Summary
Timothy R. Ashley’s The Book of Numbers in the NICOT series is a substantial, academically informed commentary that combines careful exegesis with a broadly evangelical commitment to the authority of Scripture. We find it a comprehensive and steady guide through one of the Old Testament’s more complex books, serving pastors, students, and serious readers who want to wrestle with the text in its literary and theological depth.
Ashley works closely with the Hebrew text, attends to structure, narrative flow, and historical context, and offers a balanced engagement with scholarly debates without overwhelming the reader. While primarily technical in orientation, the commentary remains attentive to the theological message of Numbers and its place within the Pentateuch.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We appreciate Ashley’s combination of philological care and theological awareness. His explanations of difficult passages—whether in the wilderness narratives, the laws, or the census materials—give preachers confidence that they are handling the text responsibly. He regularly clarifies interpretive options and demonstrates why one reading better accounts for the literary and theological shape of the book.
The commentary’s strength lies in its even-handedness: Ashley neither flattens difficulties nor indulges speculative reconstruction. He treats the canonical form of Numbers with respect, helping readers see its coherence, movement, and ongoing significance for the people of God.
Pastors will benefit from his discussions of structure and intention, especially in sections where preaching can feel daunting. Though not overtly devotional, the commentary repeatedly draws attention to God’s holiness, patience, discipline, and covenant faithfulness.
Closing Recommendation
For those preaching or studying Numbers at depth, this is a reliable, weighty companion. It requires slow reading but rewards it richly, especially for ministers and advanced students wanting a detailed, text-driven exposition grounded in sound evangelical scholarship.
We warmly commend it as a strong resource for sustained study of Numbers and an excellent addition to any serious Old Testament library.
Timothy R. Ashley
Timothy R. Ashley is an American evangelical Old Testament scholar of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, known for careful, conservative scholarship aimed at serving pastors and students.
Ashley’s primary contribution has been through detailed commentaries that engage seriously with the Hebrew text while remaining accessible to non-specialists. His work, particularly on historical and prophetic books, reflects a concern to situate passages in their literary and theological context, weighing scholarly discussion without losing sight of the canonical message. He writes with a view to helping preachers and students think clearly and handle Scripture responsibly.
He is valued for balanced judgement, clear explanation, and a steady confidence in the reliability of the biblical text. His commentaries offer solid guidance for those who want more than devotional reflection but less than highly technical monographs.
Key titles include his commentaries on Numbers and other Old Testament books in respected evangelical series.