002_cudworth_498_523 24/02/15 11:49 Pagina 504 504 TROY D. CUDWORTH to Solomon (29,23-26). The Chronicler also marks the faithfulness of Solomon in completing the temple project with the presence of all Israel at the dedication ceremony (2 Chr 7,6.8). To give one final example, we may note the appearance of all Israel near the end of Hezekiah’s reforms in 2 Chr 31,1. The Chronicler had just detailed all the work that Hezekiah had accomplished in re-estab- lishing the temple and its cult in the religious life of Israel (2 Chronicles 29–30), and so the support of the people follows natu- rally afterward as the expected reward. Not only does this occur- rence follow along the model of David and Solomon, but it also reverses the circumstances created by Ahaz whose idolatrous ac- tions led to “the ruin of all Israel” (2 Chr 28,23). A third nuance for the Chronicler’s use of the phrase all Israel can be derived from the first two. If the above survey shows that (1) good kings seek to rally the entire nation to YHWH by their faithful- ness and (2) they consequently receive the people’s unwavering sup- port for such devotion, then (3) we can expect all Israel to behave in a faithful, trustworthy manner whenever they act together. While the people will often react against an unfaithful king (e.g. 2 Chr 21,19-20; 24,25) and such a wicked king could lead them astray (2 Chr 36,11-16), the Chronicler nevertheless shows throughout his narrative that they will always support a king who acts faithfully. Moreover, he will never show them to instigate a turbulent period since they will always follow and even comply with a good king 22. 2. The legitimate claim of “all Israel” at Shechem In this light, Japhet’s charge that the people made their request for a lighter workload only as an excuse for rebellion has little basis. To begin with, the Chronicler certainly describes this group of peo- ple within his predominant theme of all Israel since the term ap- pears twice at the beginning of the episode (10,1.3). While he takes the first as a direct borrowing from 1 Kgs 12,1, he must change the second from the phrase “all the assembly of Israel” in v. 3 to keep his theme consistent. The same use of this phrase a mere two verses 22 Jotham may appear as an exception, but really Uzziah deserved the blame for their corrupt practices (txX, v. 2; cf. 2 Chr 26,16). Moreover, the Chronicler never shows them acting against Jotham but insinuates that they simply kept idolatrous ways.