42...RELIGIOUS ANCESTRY.SOMETHING OR OTHER
Based on the Books of 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 & 2CH) (N1)...Read more there
After the Judeans have been exiled for 50 or so years in Babylon, the world scene changes again as the Persians under Cyrus conquer the Babylonians & allow the Hebrews to return 'home'. There they are given a measure of independence under a Persian-appointed governor, Sheshbazzar, also known as Zerubbabel, a descendant of the House of David. They are even allowed to begin re-building the Temple (N2). A scribe known as the 'Chronicler' (N3) in Jerusalem towards 300BC, provides us with the books that bear that name. Using other sources as well as some we've met before, e.g. GN, NB, 1 & 2 S, & 1 & 2 K, our Chronicler gives us his religious 'take' on things & who was responsible for doing them.  While his seemingly endless lists will be of unique help to scholars interested in Hebrew history, those of us not so wedded to such minutiae may find little to interest us in Chronicles (N4). 1CH 1- 8 consists of lists of people & their tribes & their responsibilities, then Ch. 9 begins with is a roll-call of families who returned from exile together with their assigned duties. This is followed by a 're-look' at King Saul. Chs.11-22 then re-visit King David. Not all the details tally with accounts we've heard earlier. Chs. 23 to the end of the book interweave David's life with more rules & duties applying to the Levites, Priests, Cantors, & Gatekeepers relating to the Ark, the forerunner of the yet-to-be-built Temple. Those involved today in liturgical functions in congregations can see we follow in a long tradition of doing the things of God properly, decently, & in good order. In all this let's not overlook how important it's been for historians, Jewish & others, to have access to those lists the Chronicler invests such effort in making (N 5). Ch. 29 & the book end with the transition from David & his reign to Solomon & the beginning of his. 

The early chapters of 2CH centre round giving Solomon & the building & equipping of the Temple a good press. Then in Chs 10 onward the Chronicler focuses on the Judean Monarchy, reviewing the kings who succeed Solomon. He praises or damns them for doing either good or evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as has been done in 2K with regard to kings of both Israel & Judah. These various kings, their reigns, & the verdicts on them might be best left for those with either a historical or theological bent. Intermingled with all the other details in 2CH we find references to incursions into or invasions of Judah by the Egyptians (Ch.12) the Assyrians (Chs. 28 & 32) & the Babylonians (Ch.36). Politics in that part of the world then sound very much like those of today! Towards the end of 2CH two reforming kings Hezekiah (Chs. 29-32) & Josiah (Chs. 34-35) stand out by standing up for YHWH, but with the long reign of a really bad king, Manasseh, in between them. Perhaps the most significant story of all is the rediscovery in Ch.34 of the 'Book of the Law' & the effect this has on policy & people during Josiah's reforms. Scholars are pretty unanimous  this was what we know as Deuteronomy (see Ep. 32). The teachings of YHWH God have survived long years of apostasy & now are dusted off & re-activated under the influence of Josiah the king, Hilkiah the priest, & Huldah ( a woman, & a Prophet!) Notable for their absence in all these scenarios, except for one brief mention of Elijah, are the two towering Prophets Elijah & his successor Elisha, so important in 1 & 2K. But they were Northerners, after all! 2CH ends with a quick overview of Judea collapsing before the Babylonians, & why; & a nod in the direction of Persia which will eventually conquer Babylon & allow the Judeans to return home. But that's another story...43...Home Again. Again!
(N1) Like 1 & 2 SAM & Kings, Chronicles was originally one book. (N2) 538BC. More of this when we reach the books of Ezra & Nehemiah. (N3) He is probably a southerner & a Levite from the tribe with liturgical responsibilities. EX 32:25-29 & 1CH 16 give us some background to Levites. (N4) The Chronicler draws on as well as other sources for his lists, but edits them to suit his purposes! The NJB in its introduction to CHs calls him a 'theologian not a historian' (p. 508). (N5) MT (Ch. 1) & LK (Ch. 3) for instance clearly draw on genealogical records they have access to in establishing Jesus' human lineage.

Q: What would happen if we were to vote for politicians according to how the Chronicler sums up kings?