Full Description
The book of Chronicles is examined using the methodology of utopian literary theory. From this innovative perspective, Chronicles is interpreted as a utopian work that critiques present society and its status quo by presenting a 'better alternative reality.' The author's analysis contends that Chronicles does not reflect the historical situation of a particular time during the Second Temple period in its portrayal of the past, but rather conveys hope for a different future. While some scholars have also affirmed that Chronicles is concerned with the future, the majority of scholars believe that the content of Chronicles largely reflects the present situation of the author and in doing so reinforces or legitimizes the status quo.
Also, this assessment argues that utopianism is an underlying ideological matrix that contributes to the coherence of the book of Chronicles as a whole. Three commonly addressed concerns of the Chronicler (genealogy, politics, and the temple cult) are understood from this methodological perspective as vehicles for conveying the Chronicler¹s vision for a utopian future. Thus, the scope of this analysis is broader than many recent studies on Chronicles that have focused on isolated themes, individuals, or discrete sections in the book. Many of the conclusions challenge the dominant scholarly views about Chronicles and the assumptions that lie behind them.
Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Current State of Chronicles Scholarship
1.1.1 Authorship of Chronicles
1.1.2 Date of Chronicles
1.1.3 Genre of Chronicles
1.1.4 Three Major Themes in Chronicles
1.1.4.1 Genealogies
1.1.4.2 Politics
1.1.4.3 Temple Cult
1.1.5 The Present Situation and a New Approach to Chronicles
1.2 A New Methodology: Utopian Literary Theory
1.2.1 Definition of Utopianism
1.2.2 The Methodology of Utopian Literary Theory
Excursus: St. Thomas More's Utopia
1.2.3 Utopianism and its Literary Form in the Ancient World
1.2.4 Utopianism in Chronicles
CHAPTER 2: A GENEALOGICAL UTOPIA
2.1 The Genealogies: Brief Comments on Purposes and Forms
2.1.1 Purposes of Genealogies
2.1.2 Forms of Genealogies: The Function of 1 Chronicles 1-9 as a Literary Preface
2.2 The Genealogical Identity of "Israel" in Chronicles: Genealogy as Utopia
Excursus: Prophecy, Speeches, and Authority in Chronicles
2.2.1 Constructing a Lineage: Examples of the Chronicler's Utopian Use of Sources
2.2.2 The "Twelve Tribes" of Utopian Israel: Identifying "Israel"
2.2.3 Judah and Levi in Privileged Positions
