Abstract
Scholars of Chronicles normally emphasise that the Chronicler used typical words and phrases in those parts that belong to his Sondergut. Amongst these are phrases like �to humble yourself�, �to seek Yahweh�, and �not to forsake Yahweh�. The writer�s typical changes to the burial notices of the royal narratives also belong in this category. Something which is often overlooked, however, is that many of these features already occur in the narrative about Huldah�s oracle (2 Chr 34:19�28) which was taken over with only minor changes from the Deuteronomistic version (2 Ki 22:11�20). My paper investigates whether or not the Huldah oracle could have served as theological paradigm according to which the Chronicler developed his own unique style. If so, the investigation will prompt me to revisit the issue of how continuity and discontinuity, with the older historiographical tradition, characterise the identity negotiation process that we witness in this literature.
Highlights
Scholars of Chronicles normally emphasise that the Chronicler used typical words and phrases in those parts that belong to his Sondergut
These Sondergut usages, of typical words and phrases, are considered to be very important in identifying the Chronicler’s unique theology or ideology (McKenzie 2004:47–52; Dirksen 2005:14–20; Klein 2006:44–48; Gabriel 1990; Ruffing 1992). Amongst these are significant phrases like ‘to humble oneself’, ‘to seek Yahweh’, and ‘not to forsake Yahweh’. These phrases, which occur at important theological junctions, in the royal narratives about Judah’s kings in 2 Chronicles, give expression to the ideal religious and cultic attitude which is presented by the writer as the hallmark of Israel’s identity (Japhet 2009:194–208)
Through the usage of this terminology, in the royal narratives, the Chronicler was constructing the ideal prototype of religiosity towards which he wanted to encourage ‘All-Israel’ in his own days in the late Persian period Yehud
Summary
Scholars of Chronicles normally emphasise that the Chronicler used typical words and phrases in those parts that belong to his Sondergut. Amongst these are phrases like ‘to humble yourself’, ‘to seek Yahweh’, and ‘not to forsake Yahweh’. The writer’s typical changes to the burial notices of the royal narratives belong in this category. Something which is often overlooked, is that many of these features already occur in the narrative about Huldah’s oracle (2 Chr 34:19–28) which was taken over with only minor changes from the Deuteronomistic version (2 Ki 22:11–20). My paper investigates whether or not the Huldah oracle could have served as theological paradigm according to which the Chronicler developed his own unique style. The investigation will prompt me to revisit the issue of how continuity and discontinuity, with the older historiographical tradition, characterise the identity negotiation process that we witness in this literature
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