Isaac Kalimi, «The View of Jerusalem in the Ethnographical Introduction of Chronicles (1 Chr 1–9)», Vol. 83 (2002) 556-562

All the appearances of Jerusalem in the ethnographical prologue of Chronicles are prior to David’s capture of it. Equally, the mentioning of the Jerusalem Temple is prior to its building by Solomon. These appearances are early allusions to the importance of the city and its functions in the narrative sections of the book. The Chronicler stresses that all the chosen dynasty’s kings were born in Jerusalem. The repetitive mentioning that the Temple was constructed in Jerusalem may be intended to point out the exclusive holiness of the Chronicler’s own Jerusalem. The list of Jerusalem’s residents relies on those in Nehemiah and on an additional one that has no parallel in other sources. This list is used as a climax of the entire section (1 Chr 1-9). According to the Chronicler all the Israelites settled in Jerusalem freely, and the city was used as a center for the entire nation during the whole kingdom era.

The ethnographical introduction of the book of Chronicles (1 Chr 1–9) comprises a collection of various genealogical and geographical lists as well as some historical notes regarding a range of issues. Essentially, Jerusalem is mentioned in three texts of this part: in the list of David’s descendants (1 Chr 3, esp. verses 4-5), in the genealogy of the Levites (1 Chr 5,27–6,66 [ET: 6,1-81]), and in the closing chapter (1 Chr 9,2-34). The aim of this article is to draw up the representation of Jerusalem in these texts, their presumed contexts, meanings and significance in the Chronistic writing.

I. David’s Descendants and Dynasty

        The book of Chronicles opens with a chapter dedicated to all nations (1 Chr 1), while the following seven chapters deal with Israel only (1 Chr 2–8). The tribes of Judah (1 Chr 2–4)¹ — the core of the southern kingdom and later on the Chronicler’s own community — take up more than 46% of the entire Israelites’ genealogy. In the center of Judah’s genealogies appear David, his descendants, and dynasty as well as the royal line in the exilic and post-exilic times until Anani (1 Chr 3)².

        For the first time in the Chronistic historical writing, Jerusalem is mentioned in the heart of Judah’s genealogical lists. The Chronicler accounts for David’s sons (1 Chr 3,1-9) while basing his information on four texts from the book of Samuel (2 Sam 3,2-5; 5,5; 5,14-16; and 13,1). He is making a clear distinction between those sons who were born in Hebron (1 Chr 3,1-4a // 2 Sam 3,2-5) and those born in Jerusalem (1 Chr 3,5-9 // 2 Sam 5,14-16). As a point of contrast between the lists he uses David’s reign in these cities: seven years and six months in Hebron, thirty-three years in Jerusalem (1 Chr 3,4b // 2 Sam 5,5)³. Nevertheless, from among the six sons who were born