The Theocratic Ideology of the Chronicler (Biblical Interpretation Series, V. 33)

This volume is a study of the ideology of the Chronicler in the context of the emerging theocratic community of Judah in the Persian period. This study breaks new ground in treating the 'purpose' of Chronicles from an explicitly social-theoretical perspective. Care is taken throughout to define concepts clearly and to highlight the interpretive perspectives employed making this volume particularly useful for those engaged in methodological discussion. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Introduction 1 Purpose and Ideology in the Interpretation of Chronicles Part One: Purpose and Ideology Purpose, Motives, and Intentions Ideology: A Map for Biblical Interpreters Ideology in the Context of Anthropology Ideology and Social Criticism Conclusion Part Two: Interpreting the Chronicler's Purpose: A Critical Survey Exclusivist? Excursus on the Date of Chronicles Excursus on the Samaritans Inclusivist? Theocrat? Royalist? Leviticist? Conclusion 2 Ideology and Interpretation Introduction From Marx to Ricoeur Ideology as Socially-Determined Thought Ideology as Systemically-Distorted Consciousness Althusser Ricoeur on Marx and Althusser Between Action and Structure Ideology and Legitimation Ideology and Integration The Goal of Critique Conclusion 3 Exile and Identity Introduction Beginning with the Ending: 2 Chronicles 36 The End of the Judean Kingdom in Chronicles From 2 Chronicles 36 to Ezra 1 Exile and Restoration in Ezra 1-6: An Outside Initiative The Restoration from the Persian Perspective The Cyrus Cylinder Persian Administrative Policy Persian Imperial Ideology The Nature of the Post-Exilic Community Ezra-Nehemiah: A Vertical Ethnic Ideology Excursus on the Vertical-Lateral Typology Ezra 9-10 Nehemiah 13 Chronicles: A Lateral Ethnic Ideology Conclusion 4 Legitimacy and Hegemony An Unequal Federalism Status in the Genealogies From Adam to Israel (1 Chronicles 1) The Tribes of Israel From Israel to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9) David, Solomon and the Kingdom of Yahweh David and the People David (and the People) and the Ark 1 Chron. 13:1–5 1 Chronicles 16 David, the Kingdom and the Temple The Davidic Covenant (1 Chronicles 17) The Death of Saul (1 Chronicles 10) The Temple Site (1 Chronicles 21) Final Preparations and Orders Theocracy and Hegemony in 2 Chronicles Solomon After Solomon Conclusion 5 Hierarchy Within Introduction Hierarchy and Exploitation The Socio-Economic Situation in General Excursus: The Concept of Mode of Production Kreissig Kippenberg The Mode of Production in the Persian Empire The Hierarchical Structure of Judean Society The "House of the Fathers" ([ARABIC TEXT]) Ezra 2//Nehemiah 7 and the [ARABIC TEXT] The "Heads of the Houses of the Fathers" ([ARABIC TEXT]) Nehemiah 5 and the Potential for Economic Exploitation Temple and Hierarchy The Temple as a Central Institution The Temple as a Local Institution The Interests of the Clergy Conclusion 6 The Consequences of Belief Introduction From Claim to Belief The Dynamics of Theocracy Exile and Restoration, Again (and Again) Conclusion Abbreviations Bibliography Indexes Index of Biblical References Index of Apocryphal/Deutero-Canonical References Index of Extra-Biblical References Index of Modern Authors Biblical Interpretation Series This volume is a study of the ideology of the Chronicler in the context of the emerging theocratic community of Judah in the Persian period. This study breaks new ground in treating the'purpose'of Chronicles from an explicitly social-theoretical perspective.The first two chapters examine the relationship between biblical interpretation and ideological criticism, moving from the historical critical concept of'purpose'to the hermeneutical issues of understanding, ideological distortion and critique. Subsequent chapters are devoted to three ideological critical readings of Chronicles focusing in succession on the identity of Israel, the legitimacy of Jerusalem and the construction of hierarchy.Care is taken throughout to define concepts clearly and to highlight the interpretive perspectives employed making this volume particularly useful for those engaged in methodological discussion. This study of the ideology of the Chronicler breaks new ground, methodologically and substantively, by examining the relationship between Chronicles and the Jewish theocracy of the Persian period in light of contemporary theories of ideology. By Jonathan E. Dyck. Based On The Author's Thesis (doctoral--university Of Sheffield, 1994) Presented Under Title: The Purpose Of Chronicles And The Critique Of Ideology. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-244) And Indexes.