I & II Chronicles

Reviews / Votes

"A compendium of past scholarship on 1 and 2 Chronicles, Louis Jonker's masterful study moves beyond traditional commentary to reclaim the Chronicler's vision as urgently relevant. Jonker shows how the Chronicler's adept reframing of history later in the Persian period created a cohesive 'all Israel' identity centered on the Jerusalem temple. By integrating postcolonial theory, social psychology, and reception history, Jonker illuminates how ancient traditions were reinterpreted in order to negotiate imperial power. This work is a vital witness to the Chronicler's theological imagination." -Richard J. Bautch, Professor of Humanities and Executive Director of the Holy Cross Institute, St. Edward's University




"An excellent commentary on Chronicles written by one of the top experts on the topic." -Ehud Ben Zvi, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, Classics, and Religion, University of Alberta




"This volume is not only a traditional commentary on the text of Chronicles but also encompasses historical, rhetorical, and theological aspects, as well as reception history in and of Chronicles, introducing the reader to diverse facets of a late and very complex biblical book. With this milestone of his work, Louis Jonker brings many loose ends of his long scholarship into coherence and pioneers new directions in the analysis of Chronicles." -Angelika Berlejung, Professor of Old Testament, Leipzig University




"An exemplary work of scholarship, this commentary masterfully situates Chronicles within its historiographical and identity-political contexts, offering a reinterpretation of the book at the highest level of exegesis in a clear and accessible manner. Its theological insight is profound, unveiling Chronicles as a true literary masterpiece. At last, we have a worthy successor to Sara Japhet's enduringly outstanding commentary." -Christian Frevel, Professor of Old Testament Studies, Ruhr University Bochum




"An authority on research on 1-2 Chronicles, Professor Louis Jonker has written a rich and solid commentary, marked by his well-known signature approach, which combines interdisciplinarity with a multilayered interpretation that highlights rhetorical strategies, identity negotiations, memory construction, colonial discourse, and a utopian vision. It's a great pleasure to read such an engaging volume!" -Kristin Joachimsen, Professor of Old Testament, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society




"This marvelous new commentary on Chronicles is most welcome! Written by one of the leading experts on the book, it is thorough in scope and is in dialogue with scholarship internationally. A genuine tour de force, Jonker's work brings new energy to the academic study of 1-2 Chronicles and is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in biblical studies." -Steven L. McKenzie, Professor of Religious Studies and Spence L. Wilson Senior Research Fellow, Rhodes College




"Louis Jonker has written a Chronicles commentary for our time: finely aware of contexts for both authors and readers. Thoroughly versed in the scholarship of the past two centuries and attuned to the nuances of sociological and psychological contexts, this commentary takes Chronicles seriously as a book of identity formation and re-formation. This is the first major commentary on Chronicles to summarize and draw from the research on social memory, identity formation, and postcoloniality, reinforcing an understanding of the book as shaped by and shaping its own colonial context in late-Persian-period Judea. Jonker's delight in Chronicles is infectious. Even the most complex issues in Chronicles are explained clearly and lucidly, never abstrusely. A must for any student of Chronicles." -Christine Mitchell, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Knox College, Toronto School of Theology




"Louis Jonker's engaging commentary brings together careful attention to the biblical text with a special focus on scholarly interpretation and questions over the last two decades. The substantial introduction is accessible and invitational for the reader and creates a rich picture of the landscape of recent approaches, concerns, and the book's central themes. Through his characteristically broad interdisciplinary perspective (including sociohistorical, rhetorical, postcolonial, feminist, reception history, and the specific political and theological context of South Africa), Jonker's insights illuminate this book's complexities, allowing new avenues for deeper investigation into the dynamic tapestry of Chronicles and its continued importance as part of larger interpretative traditions within Judaism and Christianity." -Steven Schweitzer, Academic Dean and Professor, Bethany Theological Seminary




"Jonker's South African context gives him a distinctive appreciation for Chronicles as 'reforming history,' and how rethinking Israel's past helped reshape Israel's identity. His thoroughly researched commentary is a welcome addition to the new wave of interest in this often-ignored text." -Steven Tuell, James A. Kelso Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and Old Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary




"In his erudite and illuminating commentary, Louis Jonker puts the book of Chronicles in the spotlight it deserves. It is often overlooked that Chronicles leads us directly into a historical period and a community in which greater parts of the Hebrew Bible were composed. With sensitive literary skills and profound knowledge, Jonker explains the texts, their literary world, and the formative theological themes, thereby illuminating the discourses in Yehud that they reflect but also drive forward." -Kristin Weingart, Professor of Old Testament, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich




"Louis Jonker's authoritative commentary significantly contributes to the renewed interest in Chronicles, demonstrating how the Chronicler dynamically reinterpreted Israel's past to negotiate identity for postexilic communities within the Persian Empire. Through nuanced interdisciplinary analysis-integrating social memory theory, postcolonial criticism, and reception history-Jonker presents the Chronicler as a skilled rhetorician who merged Priestly and Deuteronomistic traditions to advocate for an inclusive "all Israel" centred on Jerusalem's temple and YHWH's kingship. This commentary sets a new benchmark for Chronicles scholarship, illuminating both the book's ancient ideological functions and its ongoing reception from Qumran to post-apartheid South Africa." -Ananda Geyser-Fouche, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures, University of Pretoria