text. The authors of these commentaries freely quote various versions, therefore, or give their own translation, in the endeavour to make the more difficult passages or words meaningful today. Where necessary, words from the Hebrew (and Aramaic) Text underlying their studies are transliterated. This will help the reader who may be unfamiliar with the Semitic languages to identify the word under discussion and thus to follow the argument. It is assumed throughout that the reader will have ready access to one, or more, reliable rendering of the Bible in English.

Interest in the meaning and message of the Old Testament continues undiminished and it is hoped that this series will thus further the systematic study of the revelation of God and his will and ways as seen in these records. It is the prayer of the editor and publisher, as of the authors, that these books will help many to understand, and to respond to, the Word of God today.

D. J. Wiseman

I am glad to take the opportunity which a Preface offers of making a few acknowledgments. I am grateful to Miss Ann Bradshaw for her skill in deciphering a veritable palimpsest to produce an orderly typescript; to Dr Hugh Williamson for drawing my attention to articles which I might easily have overlooked; to the Tyndale Library for providing almost all the reference material which was needed; and to the Editor of this series for giving me this absorbing task.

May this commentary not add greatly to the much rubbish that surrounds the city of God, but even help to stop a gap or two in its defences.

To my regret, the NIV (New International Version, 1979) came into print too late to be consulted among the other translations of the Old Testament.

Derek Kidner