Here’s a solid new commentary on Daniel in the winsome Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament (ZECOT) series. Widder projects as one who did her homework throughout. There’s the right balance between lucidity and depth throughout while the volume succeeds in finding its own niche in what has become a crowded commentary market.

What are the strengths of this commentary? Plenty to be sure. They become apparent in the Introduction. Avoiding stilted language, Widder manages to engagingly lay out scholarly trends on every issue, to weigh them, and to crown the scholarly consensus winners. She hit her stride on Structure after somewhat warming up on earlier topics like genre, authorship and date. Structure was clear and compelling. That is, wouldn’t you agree, fortuitous for this series with its specific aims? Significance of the book discussions and the outline proceed at a high level as well. In the commentary proper, depth, exegesis and clarity are good as is thriving in ZECOT’s sterling format. The tone resonates throughout her writing too and she never turns to lecturing us or grating on our nerves. She can go from macro to micro seamlessly as well. The discourse analysis sings.

What are the weaknesses? Though fewer, they sometimes stand close to the strengths. While the scholarly survey is tops, she is less adept at championing her conclusions. If that is not your preference as is mine, you’ll love the book even more. Perhaps the controversial Daniel 9:27 best illustrates what I’m saying. There’s more scholarly variety there, so the weighing gets harder while the conclusions get more imprecise. ( I’m not basing this merely on disagreeing with what she shared either).

She rarely cuts a new path either. Rather than any original explanations, it strikes me as more of a weighing of the known opinions. That’s worthwhile too, but that is what might separate, say, a really good commentary from a great, influential one.

Still, I’m comfortable in labeling this one a really good commentary. I should mention there’s some theological nuggets along the way too. The book as a whole package succeeds.

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.