Longman III, Tremper, How to Read Daniel, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020. 190pp.
IVP has long fostered their reputation as a publisher that produces reputable and accessible scholarship. This has continued with the How to Read… Series which has been spearheaded by Tremper Longman III. The newest edition of this series is releasing soon, and it covers not only one of the more complicated books of the Old Testament (Daniel), but also one that Longman has published on previously at some length. This series (and this entry in particular) is a welcome addition to IVPs large collection of accessible scholarship.
Like other entries in this series, this book aims to bring scholarship on the biblical text down to a lay level. Consider this from the homepage for the series:
You can read the Bible on your own, and its main themes will be clear enough. But an expert can sharpen your understanding and appreciation of the message, bringing God’s Word into an even clearer focus.
To this end, Longman has structured the book in three clear parts. The first deals with the big picture of the book and equips the reader to understand the broad scope of the historical, literary, and theological context for the book. The next section deals with the six stories incorporated in the book. The final part of the book deals with the message of Daniel for today. How do we live faithfully in the midst of an antagonistic culture (Daniel 1-6), and how can we find comfort as we live in a dangerous world (Daniel 7-12)?
It is clear that Longman has dwelt long on the text of Daniel, and that deep work has yielded incredible insight as well as a unique ability to state it concisely. One example comes early on when he helpfully explains the nature and purpose of a chiasm and illustrates how the book of Daniel can be seen as one. Other examples can be found in the frequent and useful excursuses on relevant historical characters, including those not named in the text. Longman chooses these carefully and expertly and concisely explains each character in what is otherwise often a very confusing book.
Even in the midst of the scholarly nature of this work, non-specialists will find it readable and understandable. The text does not burden the reader with complicated footnotes or arcane languages. Any references to Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic are transliterated. Each chapter ends with a helpful summary, and excellent discussion questions, making this book an excellent choice for small groups and classes.
If you are interested in Daniel, this book is a must-have. It’s approachable, understandable, and yet rigorously academic. If you are looking for a technical exegetical commentary on Daniel, this book is not for you. However, Longman has anticipated this potential need and has provided an excellent annotated bibliography of more technically inclined commentaries on Daniel. This bibliography alone, compiled by such an excellent scholar and including his evaluation of each, is likely worth the price of this book if you are passionate about the book of Daniel.
