The rhetorics of finding a new identity in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society : the case of the book of Chronicles
Date
2003-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
Scholars generally agree that the Books of Chronicles are the products
of certain Israelite (Levitical) groups in the Persian province
of Jehud who struggled with the dissonance between their older historical
and theological traditions on the one hand, and their present
reality on the other hand. Within the totally different conditions
under Persian rule (a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society) they
had to find a new identity. The primary focus of this article is to
examine the rhetorics of the intense struggle for a new identity
presented to the reader in the Books of Chronicles. It is argued that
this new identity represented a shift from a historically-defined
identity that lasted from the monarchical period to the early postexilic
phase, to a cultic identity during the Persian era. The article
also endeavours to relate the identity forming discourse of these
biblical books to the present processes in post-apartheid South
African society. The question is asked whether a similar shift can be
observed in this modern situation.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.ve.org.za
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Bible. Chronicles -- Criticism, interpretation, etc., Israelites, Yehud (Persian province)
Citation
Jonker, L.C. 2003. The rhetorics of finding a new identity in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society : the case of the book of Chronicles. Verbum et Ecclesia 24(2), 396-416, doi:10.4102/ve.v24i2.350.