It took a long time but I finally got done with teaching my girls through the entire book of Exodus as part of our home Bible study!
I thought it be a good idea to review the Bible commentaries on Exodus that I found helpful!
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Looking for a devotional commentary on Exodus? I highly recommend this one by Philip Graham Ryken! It is a massive work (1247 pages!) but don’t let the size scare you; general Christian readers and also Bible teachers will benefit from this book by an esteemed pastor. The book is an exceptional expositional commentary that is something in the middle between a devotional and an exegetical technical commentary and yet sometimes some of the insights in this book point out great points from the biblical texts that other technical commentaries might have missed. I recommend this commentary as personal devotional or resources for Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers and preachers and pastors.
The book is a volume that is a part of Crossway’s Bible commentary series called “Preaching the Word.” There is 102 chapters that goes through all forty chapters of Exodus; which is an incredible feat! I took a long time to finish this book largely because I took so much notes in order to teach my daughters’ as part of our family’s home Bible study as a family. Ryken does a great job explaining the text and also applying it to the readers’ hearts. It was such a good commentary that every time I study to prepare to teach from Exodus I consult this commentary first as what lays the foundation for other commentaries.
Ryken does a good job exploring the narrative leading up to the Hebrews exodus from Egypt but he also does a good job with the Mosaic case laws also. I cannot recommend this enough!
Rousas John Rushdoony. Exodus: Commentaries on the Pentateuch. Vallecito, CA: Chalcedon Foundation, January 1, 2004. 592 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
I don’t know if I should categorize this Bible commentary on Exodus an expositional, a specialized commentary (with attention to details from understanding of Exodus) or even a devotional commentary. The author Rushdoony goes over the book of Exodus section by section and gives readers helpful insights. In particular I enjoyed his look at Old Testament case Laws. Even if one does not subscribe to everything Rushdoony has to say about the law of God still I think he does present great observations of how people back in Old Covenant would have obeyed and carried out God’s laws. Sometimes modern readers easily gloss over the second half of Exodus but with writers like Rushdoony makes me think longer about the law.
The commentary took 124 chapters to look at Exodus. What a feat! The first 57 chapters are the historical narrative of Exodus 1-19. The rest covers Exodus 20 onwards. As a constructive criticism I must say Rushdoony does go from time to time on tangents that are political but not necessarily driven from the immediate passage.
Duane A. Garrett. A Commentary on Exodus. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, November, 1st, 2014. 741 pp.
Check out my review of this book some years ago here: Review: A Commentary on Exodus by Duane A. Garrett
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for these interesting reviews of Exodus commentaries. Once again, I’m motivated to get back to my weekly deep-dive Bible studies.
Whenever I see the name of Rushdoony, I always think of his influence on Francis Schaeffer, who in turn influenced Falwell to create “Moral Majority” in order to “reclaim America.”
I was thinking you would think that with Rushdoony. Funny there’s someone I know on Facebook who would associate Rushdoony going backwards in time with associating him with Van Til! How did your Monday yesterday go?
Lol. Reading “Rushdoony” always elicits an involuntary Falwellian reflex.
Monday was slow. I’m currently sorting through all of the paperwork I accumulated with my sister’s move to Florida two years ago.
How’s the journey going?
Thanks for the great reviews. I marvel at how you make time to read the books and do the reviews.
Blessings.
Thanks for reading the reviews! It helps that part of my job as a pastor is to read! Hope your Tuesday goes well!
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Do you have the physical or digital commentaries or both?
Do you have similar posts for each book of the Bible?
I have not! That sounds like a great idea for future posts as I read more commentaries!!
Good question! First one: first book I have as a pdf. The second one, I read it online for free. The third one I have a physical hard copy.
I have Kent Hughes book on Genesis from Preaching the Word series. It is half the size of Ryken’s commentary that you reviewed. I may try to finish Hughes’ book now that you mentioned the one on Exodus. Kent Hughes was our pastor when we were at College Church in Wheaton, IL, decades ago. His teachings were powerful. That’s why I have his book.
Wow! Kent Hughes was your pastor? Did you go to Wheaton College also?
We lived a couple of blocks form College Church when we moved to Wheaton for a job I received. I went to the Universities of Maine and Illinois where I studied mathematics.
For older books, you can oftentimes locate a pdf version here for free:
https://archive.org
For everyone, what is your favorite citation software?
Do you mean Bible software? If so it is Bible Works; sadly its not around anymore =(
Logos. A great gift from my parents
I would also highly recommend the Exodus in the New American Commentary series by Douglas Stuart that book is invaluable to me. I have read that quite a few times and always learn something new!!!
While this is not a Christian source, Robert Alter (Jewish) brings life to the Hebrew with his translation and commentary.
Have you read the Gospel According to Moses? It’s part of the same series as Nahum.
Thanks for your recommendations!!!!!
Thanks for the recommendations! Man those are some awesome recommendations!
Matthew Henry is actually my fav…although he can get a little long-winded 💨but I will certainly check this guy out. Thanks💕
Wow thanks for sharing who your favorite commentator on the Bible is!
Thanks for sharing these reviews. Sounds like great resources for sure.
Thanks for reading this review posts Paula!
Nice
Thanks!
Rushdoony’s commentary is free online
Fortunately it is! Thanks!
I wish the others were free
Thanks Jim for sharing this review. I also appreciate discovering a new Christian voice in the words of Phillip Graham Ryken.
Thanks! I appreciate the writings of Philip Ryken