Summary
Marten H. Woudstra’s Joshua in the NICOT series is a careful, reverent, and deeply informed exposition of Israel’s entry into the land. We find it a commentary marked by confessional steadiness, linguistic competence, and a clear understanding of Joshua’s place within the unfolding covenant story. Written from a broadly Reformed perspective, it offers pastors and students a reliable guide through a book often misunderstood or mishandled in the contemporary church.
Woudstra balances detailed exegesis with theological attentiveness, setting the narratives of conquest and inheritance within the larger framework of God’s promises to Abraham and the covenantal faithfulness that shapes Israel’s identity.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
This volume excels in its sensitivity to the theological pulse of Joshua. Woudstra shows how the book is not primarily about military triumphs but about God’s sovereign fulfilment of His word and the call to courageous obedience. His careful attention to structure—especially the division between conquest, allotment, and covenant renewal—provides preachers with clarity and confidence when planning a series.
Woudstra engages critical scholarship without being dominated by it. He treats the canonical text with respect, avoiding speculative reconstructions and instead emphasising the theological coherence of the book. His exposition illuminates key themes such as holiness, inheritance, leadership, and the faithfulness of God across generations.
Although written several decades ago, the commentary remains fresh in tone, rich in substance, and enduringly helpful for those who want to preach Joshua with integrity. It offers depth without obscurity and serves both the academy and the church with commendable clarity.
Closing Recommendation
We warmly commend Woudstra’s *Joshua* as one of the finest evangelical expositions of this book. It is especially valuable for pastors and advanced students who desire a commentary that is academically responsible, theologically grounded, and pastorally beneficial.
For anyone preparing to teach Joshua in the local church, this volume will prove a steady companion—clear, faithful, and deeply nourishing.
Marten H. Woudstra
Marten H. Woudstra was a twentieth-century Dutch-American Reformed Old Testament scholar, closely linked with confessional Presbyterian and Reformed seminaries.
Woudstra’s major contribution came through his work on the historical books, particularly Joshua, where he brought together careful exegesis, covenant theology, and a strong commitment to the authority of Scripture. His commentary writing was informed by a deep sense of the Bible’s unity and the unfolding of God’s redemptive purposes. He also played a significant role in Old Testament scholarship within the Reformed tradition, helping to train ministers and scholars.
He is valued for combining academic rigour with confessional loyalty, offering readings that are both critical in method and warmly orthodox in conclusion. His work continues to be appreciated by pastors who want a solidly Reformed guide to the Old Testament narratives.
His best-known volume is his commentary on Joshua, which remains a standard reference in conservative Reformed circles.