THIS IS BY NO MEANS an exhaustive list of works cited in this commentary. Rather, these are the books and commentaries I have found most useful in developing my own thinking on Exodus, and they are all highly recommended for one reason or another.
Cassuto, Umberto. A Commentary on the Book of Exodus. Jerusalem: Magnes, 1967. A standard conservative treatment of Exodus. Based on the Hebrew text but still profitable for general consultation.
Childs, Brevard. The Book of Exodus. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974. Original attempt to discuss Exodus not simply as an ancient book but as Scripture. Comes to fairly standard critical conclusions on a number of matters, but Childs is to be commended for bringing into his discussion the history of interpretation and the theological significance of the canonical form of Exodus for the church.
Durham, John I. Exodus. WBC 3. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1987. Becoming a standard commentary on Exodus. Some will find Durham’s interaction with source criticism disruptive, as it tends to add little to his conclusions. Many fine exegetical insights.
Fretheim, Terence E. Exodus. Interpretation. Louisville: John Knox, 1991. Wonderful commentary full of rich and creative theological insights. Definitely to be consulted for sermon preparation and other types of popular expositions.
Gowan, Donald E. Theology in Exodus: Biblical Theology in the Form of a Commentary. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1994. Thoughtful interaction with the theology of Exodus. Treats not only Exodus itself but Exodus within its canonical context, as well as from the point of view of the history of Jewish and Christian thought. Gowan deals with large blocks of material, which aids the reader in coming away with the broad scope of the biblical book.
Houtman, Cornelis. Exodus. 3 vols. Trans. by J. Rebel and S. Woudstra. Kampen: Kok, 1993–1999. Probably the most well-rounded and balanced commentary on Exodus available. To date, volume 3 has not yet been translated into English. Houtman is judicious while being creative in his insights. His comments range from detailed philological and syntactical points to discussions on the history of interpretation and theological significance. This work is a mine of valuable information.
Janzen, J. Gerald. Exodus. Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1997. As with other contributors in this series, Janzen’s insights are geared toward a basic theological grasp of the book. This purpose is well met.
Plastaras, James. The God of Exodus: The Theology of the Exodus Narratives. Milwaukee: Bruce, 1966. Explores the theology of Exodus and how that theology is reflected elsewhere in Scripture, particularly in the New Testament. As with Durham’s commentary, it is not always clear how his discussions of critical issues affect the broader goals of the book. Nevertheless, it is a sensitive and helpful treatment.
Sarna, Nahum M. Exodus. JPS. Philadelphia: JPS, 1991. Perhaps the most careful and penetrating shorter one-volume commentary on Exodus available in any language. Sarna’s knowledge of rabbinic writings allows him to direct the reader to elements of the text that Christian readers might otherwise pass over too quickly. Along with Houtman and Fretheim, Sarna’s commentary is a “must.”
———. Exploring Exodus: The Heritage of Biblical Israel. New York: Schocken, 1986. A more detailed discussion of some major themes and issues of Exodus than are treated in his commentary. A valuable “second step” for many issues raised in his commentary.