Rewriting Biblical History

The Books of Chronicles and Ben Sira 44-50 both rewrite previous biblical history in different ways. While the postexilic Books of Chronicles rewrite earlier narratives from Samuel and Kings, Ben Sira’s Praise of the Ancestors offers a new presentation of biblical history from the Genesis patriarchs to Nehemiah, prior to the praise of the high priest Simon. Whereas older scholarship regarded the historiography of Chronicles and Ben Sira as secondary and derivative, today there is renewed interest in these works as significant theological and cultural documents. Both Chronicles and Ben Sira present a theological message that involves the creation of a national identity centered on temple piety. The essays in this volume investigate how both works rewrite their source materials on particular biblical characters and themes. Some chapters consider the portrayal of kings like David, Rehoboam, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Josiah, and Zedekiah. Other chapters deal with prophets like Samuel and Elijah, while further essays offer perspectives on Ben Sira’s Praise of the Ancestors as a whole. This Festschrift honors Professor Pancratius C. Beentjes, who has made a significant contribution to scholarly research into the Books of Chronicles and Ben Sira. Old Testament texts frequently offer a theological view of history. This is very evident in the Books of Chronicles and in the final section of Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus). Today there is renewed interest in both these works as significant theological and cultural Jewish documents from the centuries before Jesus. Both Chronicles and Ben Sira aim to recreate a national identity centered on temple piety. Some chapters in this volume consider the portrayal of Israelite kings like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, while others deal with prophets like Samuel and Elijah.