Summary
Victor P. Hamilton’s Genesis 18–50 continues the strengths of his first NICOT volume with the same blend of linguistic precision, narrative sensitivity, and theological depth. We find here a careful and reverent exposition of the patriarchal narratives, tracing Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph with a steady commitment to reading the text on its own terms. Hamilton is thorough without being burdensome, technical yet still attentive to the unfolding drama of God’s covenantal purposes.
This volume serves pastors, students, and serious readers who want a responsible and substantial guide to the latter half of Genesis. Hamilton keeps the narrative moving while offering detailed help on key interpretive and theological issues along the way.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
Hamilton is especially strong in explaining the literary coherence of Genesis 18–50. His work on the Abrahamic narratives, the complex Jacob cycle, and the theological weight of the Joseph story gives preachers firm footing when preparing to teach these rich passages. He handles the Hebrew text with competence, providing insight into structure, repeated motifs, and the flow of the storyline.
We appreciate Hamilton’s measured engagement with critical scholarship: he neither ignores nor idolises academic debates. Instead, he offers readers what they most need—clear explanation, careful exegesis, and a consistent concern to show how the text itself makes sense. His treatment of Joseph, in particular, gives readers a compelling view of God’s providence and covenant fidelity in the midst of human frailty and family conflict.
Although the commentary is more technical than explicitly pastoral, it offers rich material for preaching. Themes such as promise, blessing, reconciliation, and divine sovereignty are consistently and helpfully illuminated.
Closing Recommendation
We warmly commend Genesis 18–50 to pastors and teachers seeking a dependable and thorough companion for the patriarchal narratives. It rewards slow and attentive reading, offering clarity, depth, and theological steadiness throughout.
For those preparing to teach Genesis in depth, Hamilton’s work remains one of the finest and most trustworthy evangelical resources available.
Victor P. Hamilton
Victor P. Hamilton is a Canadian-born evangelical Old Testament scholar of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, associated with conservative Wesleyan and broadly evangelical traditions.
Hamilton’s core contribution is his substantial work on the Pentateuch and historical books, especially in comprehensive commentaries on Genesis and Exodus. His writing combines close attention to the Hebrew text, engagement with scholarly debate, and an interest in theological themes and narrative flow. He aims to provide pastors and students with thorough, user-friendly exposition that strengthens confidence in the Old Testament.
He is appreciated for clear organisation, careful explanation of difficult passages, and a tone that respects Scripture as the Word of God. His commentaries are often recommended as substantial, reliable guides for preachers tackling major Old Testament books.
Key titles include his two-volume commentary on Genesis and his commentary on Exodus, along with other works on Old Testament theology and history.