Biblical Review: Intended as a New and Improved Commentary on the Bible ; Wherein the Author Gives More Rational Interpretations of Subjects and . Other Works Having the Same General Purpose

Biblical Review: Intended As A New And Improved Commentary On The Bible ; Wherein The Author Gives More Rational Interpretations Of Subjects And Passages, Than Are Common In Other Works Having The Same General Purpose by William E. Manley. This late-19th-century biblical commentary and archaeology-focused study surveys Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Samuel with extensive editorial notes on geography, ritual practices, and interpretation. It defends a two-document theory of composition, argues for the historicity of the biblical narratives, and blends philology, archaeology, and theology to situate events just after Joshua and into the rise of the monarchy. Core emphasis includes vow ethics in Jephthah, the Shibboleth test, Samson’s Nazirite call, Micah and Danites, the Gibeah atrocity, and Ruth’s lineage leading to David. Across Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, the work interweaves place-names, cultic sites, and diffusion of Mosaic law with local custom, plus a robust apparatus on interpretation, dates, and place geography. It aims to guide readers through historical-critical methods while affirming traditional historicity.