New politics, new stories, new history : the Chronicler as historian for a new generation

Abstract

The Chronistic History, consisting of I and II Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, constitutes a new history for the post-exilic Judaean community. These people faced new social and political relities and had to make sense of their history and situation. Central features of the Chronistic History are (in I and II Chronicles) the review of king David's genealogies, the centrality of David's reign and cultic arrangements, which resulted in Solomon's building of the temple, and the history of the kingdom of Judah, with the reigns of Hesekiah and Josiah as focal points. In Ezra and Nehemiah the focal points are the Persian king Cyrus' decree, allowing the Judaeans to return to Jerusalem, the conflict with the people of the land, and the rebuilding of the city walls and temple. The Chronicler's use of history to constitute a new reality for its readers, helped them to visualise a new Judaean community by inclusion and exclusion. This process was not only healing and reconciliatory, but also entailed conflict and animosity.