By the EDITORS In ‘old-fashioned’ Commentaries the books of the Bible were treated for the most part as indivisible wholes; and, after some preliminary remarks on the authorship (assumed to be simple) and on the date and characteristics of each book, the Commentary consisted of explanations of the meaning of the text as it stands, where they were thought to be needed, and practical reflections tending to edification. For the spiritual use of the