Who Was the Chronicler's Audience? A Hint from His Genealogies

“Sit At My Right Hand” : The Chronicler’s Portrait of the Tribe of Benjamin in the Social Context of Yehud

“…16 Klein likewise argues that "standard text-critical principles" must be applied, which includes the use of Greek versions, Qumran, Josephus, and other witnesses. 17 The dependence of the Targums, Vulgate, and other translated versions of Chronicles on earlier texts such as the OG and the MT means that their value is more interpretive than text-critical.…”

“…16 Levin suggests that David and Solomon ruled "Judah" and "Israel" as separate administrative divisions even before the secession of Israel under Rehoboam, and that Benjamin seems to have been part of the Northern administrative division. 17 The land that became identified with Benjamin seems to have been home to a great number of important cultic sites through much of Israel's history. Langston observes that the ‫במות‬ within Benjamin's borders-including Gibeon, Jerusalem, Beth-aven, Bethel, Nob, and several others-"were more prominent in the Hebrew Bible than their counterparts elsewhere."…”

“…17 The goal of historiography, Ricoeur states, ought to be "a true reconstruction of the past." 18 Far from being naïve, Ricoeur as a well-read philosopher of history knows all the attendant difficulties of such an undertaking.…”

“…20 16 Oded Lipschits, "The History of the Benjamin Region under Babylonian Rule," Tel Aviv 26 (1999): 179. 17 Japhet,I & II Chronicles,[45][46][47] 18 The Levites had not traditionally had a demarcated tribal region of their own, but had been interspersed among the other tribes Josh 14:4;.…”

“…17 The phrase ‫ישׂראל‬ ‫כל‬ occurs forty-six times in Chronicles, and both the Chronicler's genealogies and narrative additions exhibit concern for all the tribes of Israel. Chronicles contains lengthy additions to the DtrH which focus on the pedigree and roles of the Levites and priests in relation to the Jerusalem temple.…”