I & II Chronicles : a commentary / Louis C. Jonker.

Author/creator Jonker, Louis C. author.
Format Book
EditionFirst edition.
PublicationLouisville, Kentucky : Westminster John Knox Press, [2026]
Copyright Date©2026
Descriptionlxxvi, 608 pages ; 23 cm.
Subjects

Variant title I and II Chronicles
Variant title First and Second Chronicles
SeriesThe Old Testament library
Old Testament library.
Contents Introduction: Research history ; Textual aspects ; Historical aspects ; Rhetorical aspects : "reforming history" ; Theological themes in Chronicles ; Reception in Chronicles ; Reception of Chronicles -- Commentary: 1 Chronicles 1:1-9:44 : the genealogical portal ; 1 Chronicles 10:1-29:30 : David's reign ; 2 Chronicles 1:1-9:31 : Solomon's reign ; 2 Chronicles 10:1-36:14 : the kings of Judah ; 2 Chronicles 36:15-23 : the end of Judah and a new beginning.
Abstract "This volume reveals Chronicles as a dynamic work of theological imagination with lasting influence across Jewish, Christian, and postcolonial traditions"-- Provided by publisher.
Abstract "With fresh insight and scholarly depth, 'I and II Chronicles: a commentary' reclaims these often-overlooked texts as far more than a retelling of Israel's past. They are vital witnesses to the theological and communal imagination of a people rebuilding identity in the shadow of empire. In this critical and illuminating volume of the 'Old Testament library,' internationally respected scholar Louis C. Jonker reveals Chronicles as a dynamic text that reinterprets sacred traditions to help the postexilic Judahite community navigate shifting political and religious landscapes. Written during the late Persian and early Hellenistic periods, Chronicles offers a bold vision for 'all Israel' centered on the Jerusalem Temple, reframing Judah's identity through genealogies, liturgical reform, and idealized history. Drawing on interdisciplinary methods--including text-pragmatical analysis, social psychology, postcolonial theory, and reception history--Jonker explores how the Chronicler constructs communal memory, reclaims older traditions, and resists imperial dominance by portraying YHWH as the true king. A distinctive feature of this commentary is Jonker's proposed diachronic model of composition. He identifies an early priestly-oriented stratum affirming the Davidic monarchy and Aaronide priesthood, followed by a later redactional layer that elevates the Levites--especially in the Hezekiah and Josiah narratives--as spiritual leaders. This evolution signals a broader theological and ideological shift within the community. Jonker also traces the reception of Chronicles through history--from its shaping influence on Ezra-Nehemiah to its use in rabbinic interpretation, feminist biblical scholarship, Jewish visual art, and post-apartheid South African theology. With fresh insight and scholarly depth, 'I and II Chronicles: a commentary' reclaims these often-overlooked texts as vital witnesses to the theological and communal imagination of a people rebuilding identity in the shadow of empire."-- Publisher's website, viewed on June 22, 2026.
General note"Glossary": page xxv.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages xxvii-lxxvi) and indexes.
Issued in other formOnline version http://id.loc.gov/entities/relationships/onlineversion Jonker, Louis C. I & II Chronicles First edition Louisville, Kentucky : Westminster John Knox Press, [2026] 9781646984435
Genre/formReligious commentaries.
LCCN 2025047078
ISBN9780664263409
ISBN0664263402 (hardcover)
ISBN(ebook)

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