1. Introduction

1–2 Chronicles provides an alternative account of Israelite/Judean history that basically parallels the account in 1 Samuel–2 Kings (deuteronomistic history), yet it differs from deuteronomistic history not only about specific details but also in its theological and historiographical approach. Thus, from the fourth century BCE (the probable date of Chronicles), two different and often conflicting accounts of the monarchic period were available. What did this situation mean?

In many societies, the image of a distant historical past functions as a means of self-understanding. This image (‘remembrances’ + the inferred historical ‘laws’) provides a conceptual framework for the understanding of contemporary reality, making this reality meaningful to the individual as well as to society as a whole. Since the historical image as pattern transforms unique situations into illustrations of an ongoing historical process, the ‘laws’ governing this historical process and past patterns of response turn out to be applicable to the present situation. The ‘knowledge’ thus gained is dependent not only on specific historical images but also on the conceptual world of the interpreter. Consequently, a wide range of lessons may be derived from similar historical images.

Israel often turned to its image of the past in order to understand present situations (see, for instance, the interpreted summaries of the Israelite past in Ezekiel 20; Psalm 106; Nehemiah 9; Sirach 44–50; Jdt. 5.5–21; CD 3; Wis. 10; 1 Macc. 2.51–61; 3 Macc. 6.2–8; 4 Macc. 18.9–19; Acts 7.2-–53; Hebrews 11).