I And II Chronicles: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library)

by Sara Japhet

With these far-reaching reformulations, the Chronicler has created a new historical and theological scene: although the north-western part of the land has suffered from some violent incursions, it underwent no fundamental change. In spite of temporary failure, the majority of the Israelites remained settled in their ancient territories and were expecting the return of their brethren (II Chron. 30.6–9, cf. in detail there). The only complete failure, an exile from which there was no reprieve, was that of the Israelites in Trans-jordan. This reconstruction presents an important expression of the Chronicler’s attitude toward the fact of ‘exile’ in the history of Israel (cf. further Japhet, Ideology, 364–73).