This book analyses a much neglected writer's contribution to the debate within Judaism in the post-exilic period about who might legitimately be included within the reconstituted Jerusalem community, and notably the Chronicler's attitude to the status of the Samaritan sect. It has been almost universally accepted that Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah are all parts of a single work, and so the rather 'exclusive' attitude of Ezra-Nehemiah has been read back into Chronicles. Many believe that the Chronicles intended to reject the Samaritan claim to inclusion. Dr Williamson challenges both the assumption of unity of authorship and the attribution of an exclusive attitude to the Chronicler, providing evidence to support the case for separate authorship, and examining Chronicles in its own right. A study of the use of the word 'Israel' and an analysis of the narrative structure jointly lead to the conclusion that the Chronicler reacted against the over-exclusive attitudes of some of his contemporaries, and looked for the reunion of 'all Israel' around Jerusalem and its temple. This study will interest both Old Testament scholars and students of Jewish history and culture.

Foreword; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; Part I. The Extent of the Chronicler's Work: 2. 2 Chronicles 36: 22f. and Ezra 1: 1-3a; 3. The evidence of the Greek versions; 4. Vocabulary and style in Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah; 5. Ideology; 6. The start of the Chronicler's work; Excursus: the date of Chronicles; Part II. The Concept of Israel in the Books of Chronicles: 7. 1 Chronicles 1 - 2 Chronicles 9; 8. The divided monarchy (2 Chronicles 10-28); 9. Hezekiah to the Babylonian exile (2 Chronicles 29-36); 10. Conclusions; Bibliography; Index of passages cited; Index of modern authors; General index.