Summary
We find Miles V. Van Pelt’s contribution to ESV Expository Commentary a steady companion for preaching and teaching Judges. Volume 3.
The series is not trying to win every debate. It aims to make the text plain, to honour context, and to send us back to Scripture with sharper questions and steadier instincts.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this commentary when we want an expositional guide that keeps us close to the text and still helps us preach to real people. It supports careful reading, then encourages clear, direct application.
It serves pastors and teachers who want to be both accurate and accessible. The explanations are not fussy, but they are careful, and they often expose the heart level stakes of the text.
If we are training others to handle Scripture, this is a helpful model. It shows how to read a passage in context and then speak to the church with warmth and restraint.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend Judges, ESV Expository Commentary as a strong mid level expositional resource for Judges. It rewards steady reading, and it will serve us well as we move from study to preaching.
It is not a replacement for close reading of the passage, but it is a wise partner. Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction.
As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.
Miles V. Van Pelt
Miles V. Van Pelt is an American Old Testament and languages scholar of the contemporary era, serving within confessional Reformed theology.
He is best known for equipping pastors and students in biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, providing tools that make careful exegesis more attainable for ordinary ministry. Van Pelt’s work consistently aims to serve preaching, helping readers move from grammar and syntax to confident interpretation and faithful proclamation.
He remains valued for clarity, practicality, and a strong conviction that the church is strengthened when ministers labour in the text. Recommended titles include Basics of Biblical Hebrew, The Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, and his editorial work in Old Testament biblical theology resources.
Theological Perspective: Reformed