HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF IDENTITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Abstract
The status of Israel changed dramatically as a result of the Babylonian exile and its aftermath during the Persian era. Whereas the self-understanding of the people was closely linked to the Davidic monarchy during the pre-exilic time, the post-exilic community had to face the reality of their provincial existence under Persian imperial rule. The sociopolitical and socio-cultural environment changed dramatically because of these events, resulting in renewed processes of identity negotiation in Israel. We witness different attempts at verbalizing these processes in the biblical writings. The impact of the Persian imperial context on the self-understanding of the community in Jerusalem will be investigated with special reference to the Books of Chronicles. In these books � different to from e.g. Ezra-Nehemiah � a tendency towards inclusivism can be detected in the process of identity negotiation. This paper will show how this tendency relates to the qualified tolerance that was characteristic of the Persian (Achaemenid) era.Downloads
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