New commentary on Kings published by Christian Press

Christian Press published a new volume of the VTJ Old Testament Commentary series on September 27, 2026. The book, authored by Tetsuo Yamaga, covers chapters 3 through 14 of the Second Book of Kings. This release marks the fourteenth volume in the series and the fourth in Yamaga's specific commentary on Kings. The publication occurred just before the publisher underwent significant business restructuring.

The author, Tetsuo Yamaga, is a prominent scholar in Old Testament studies. He has served as the president of the Japan Old Testament Society for three consecutive terms, a period totaling six years. During his tenure, all three of his presidential lectures focused on the Book of Kings. The new volume is written in clear and concise Japanese, designed to be accessible to readers without requiring constant verification of details. The text aims to provide a smooth reading experience that encourages reflection on the biblical text.

The commentary divides the selected chapters into twenty distinct units for detailed analysis. Each section includes a careful reading of the Hebrew original, documenting the process of determining word meanings, including the basis for decisions and the degree of uncertainty involved. The author employs a redaction-critical method to interpret the text, focusing on contradictions and diversity to reveal the thought processes and changes across different editorial layers. This approach allows for a cautious determination of meaning that goes beyond what is available in standard Japanese translations.

The book provides detailed explanations of important vocabulary, with particular emphasis on the term for leprosy in the story of Naaman. It also actively introduces extra-biblical materials to provide historical and cultural context. Specific artifacts discussed in the commentary include the Mesha Stele, the Black Obelisk, and the Tel Dan Stele. The author also draws parallels between biblical events and modern concepts, such as comparing the religious ideology behind coups in the northern kingdom to Confucian ideas of dynastic revolution, and those in the southern kingdom to the concept of an unbroken imperial line.

The content covers the latter half of the period of the divided kingdoms, a time marked by political instability and coups in both the northern and southern realms. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the stories of the prophet Elisha, including the healing of the Aramean general Naaman, a narrative also referenced in the Gospel of Luke. The book is recommended for anyone wishing to engage in thought or meditation on the words of Kings.