• The Testament of Darius (DNa/DNb) and Constructions of Kings and Kingship in 1-2 Chronicles

    Author(s):
    Christine Mitchell (see profile)
    Date:
    2015
    Group(s):
    Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
    Subject(s):
    Middle East, History, Ancient, Bible. Chronicles
    Item Type:
    Essay
    Tag(s):
    old persian, darius, Hebrew bible, Ancient Near East, Chronicles
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6HT2GB41
    Abstract:
    In this paper I argue that many aspects of the distinctive vocabulary and themes of 1-2 Chronicles reflect Achaemenid ideology as seen in the Testament of Darius. The doctrine of immediate retribution, the motif of seeking-and-finding, the use of the words maʿal and hitḥazzeq, the motif of the deity choosing the king, and other features are discussed. Close readings of the Old Persian of DNa and DNb, the Aramaic of DNb 50-60, and the Hebrew texts attempt to demonstrate the validity of the hypothesis. I conclude with a brief excursus on the role of foreign monarchs in Chronicles and how the portrayals of those figures impinge on ideology of kingship.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Book chapter     Show details
    Publisher:
    SBL Press
    Pub. Date:
    2015
    Book Title:
    Political Memory in and after the Persian Empire
    Author/Editor:
    J. Silverman & C. Waerzeggers
    Page Range:
    363 - 380
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    5 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
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