Isaac Kalimi

An Ancient Israelite Historian: Studies in the Chronicler, His Time, Place and Writing (Studia Semitica Neerlandica) Isaac Kalimi

Conditioned by his own time and place, the Chronicler (that is, the author of the book of Chronicles) evaluated the past from his own historical context and its standards. This means that the book of Chronicles primarily represents the views of its author about the past, making it applicable to the time and generation when it was composed, rather than representing the times and generations spoken about, the monarchic period.

The message of the Chronicler was undeniably different from that of the earlier biblical works and was intended for a different era and audience. The message was modified to conform, first and foremost, to contemporary, local, and new historical circumstances. But what exactly was the time of the Chronicler? Where did he live and write, and under what historical circumstances? In contrast to the Greek and Hellenistic writers, the Chronicler did not provide any direct information about himself, his time, his place, or even the basic nature and purpose of his writing. Consequently, the modern researcher must draw conclusions about the author, his setting, and the nature and purpose(s) of his composition essentially through study of the book of Chronicles. This volume attempts to respond to these questions insofar as the sources allow.