Judges 1-9 - Concordia Commentary

In this insightful commentary on Judges 1–9, Rev. Dr. Mark E. Braun guides readers deeply into the biblical text, offering clear assistance with vocabulary and grammar while unfolding the cultural and historical background of Israel during the time of the judges. His careful attention to detail helps readers better grasp the meaning and message of these foundational chapters.

Braun devotes extended discussion to especially challenging narratives—including Ehud, Deborah, and Gideon—clarifying their significance and theological depth. Throughout the commentary, he traces the “‘golden thread of the Gospel‘ woven through the book of Judges,” showing how these accounts point to humanity’s desperate need for a Savior. He thoughtfully explains how the judges who delivered Israel function as types (or anti-types) of Jesus Christ, directing readers to the salvation Christ has accomplished for the whole world.

“God the Son has been given the authority to carry out judgment on behalf of his Father, since the Son’s own sufferings, death, and resurrection have made him worthy to judge the living and the dead. His verdict will be condemnation for all unbelievers, but for all believers justification and eternal life” (p. 607).

Endorsements

“Mark Braun’s Judges 1–9 exhibits careful and thorough scholarship with a pastoral heart. His introduction not only covers the expected topics but also rightly delves into often overlooked or seldom-discussed subjects such as the Holy Trinity in Judges and the role of women in the book. This commentary on the first nine chapters of Judges not only presents a wealth of philological information in the textual notes but also highlights the importance of each pericope’s meaning as well as its message for contemporary readers. The commentary will serve well those wishing to plumb the depths of Judges or to teach or preach its texts.”
—Dr. Andrew E. Steinmann, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology and Hebrew, Concordia University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

“Dr. Braun set out to write the kind of commentary that scholars, pastors, and students will indeed find valuable. He covers traditional topics and much more. Hebrew specialists will delight in the textual notes. Many interpreters wrestle with the judges’ graphic brutality and wonder if they exemplify faith. Braun’s work helps greatly. While Judges is rife with jarring narratives, it also contains the golden thread of the Gospel. My favorite part is the ‘Written for Our Instruction’ section, wherein Braun shows that, yes, this seventh book of the Bible is part of salvation history, fulfilled in Jesus, who forms our lives of Christian service.
—Adolph L. Harstad, Professor Emeritus, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minnesota

 

“This scholarly commentary has all the features one expects, such as in-depth study of the Hebrew text and textual variants, a massive bibliography, and historical, archaeological, and geographic background information. It is also a pastoral commentary with application to preaching and Christian life. It treats all the controversial issues in Judges but focuses on the two most important concerns: the contrast between Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s unceasing grace, and the shocking behavior of many of the ‘saviors’ God sent to Israel in contrast to the Savior of the world.
—Dr. John F. Brug, Professor Emeritus, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin

 

“This commentary drills down through the head to the heart. Braun has done the hard work with the full range of exegetical tasks, all managed with precision and care, to reveal what St. Augustine called ‘the Beauty Deeper In.’ This is the majesty of Christ, that greater Samson, and the surprising grace to be found even amid the blood and dead bodies of the Old Testament’s most violent book. As for Lutheran scholarship, this is how it’s done.”
—Dr. Mark Paustian, Professor of Hebrew, Communication, Homiletics, and Apologetics, Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota

It is refreshing to see a Renaissance man like Dr. Braun—a scholar of church history—writing a thoroughly researched commentary on the Hebrew Old Testament. It is even more refreshing when the author is not only an academic but also a churchman devoted to Jesus Christ and the building up of the church. Dr. Braun’s gem will no doubt become the go-to commentary on Judges 1–9 for confessional Lutheran pastors and professors into the foreseeable future, and hopefully its use and benefit will extend far beyond that.
—Thomas Nass, Professor Emeritus, Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota

 

About the series

The Concordia Commentary Series: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture is written to enable pastors and teachers of the Word to proclaim the Gospel with greater insight, clarity, and faithfulness to the divine intent of the Biblical text.

The series will cover all the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, with an original translation and meticulous grammatical analysis of the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek of each text. The foremost interpretive lens centers on the unified proclamation of the person and work of Christ across every Scriptural book.

The Commentary fully affirms the divine inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture; Each passage bears witness to the confession that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ His Son.

Authors expose the rich treasury of language, imagery, and thematic content of the Scripture while supplementing their work with additional research in archaeology, history, and extrabiblical literature. Throughout, God’s Word emanates from authors' careful attention and inculcates the ongoing life of the Church in Word, Sacrament, and daily confession.

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