In this commentary on Haggai and Malachi, Mignon Jacobs offers clear and insightful interpretation of the text while highlighting themes that are especially relevant to contemporary concerns, such as honoring or dishonoring God, the responsibilities of leaders, questioning God, and hearing the prophetic word in challenging times.

Engaging with the latest scholarship, Jacobs provides a thorough introduction to both prophets in which she addresses questions of authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology, followed by a new translation of the biblical text and a verse-by-verse commentary. With intertextual discussions about key aspects of the text and attention to competing perspectives, this commentary offers a rich new interpretation of Haggai and Malachi.

About the New International Commentary on the Old Testament:

Someone once said, "The past is another country -- they do things differently there." At times, indeed, the Old Testament resembles another very different country. Maneuvering through levitical laws, bloodshed in Joshua, or Daniel's apocalyptic visions, sincere readers often wonder what the Old Testament means and how it can be the Word of God. For several decades The New International Commentary on the Old Testament has helped countless people traverse this difficult literary terrain.

This premier commentary series enjoys a worldwide readership of scholars, pastors, priests, rabbis, and serious Bible students. They eagerly consult its high-quality volumes to inform their preaching, teaching, and academic research, and they warmly welcome each newly published volume as they would an encounter with a stimulating new friend. Through the rigorous yet reverent study contained in these commentary volumes, readers hear afresh the voice of the living God speaking his powerful word.

All of the NICOT volumes combine superior scholarship, an evangelical view of Scripture as the Word of God, and concern for the life of faith today. Each volume features an extensive introduction treating the biblical book's authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. The author's own translation of the original Hebrew and verse-by-verse commentary follow. The commentary itself carefully balances coverage of technical matters with exposition of the biblical text's theology and implications.

Readers who want to hear God's voice anew through Scripture will find The New International Commentary on the Old Testament to be a faithful, trustworthy guide for helping them navigate the strange other country we call the Old Testament.

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“A commentary on Haggai and Malachi from a wise and experienced scholar like Mignon Jacobs is to be welcomed. . . . Those who may be unsure of what two shorter prophetic books have to say to the modern reader need look no further. This is an excellent contribution to an increasingly important commentary series.” — Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, Loyola Marymount University

“Mignon Jacobs offers fresh readings of Haggai and Malachi for pastors and students. Her work has an accessible style, and the voluminous footnotes list alternative positions within the scholarly discussions. Her introductions to these prophets emphasize their social location at different points in the Persian period, and her exegetical treatments in the commentary proper include extensive exploration of biblical contexts to explain the concepts, phrases, and idioms that shape the message.” — James Nogalski, Baylor University

“Jacobs provides an in-depth treatment of these two oft-neglected prophetic works, always with close attention to the Hebrew text.” — Marvin A. Sweeney, Claremont School of Theology, Academy for Jewish Religion California

“One of the most readable commentaries on Haggai and Malachi I have ever read. Jacobs’s achievement is even more admirable in that she often presents her readers with multiple interpretative options, and she brings to bear numerous intertextual references and much material to engender further discussion. This commentary on two important—though often overlooked—prophetic books will be very helpful to the main target readership of the series and beyond.” — Ehud Ben Zvi, University of Alberta