Chronicler

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Chronicler
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Chronicles Sources

• Samuel and Kings
• Psalms
• Priestly circles
• Prophetic circles (1 Chr. 2929)

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Chronicles and Dtr

• Sins of David
• Unity emphasized (e.g. Succession Narrative)
• Emphasis on Temple (Enns The great failure)
• Individual Responsibility/Immediate Retribution

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Chronicles Theological Presuppositions

• The Chronicler wrote to demonstrate the
  legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and of the
  Jerusalem temple as Yahwehs valid cult centre
  (sic) (M. Noth, The Chronicler's History).

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Chronicles Theological Presuppositions

• The person and dynasty of David forms the
  heartbeat of all of the Chroniclers theology....
  The Chronicler aimed at nothing less than to
  rectify an existing popular misconception. The
  primary vehicle of Israels chosenness, he
  shows, was not Moses on Sinai at all. No, it was
  David on Zion! (Robert North, Theology of the
  Chronicler, JBL 82)

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Chronicles Theological Presuppositions

• David and Royal Covenant
• The Mosaic covenant has been absorbed into the
  Davidic Covenant (2 Chr. 2318).
• Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple
  of the LORD in the hands of the priests, who were
  Levites, to whom David had made assignments in
  the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the
  LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with
  rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered.

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Chronicles Theological Presuppositions

• Temple and Priesthood
• The role of the priesthood and the temple is
  emphasized in Chronicles (i.e. 2 Kings 11 2
  Chron. 23).
• Emphasis on ritual psalms, rituals, and
  sacrifices
• Emphasis on confession/repentance/revival.
• Cf 2 Kings 181-6 Chron 291-3120.

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Samuel Chronicles Nathan and David

• And your Davids house and your kingdom shall
  be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall
  be established forever. (2 Sam 716 ESV)
• I will confirm him Solomon in my house and in
  my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be
  established forever. (2 Chron 1714 ESV)

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Ezra-Nehemiah

• Historical Context
• 538/536 Return of exiles
• 520-516 Temple Rebuilt
• 458 Ezra Returns to Judah
• 445 Nehemiah Travels to Judah
• 398 Alternate date for Ezra (under Artaxerxes
  II)

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Ezra-Nehemiah

• Structure of the Books
• Ezra 1-6 Exiled Jews allowed to return to
  Judah (48- 618 in Aramaic)
• Ez 71-104 Ezras Ministry in Judah
• Neh 11-773a Nehemiahs Memoirs
• Neh 773b-1039 Ezras Continuing Ministry
• Neh 111-1331 Nehemiahs Continuing Ministry

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Ezra-NehemiahTheological/Historical Themes

• Gods Work in the World
• God uses unexpected sources to accomplish His
  will (Cyrus/Darius/Artaxerxes).
• God places leaders in strategic places and
  prepared them for their work.
• Redemptive History (heilsgeschichte)

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Ezra-NehemiahTheological/Historical Themes

• Temple and Torah
• The temple was the place where the people met
  with their God, the renewed presence of God in
  the midst of people after a long, dismal exile.
• The Torah became the guide for life in
  post-exilic Judah, esp. as seen in Ezras use of
  it.

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Conclusion of Canons

• Chronicles Malachi
• In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in
  order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by
  Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king
  of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his
  realm and to put it in writing This is what
  Cyrus king of Persia says The LORD, the God of
  heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the
  earth and he has appointed me to build a temple
  for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his
  people among you--may the LORD his God be with
  him, and let him go up. (2 Chron 3620-23)
• See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before
  that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He
  will turn the hearts of the fathers to their
  children, and the hearts of the children to their
  fathers or else I will come and strike the land
  with a curse. (Mal 45-6)

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Conclusion of Canons

• Chronicles Malachi
• Both canons end in anticipation (Brueggemann,
  Intro. to OT, 382), but the differences are
  obvious.
• Land and Torah vs. Messiah for Gentiles and Israel