Chronicles is an oft-neglected book in the church, so a new commentary that shows its theological and pastoral relevance is a welcome contribution. Carol Kaminski, Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, has published two monographs on Genesis as well as an eight-week Bible study on 1–2 Chronicles. Her volume appears in the Story of God Commentary series, which uses the NIV (2011) and is aimed primarily for clergy and laypeople. Like other volumes in the series, the commentary seeks not only to explain the text in its original setting but also to identify historical, typological, and theological trajectories that “land in Christ in the New Testament” (p. xvii).

The commentary begins with a concise seventeen-page introduction, covering standard matters. Issues of authorship and date are followed by discussions of canonicity and title, genre, literary structure, and historical setting (pp. 4–13). Kaminski also includes a brief section on preaching from Chronicles, where she suggests that a topical approach is best, highlighting themes such as prayer, worship, or leadership principles (p. 8). Churches that preach through a book systematically would have appreciated guidance on chapter clusters. The introduction concludes with theological themes: a vision for a unified people of God, a vision for a worshipping people of God, a vision for a prayerful people of God, and a vision for a witnessing people of God (pp. 13–17). The last theme is particularly noteworthy—a brief discussion of the passages related to God’s mission beyond Israel, a theme often neglected in readings of Chronicles.

Following the design of the series, the commentary proper examines each chapter in three stages. “Listen to the Story” presents the whole chapter under consideration along with a list of relevant earlier Old Testament texts. This section functions as a canonical orientation rather than a close analysis of the type and degree of innerbiblical connections. For that type of discussion, consult Gary E. Schnittjer, Old Testament Use of Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Guide (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2021). “Explain the Story” discusses the passage section by section, typically in two or three pages, with footnotes used sparingly. “Live the Story” applies the passage to contemporary Christian audiences. The volume concludes with Scripture, subject, and author indices.

Several features make this commentary a valuable resource for its intended audiences. Kaminski consistently prioritizes the Chronicler’s presentation rather than reading Chronicles as a supplement to Samuel–Kings. This approach allows Chronicles’ distinct emphases, such as the centrality of the temple, worship, and God’s promise to David, to emerge. The commentary also reads from the perspective of the whole storyline of the Bible, where the Old Testament is integral to the unfolding biblical narrative, continuing through to its New Testament fulfillment.

Kaminski’s integration of ancient Near Eastern historical and cultural background is another strength. References to material remains, inscriptions, and comparative data are used judiciously to illuminate the text. For example, Kaminski notes that the archaeological evidence of horse stables at Megiddo dates to the ninth century BC, which is later than Solomon’s time, but still points to the “kind of infrastructure required for Solomon’s many horses and chariots” (2 Chr 8:6; p. 348).

The applications are generally thoughtful and pastorally orientated. Kaminski regularly grounds contemporary reflection in the New Testament rather than moving directly from Old Testament text to modern Christian practice. This approach reflects the series’s commitments and will be appreciated by readers concerned with canonical coherence.

Only a couple of observations may be offered by way of critique. First, given the theological significance of the Chronicler’s change of phrasing in 1 Chronicles 17:14, where God says that David’s son will be “set over my house and my kingdom,” further discussion of its implications would have been welcome (pp. 180–81). The Chronicler’s presentation of the inseparable link between temple and kingship raises important interpretive, theological, and perhaps even messianic questions.

Second, some Themelios readers may desire a more explicit christological trajectory in certain applications. In the discussion of Josiah (2 Chr 34), Kaminski suggests that the king’s example reminds readers that “God uses people of all ages—including youth—for his kingdom purposes,” supported by 1 Timothy 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:14–15 (p. 551). Another possible biblical-theological trajectory is to situate Josiah’s reforms within the Chronicler’s tension between outward covenant renewal and the persistence of judgment. Huldah’s prophecy reveals that even exemplary reform cannot avert disaster on Jerusalem and its people (2 Chr 34:25–26), highlighting the need for a more decisive and enduring renewal. From a canonical perspective, Josiah’s youthful zeal for the temple and the book of the law may thus anticipate Christ, whose perfect obedience and covenant mediation accomplish what royal reforms could not (cf. Luke 2:40–52; Heb 10:5–14).

These observations are relatively minor and do not substantially detract from the commentary. Kaminski has produced a readable and theologically engaged commentary that meets the series’s stated aims. The commentary is a valuable addition to the expanding stable of Chronicles commentaries from a pancanonical perspective. Themelios clergy and laypeople can add this commentary to consult, alongside recent commentaries with a biblical-theological bent, such as John W. Olley’s “1–2 Chronicles” (in ESV Expository Commentary, ed. Iain Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar [Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019], 3:899–1294) and Graeme Goldsworthy’s 1 and 2 Chronicles (Sydney South: Aquila, 2021).