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READING UTOPIA IN CHRONICLES A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Notre Dame in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Steven James Schweitzer, B.A., M.A. _________________________________ James C. VanderKam, Director Graduate Program in Theology Notre Dame, Indiana March 2005 © Copyright by Steven James Schweitzer 2005 All rights reserved READING UTOPIA IN CHRONICLES Abstract by Steven James Schweitzer The book of Chronicles is examined using the methodology of utopian literary theory. From this innovative perspective, Chronicles is interpreted as a utopian work that critiques present society and its status quo by presenting a “better alternative reality.” My analysis contends that Chronicles does not reflect the historical situation of a particular time during the Second Temple period in its portrayal of the past, but rather conveys hope for a different future. While some scholars have also affirmed that Chronicles is concerned with the future, the majority of scholars believe that the content of Chronicles largely reflects the present situation of the author and in doing so reinforces or legitimizes the status quo. Also, this dissertation argues that utopianism is an underlying ideological matrix that contributes to the coherence of the book of Chronicles as a whole. Three commonly addressed concerns of the Chronicler (genealogy, politics, and the temple cult) are understood from this methodological perspective as vehicles for conveying the Chronicler’s vision for a utopian future. Thus, the scope of this analysis is broader than many recent studies on Chronicles that have focused on isolated themes, individuals, or discrete sections in the book. Steven James Schweitzer Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the state of scholarship on Chronicles, to the methodological approach of utopian literary theory, and to the applicability of this method to Chronicles. Chapter 2 assesses Chronicles through this interpretative lens by focusing on the genealogical utopia in the material of 1 Chronicles 1-9 and the related issue of delineating the concept of “Israel” throughout the book. Chapter 3 investigates the political utopia in Chronicles. Comparisons and contrasts with other Hellenistic utopias are briefly discussed while the main focus is on the presentation of the Davidic dynasty in Chronicles. Chapter 4 consists of a detailed examination of the temple cult and its personnel, the center of the Chronicler’s utopian history. Chapter 5 contains a summary, conclusions, and implications for further research into Chronicles as a result of this analysis, many of which challenge the dominant scholarly views and the assumptions that lie behind them. DEDICATION To Jill my best friend and lifelong companion on this wonderful journey together ii CONTENTS TABLES . vi ABBREVIATIONS . vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 The Current State of Chronicles Scholarship . 1 1.1.1 Authorship of Chronicles . 4 1.1.2 Date of Chronicles . 6 1.1.3 Genre of Chronicles . 10 1.1.4 Three Major Themes in Chronicles . 16 1.1.4.1 Genealogies . 16 1.1.4.2 Politics . 20 1.1.4.3 Temple Cult . 26 1.1.5 The Present Situation and a New Approach to Chronicles . 29 1.2 A New Methodology: Utopian Literary Theory . 29 1.2.1 Definition of Utopianism . 30 1.2.2 The Methodology of Utopian Literary Theory . 36 Excursus: Spatial Theory and Insights into/from Utopian Literary Theory . 48 1.2.3 Utopianism and its Literary Form in the Ancient World . 55 1.2.4 Utopianism in Chronicles . 59 CHAPTER 2: A GENEALOGICAL UTOPIA . 65 2.1 The Functions and Structures of Genealogies: A Survey . 65 2.1.1 Genealogies in the ancient Near East . 65 2.1.2 Genealogies in the Hellenistic World . 70 2.1.3 The Purposes of Genealogies . 75 2.1.4 Genealogy as Preface: The Literary Function of 1 Chronicles 1-9 . 80 2.2 The Genealogical Identity of “Israel” in Chronicles: A Utopian Construct . 88 Excursus: Prophecy, Speeches, and Authority in Chronicles . 96 2.2.1 Constructing a Lineage: Examples of the Chronicler’s Utopian Use of Sources . 105 2.2.2 The “Twelve Tribes” of Utopian Israel: Identifying “Israel” . 114 2.2.3 Judah and Levi in Privileged Positions . 125 2.2.4 “Israel” among the Nations: Universalism and Particularism in Chronicles . 139 2.2.5 Genealogy as Utopia . 151 iii CHAPTER 3: A POLITICAL UTOPIA . 158 3.1 Political Utopias in the Ancient World: A Survey . 158 3.1.1 The Hellenistic Utopias: Golden Ages, Ideal States, and Distant Lands . 159 3.1.1.1 The Golden Age of Hesiod . 160 3.1.1.2 Atlantis and the Republic of Plato . 162 3.1.1.3 Distant Lands in Homer, Herodotus, Theopompus, Hecataeus of Abdera, and Heliodorus . 164 3.1.1.4 The Panchaeans of Euhemerus . 165 3.1.1.5 The Island of the Sun in Iambulus . 167 3.1.1.6 The Fantastic Voyage of Lucian . 168 3.1.1.7 The Ideal King in Xenophon’s Cyropaedia . 170 3.1.2 The Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature: Theocracy, Eschatology, and Communism . 171 3.1.2.1 The Garden of Eden: The Urzeit in the Hebrew Bible . 172 3.1.2.2 Eschatological Futures: The Prophets . 173 3.1.2.3 Cultic Theocratic Visions: Priestly Source, Ezekiel 40-48, Temple Scroll, War Scroll, the New Jerusalem texts from Qumran, and the Book of Revelation . 174 3.1.2.4 Communism: The Essenes in Philo and Josephus, and Jerusalem’s Christian Community in Acts 2 and 4 . 180 Excursus: St. Thomas More’s Utopia . 181 3.2 The Davidic Monarchy in Chronicles . 185 3.2.1 Saul, David, and Solomon (1 Chr 10-2 Chr 9) . 186 3.2.2 Rehoboam and Abijah (2 Chr 10-13) . 206 3.2.3 Asa and Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 14-20) . 213 3.2.4 Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah (2 Chr 21-22) . 223 3.2.5 Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah (2 Chr 23-26) . 228 3.2.6 Jotham and Ahaz (2 Chr 27-28) . 237 3.2.7 Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah (2 Chr 29-35) . 239 3.2.8 The Final Four: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah (2 Chr 36) . 254 Excursus: Burial Notices as Utopian Space in Chronicles . 256 3.3 A Utopian Future in Chronicles: Conclusions about the Political Dimension . 263 3.3.1 Restoration or Reapplication?: A Synthetic Reading of the Monarchy in Chronicles . 264 3.3.2 The Exile and its Implications for Utopia in Chronicles . 268 3.3.3 Utopia under the (Persian) Empire? . 271 CHAPTER 4: A CULTIC UTOPIA . 276 4.1 The Temple Cult in the Postexilic Period: A Survey . 276 4.1.1 The Temple Cult in Persian Period Prophetic Literature: Haggai and First Zechariah, Second Zechariah, Third Isaiah, Joel, and Malachi . 278 iv 4.1.1.1 Haggai and First Zechariah . 280 4.1.1.2 Second Zechariah, Third Isaiah, Joel, and Malachi . 283 4.1.2 The Temple Cult in Ezekiel 40-48 . 287 4.1.3 The Temple Cult in Ezra and Nehemiah . 295 Excursus: Ezra’s Law and Mosaic Torah . 308 4.1.4 The Claims of Priestly Status: Levi, Aaron, and Zadok . 313 4.1.5 The Role of Persia in the Support and Maintenance of the Cult: A Brief Assessment . 321 4.1.6 Political Authority, Persian Governors, and the Priesthood in Yehud: Assumptions and Evidence . 326 4.2 The Priesthood and Sacrifice in Chronicles . 329 4.2.1 The Identity of the Priests . 329 4.2.2 The Duties of the Priests . 334 4.2.3 The Sacrificial System . 338 4.3 The Zadokites and the High Priest in Chronicles . 348 4.3.1 The Identity and Duties of the High Priest: Genealogical and Narrative Evidence . 349 4.3.2 Looking in the Wrong Place: Not a Zadokite Utopia . 368 4.4 The Levites: Producing Utopia in Chronicles . 371 4.4.1 The Identity of the Levites . 372 4.4.2 The Duties of the Levites . 377 4.4.3 Locating the “Good Place”: A Levitical Utopia . 408 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION . 413 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 425 v TABLES 1. The Death and Burial Notices of the Monarchs in Chronicles . 258 2. Occurrences of “High Priest” in the Hebrew Bible . 349 3. Occurrences of “Chief Priest” in the Hebrew Bible . 350 4. Comparison Chart of the Genealogical Lists of the “High Priests” . 351 vi ABBREVIATIONS This dissertation follows the.