Leviticus and Numbers

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
Author: Roy Gane
Bible Book: Leviticus Numbers
Publisher: Zondervan
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary
Last updated: February 5, 2026
Looking for alternatives? Compare Leviticus commentaries.

Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.0/10

A strong bridge for Leviticus and Numbers that helps us preach holiness with clarity and care.

Publication Date(s): 2004
Pages: 848
ISBN: 9780310210887
Faithfulness to the Text: 8.5/10
We find a steady commitment to explaining the text in context, with care around structure, repetition, and the theological logic of holiness.
Christ Centredness: 7.6/10
Not always framed in explicitly Christ centred terms, but the volume often helps us make responsible Christward connections by clarifying priesthood, sacrifice, and covenant worship.
Depth of Insight: 8.4/10
We are helped by careful handling of difficult material and by sustained attention to how these books shape the life of God’s people.
Clarity of Writing: 7.7/10
Clear overall, though some sections require patient reading because the subject matter is demanding.
Pastoral Usefulness: 8.3/10
Especially useful for pastors who need help turning unfamiliar material into faithful proclamation and wise application.
Readability: 7.6/10
Best consulted per passage, but readable enough for steady use in a series.

Summary

At a Glance

Length
848 pages
Type
Application
Theo. Perspective
Broadly Evangelical
Overall score
8 / 10
Strength
Disciplined movement from meaning to application in difficult books.
Limitation
Some sections are detailed, so it rewards planned study rather than last minute use.

We find Roy Gane’s Leviticus and Numbers in the NIV Application Commentary series a valuable aid for books that many of us find hard to preach well. He works carefully from original meaning toward contemporary significance, and he is often strongest where the text feels unfamiliar, technical, or spiritually weighty.

Gane helps us see how holiness, worship, mediation, and life under the Lord belong together. He can be detailed, but the goal is consistently pastoral, to help the church understand why these books matter and how their message shapes reverent, obedient faith.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary if we want help making Leviticus and Numbers preachably clear without flattening them. It aids us in explaining ritual and sacrifice, and it also helps us handle wilderness narratives with theological purpose rather than mere illustration.

We also benefit from the disciplined structure that resists vague application. When we preach holiness texts, we need both clarity and care, and this volume often provides prompts that keep us faithful to the passage.

For Reformed preaching, we use it alongside a more explicitly Christ centred guide, especially where priesthood and sacrifice point forward in the storyline of redemption.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong, pastor facing resource for Leviticus and Numbers, especially for those planning a preaching series through neglected territory.

As pastoral next steps, we can go to the Bible Book Overview for Leviticus, browse Top Recommendations, and consult the Reformed Commentary Index to build a balanced shelf for preaching.


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Classification

  • Level: Mid-level
  • Best For: Busy pastors, Pastors-in-training
  • Priority: Strong recommendation

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