Timothy R. ASHLEY. The Book of Numbers (Second Edition, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament). (1993) 2022. xlix + 606. $60.00. Hb. ISBN 9780802872029. Reviewed by Daniel L. SMITH-CHRISTOPHER, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90278.

This volume represents a revision of the 1993 work by the same author, originally written as he says, “early in my career as a minister and scholar”, but now revised in retirement almost 30 years later. Notably, he states that in his earlier work, he argued against the Documentary Hypothesis but has “come to appreciate more and more the work of the scholars who were and are committed to thinking about the putative sources of the Pentateuch”. This is a significant statement, and suggests that this volume will be (as many others in this commentary series) a moderate, largely Protestant, commentary whose format includes occasional reflections on New Testament issues, although this is a minor concern in this work – as opposed to other volumes in this series where the Evangelical Christian reflection is more prominent.

As the author acknowledges, the Book of Numbers hardly ranks among the more popular Old Testament books. The book does not even tell a complete story – it picks up the “Wilderness wandering” narrative begun in the Book of Exodus, but there is no completion to this ‘wandering’ story by the end of the book. Although there are (rather disjointed) discussions of a few matters of law – there is no coherent “Law Code” in Numbers as one finds in Exodus (the “Covenant Code”), Leviticus (“The Holiness/Priestly Code”), and Deuteronomy (“The Deuteronomic Code”). Furthermore, although Ashley does not draw attention to the more extreme opinions, many scholars have expressed frustrations with finding any real coherence to the book at all. Yet along the way, some famously controversial texts appear in Numbers.

On some these classic issues – such as the reliability and meaning of the numbers given for peoples listed in various tribal groups throughout the book – Ashley is willing to leave questions open after helpfully surveying a variety of perspectives. Ashley also provides helpful and measured discussions on particularly vexing issues, such as the definition of “Levites” in Numbers, which Ashley agrees is different than that given in other books of the Bible (pp. 62ff).

There are also some quite disturbing texts in Numbers. In discussions of such alarming passages as the induced drinking of filthy water, a liquid “ordeal”, given to women suspected of adultery (Num. 5), and the infamous incident at “Baal-Peor” where Phinehas mercilessly kills an Israelite for daring to sleep with a foreign woman (25:1-18) by stabbing them both with a spear, Ashley is measured in his comments. While Ashley is quick to caution against simplistic modern “applications” of ancient practices in the case of the “ordeal” in Numbers 5, this reviewer would have appreciated a bit more critical reflection on the horrific violence of Numbers 25. 

Finally, Ashley is particularly helpful in his discussions of the Balaam cycle of stories, and certainly does discuss the archaeological material (esp. the Deir-Alla inscriptions) that are of direct concern to further appreciating this (sometimes amusing and) perplexing character in the book of Numbers. Related to this, this reviewer would have appreciated a bit more of Ashley’s opinions on exactly why Balaam was executed, with little comment, in Num. 31:8 especially when Balaam hardly represented a serious threat in the fuller textual discussions earlier in the book. It is an oddly perfunctory end, it must be said, for a character that was a major part of the book. 

In short, on this and a few other “red flag” issues in Numbers, as helpful as the textual analysis certainly is, Ashley could perhaps have been a bit more forthcoming in his “reflections”. This is, after all, a commentary series that positively invites its’ writers to reflect from an “Evangelical” perspective. This is not intended to be a criticism - given the irenic and thoughtful tone of the reflective comments we do have in his commentary, readers would have quite likely benefited from Ashley’s wisdom on many more of the controversial chapters and issues of interpretation that are present in the Book of Numbers. It is, perhaps, asking a great deal from a commentary that is already 600+ pages. Ashley certainly has maintained a focused and learned attention on analyzing the text throughout this commentary, and has given us the results of productive years of reflection on this confusing but endlessly fascinating book. This reviewer considers Ashley’s work to contribute a useful set of perspectives on a book that has received far less than its’ share of scholarly attention.