Sometimes a trial run really helps. Jay Skylar already worked through Leviticus in the TOTC series. From there to here we traversed from good to really good. To be sure, the forest was even better than the impressive trees. I love commentaries that can see the grand vistas as well as they can examine a pebble on the trail. That’s what you get here. More impressive is that I’m saying that on Leviticus! Can you believe it? Leviticus. You know, the book where annual Bible reading plans come to die.

I’m really suggesting that you find life here where so many expect dust. Part of the credit goes to Leviticus. In one of the best-kept secrets of the Bible, Leviticus really is a fascinating, and even stimulating, book. Still, some of the credit goes to Mr. Sklar as well. Despite the treasure of Leviticus, whole commentaries have been written without finding even a particle of it. Rather than obscuring the light of Leviticus, Skylar opens the window for it to shine.

You see it right away in the Introduction. Immediately, he orients Leviticus into the big picture. For example, he says in Leviticus we have a “return to God’s Purpose in Creation.” It’s not a stretch. He concludes conservatively on authorship and date. He makes his case briefly, but convincingly. When he next turns to theology, he excels even more. I especially loved his explanation of holiness. Categories of sin are also a rich study. Finally, he provides real guidance on how to decide which are laws are still applicable. When he explains ritual, the discussion develops to the NT. There’s a little structure discussed and a detailed outline given, but structure is more developed in the commentary.

Having laid a grand foundation, the commentary is all you could want. In my opinion, the style of this series well matches Skylar as a writer.

We’ve used Ross, Hartley, and Wenham for a long time. This work is in their category, maybe even taking pride of place.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.