IVP Bible Background Commentary

Commentaries

What Does the Bible Tell Us About Balaam?

Balaam is probably one of the most enigmatic figures in the Pentateuch. He plays a pivotal role in blessing Israel even when he is hired to curse them. Plus, there’s an irony in the seer not seeing the angel of Yahweh and being rebuked by a talking donkey. The IVP…

Keep Reading

Commentaries

Footwashing: Jesus Serves His Disciples

It’s amazing to me that with everything going on during Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, he still took time to humbly wash his disciples’ feet. Though footwashing was common in the ancient world, there was no precedence for someone of Jesus’ stature to perform such an act of humble service.…

Keep Reading

Historical

David and Goliath

We all know there is typically far more going on beneath the surface of the biblical text than what we pick up on with a cursory reading or two. This is where resources like the IVP Bible Background Commentary can help fill in the gaps and bring the ancient world…

Keep Reading

New Testament

The Sons of Sceva: Christian Magic?

In the book of Acts, many challenged the authority of God in different ways. While Paul was in Ephesus, the seven sons of Sceva, a group of magicians, mistakenly believed that if they emulated what Paul said, they could do what Paul did. In a world where there were too…

Keep Reading

Historical

What is an Asherah Pole?

Have you ever read the Old Testament and wondered what the references to “Asherah poles” meant? Why were they so popular? To answer these questions, we have the IVP Bible Background Commentary. Let’s see what it has to say about Asherah and her poles. The Short Answer Asherah poles were…

Keep Reading

New Testament

Healing Two Women: Commentary on Mark 5

Jesus did many remarkable miracles during his ministry. One of the most captivating is his healing of two women on the same day in Mark 5. When reading this passage with commentary, you gain so many insights that you wouldn’t know otherwise. So, we’ve included excerpts from the IVP Bible…

Keep Reading