Abstract:
The Chronicler emphasized and underemphasized specific traditions. He also did selective redaction from the source documents. These practices highlight the theology and ideology that the Chronicler wanted to promote. In 1 Chronicles 21 the Chronicler portrayed Yahweh, Satan/satan, and (the ideal) Israel in such a way that both the theology and ideology of the Jerusalem Temple stood out. The Jerusalem Temple represented the Chronicler’s theology and his image of God – which was that Yahweh is only to be worshipped in the Jerusalem Temple and that He has chosen the site as the place for worship and dwelling. The Temple also represented the ideology of the Chronicler, because by emphasizing the temple, he succeeded in securing the temple elite’s position as the ruling officials. This study aimed to see how these images were portrayed by the Chronicler. The images of God, Satan/satan, and Israel was portrayed in such a way by the Chronicler that God was only in the Jerusalem temple, the true Israel was only the ones who worshipped at the Jerusalem temple and the portrayal of the image of Satan/satan is quite striking in its mundane and rather flat character. He is only a pawn in the Chronicler's narrative, to promote the Chronicler’s theology and to create the Chronicler’s image of Yahweh. The flat image which the Chronicler has created of Satan/satan links with his belief that God is almighty and that no other creature or symbol can be mightier than God. It became clear that the images of these characters in Chronicles are not only theologically driven but also ideologically loaded to suit the Chronicler’s purpose, theology and ideology. To understand the theology and ideology behind the text, it is important to consider the traditions and redactions in the texts. The findings of this research caution against reading and understanding a text outside its unique historical context because the Old Testament does not have a central theme or one theology. Also, in the understanding of a text, we should not focus on the culture or the controversy, rather on the relationship between God and man. That is the core of all Old Testament texts and is still significant. By making use of responsible hermeneutics it is possible to interpret these ideologically loaded images into our contexts and make it relevant for us, today.
