Short Verdict: A solid, reliable scholarly-evangelical commentary on The Book of Job that faithfully engages the Hebrew text and the theological challenge of suffering, though it stops short of the most overtly Reformed thematic integration.
Summary
In terms of approach, Hartley begins with an extensive introduction into the book’s authorship, date, structure, textual and linguistic issues, and Ancient Near Eastern background. The main body presents a verse-by-verse (or section-by-section) commentary, with a translation of the Hebrew text and careful attention to textual criticism, syntax, literary structure, and theological significance. While the volume leans toward an academic consumption—especially for pastors or teachers desiring depth—it retains sufficient exposition and application to be of use beyond specialist-only audiences.
It is especially suited to pastors, seminary students, and serious Bible-teachers who are willing to engage technical material in order to ground faithful preaching and teaching of Job’s complex themes of suffering, divine justice, and restoration.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
Firstly, the work’s strength lies in its careful and disciplined attention to the text of Job. Hartley does not treat Job superficially; instead he wrestles with the Hebrew, explores textual variants, engages the ancient Near Eastern parallels, and tracks the book’s structure so that we are not merely reading isolated verses but seeing how the poetry, narrative and wisdom elements function together. For a Reformed-minded pastor, this is indispensable: the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, human suffering, and ultimate restoration requires careful attention to how Job says it rather than just what we wish it said.
Secondly, the theological and pastoral insights are commendable. Hartley repeatedly emphasizes how Job’s experience confronts the presumption of easy retributive justice and draws believers into the deeper reality of a sovereign, inscrutable yet loving God who redeems his people amid suffering. While his Reformed theology may not always be fully spelled out in the language of covenant or TULIP, the themes he handles resonate deeply with the Five Solas: the Lord’s initiative, Christ-centred redemption implicitly present, and the call to corrupted human creatureliness. In the context of a sermon series on Job, this commentary gives robust material to unpack Job’s confession, divine speeches, and restoration.
Thirdly, in practical terms this volume stands out for usability. It is more manageable than multi-volume commentaries, making it realistic for pastors on a schedule. The English translation of the Hebrew that accompanies the commentary helps those less fluent in Hebrew. The commentary’s layout—introductions, section summaries, theological cross-references and application pointers—makes it a good preparation tool for preaching. That said, readers with minimal Hebrew or without appetite for technical detail may find some sections dense; and Hartley occasionally leaves major theological threads (for example the New Testament-Christological implications of Job) more implicit than explicit.
Closing Recommendation
We warmly recommend this volume to pastors, church-teachers and serious students who intend to shepherd a series through the Book of Job or want a dependable resource for deeper study. If you are preparing sermons or lectures and want to ground yourself in the Hebrew text while maintaining evangelical fidelity and theological depth, Hartley is a wise choice.
However, if you are looking for light devotional reading or a commentary with full-blown Reformed covenant-theological mapping, you may prefer a more pithy or explicitly covenantal work alongside this. Even so, this remains one of the better single-volume commentaries on Job from an evangelical vantage and is well worth the shelf-space.
John E. Hartley
John E. Hartley (b. 1939) is an American Old Testament scholar within the evangelical and Wesleyan-Arminian tradition.
A long-time professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Azusa Pacific University and visiting scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary, Hartley has contributed deeply to evangelical biblical scholarship through his careful exegesis and pastoral tone. His works demonstrate a rare blend of linguistic precision and devotional warmth, marked by a steadfast confidence in the authority and unity of Scripture. He is best known for his commentaries on Leviticus in the Word Biblical Commentary series and Job in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series, both of which display his meticulous attention to the Hebrew text and his desire to illuminate God’s redemptive purposes.
Hartley’s writing continues to be valued for its balance of scholarly rigour and spiritual sensitivity. He writes not merely to interpret Scripture but to lead readers into reverent trust in the God of Scripture. His work remains a model of how careful exegesis can deepen both faith and understanding.
Recommended titles: The Book of Job (Eerdmans, 1988); Leviticus (Word Books, 1992).