Piet B. Dirksen, «1 Chronicles 9,26-33: Its Position in Chapter 9», Vol. 79 (1998) 91-96

This study deals with the problem of the inclusion of an isolated passage of 1 Chron 9,28-33 in that book’s literary context of the list of those returning from exile. The author of the study considers that this can be explained on the grounds of redactional and the reasons for, and the conclusions to be drawn from this view are given.

       2) This literary-critical solution is strengthened by the occurrence of other redactional additions in 1 Chronicles, which betray the same features as the passage under discussion, both in form and in content.

       Redactional activity in Chronicles has been recognized by a number of scholars, although in detail there are many differences. Two examples may suffice. Williamson⁸ thinks that parts of chapters 23–27 are secondary and go back to a priestly reviser who expressed his pro-priestly leanings also in some additions elsewhere to the Chronicler's text; v. 30 may derive from that reviser. G. Steins finds in Chronicles various redactional layers, each with its own thematic characteristics, of which one, the "Musiker-Torwächter-Schicht" derives from a redactor who had a particular interest in gatekeepers and singers. As mentioned above, he holds that vv. 17-33 belong to this layer.

       In, two articles I have argued that the hand which added chapters 23–26 was also responsible for 15,4-10.17-18.24b, and a gloss in v. 18 ⁹, and for 28,12b-18a ¹⁰. This redactor was very much interested in the genealogical background of temple personnel, in cultic order, and in listing cultic details (e.g. 23,28-32). Where in his view the existing text was lacking in these respects he added the necessary information. In doing so he did his best to integrate his additions with the existing text, if necessary at the expense of smooth syntax. Especially ch. 28 offers a close parallel to the passage under discussion in that the redactor adds a number of cultic details which are alien to the Chronicler's context, in which David offers to Solomon the design (tabnît) of the temple building, the courts, and, as the climax, of the resting place of the ark (18b). Likewise, in ch. 9 the redactor is not satisfied with the mere mention of the Levites and the attention paid to the gatekeepers, without any reference to the cultic tasks. He fulfills this need in vv.26c.28-33, which he connects with the existing text by means of the transition from gatekeepers to Levites in v. 26b.

       In this connection it is worth noting that the following words/expressions occur only here and in another text by the same redactor: so3let (v. 29; 23,29), ke0le= ha3(a0bo=da= (v. 28; 28,14; cp. 28,13), be0mispa3r (v. 28; 23,31, and six times elsewhere), leh[em hamma (a0reket (v. 32; 23,29; moreover Neh 10,33).

       3) The assumption that a redactor's hand is at work in vv. 26b.28-33 is corroborated by the fact that it serves to elucidate a few obscurities.

       The first is the expression be)e0mu=na=, which occurs also in v. 26, and with suffix in v. 22. For all three places different translations are given. In v. 22 a number follow Rothstein-Hänel in the translation "Amtspflicht", e.g. Curtis-Madsen ("office of trust"), NRSV (the same), NIV ("position of trust"). On the basis of v. 26 TOB has "dans leur fonction