Africa and Africans in the Books of Chronicles

Currents in Theology and Mission, August, 2004 by Ralph W. Klein

The Exodus

In Chronicles the Exodus tends to be downplayed or deemphasized. (10) In Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kgs 8:21 and 8:53, the king refers to the Exodus. In 1 Kgs 8:21, the king mentions the covenant Yahweh made with the ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, but that becomes simply the covenant Yahweh made with the Israelites--with no mention of the Exodus--when it is cited in 2 Chr 6:11. The Chronicler does not include 1 Kgs 8:53 at all but substitutes for it 2 Chr 6:41-42, which consists of quotations from Psalm 132 containing a dynastic promise to David and reporting David's efforts on behalf of the ark. The reason for the Chronicler's reticence in regard to the Exodus is disputed. (11) It may be related to the fact that talk of such a revolution against imperial power would have been anathema to Persian ears, and the Chronicler had no desire to be detoured from his main agenda which was support of free and unfettered worship in Jerusalem. (12)

The Queen of Sheba and Huram (13) the King of Tyre

Solomon is portrayed in glowing colors in Chronicles as is fitting for the king who built the temple. His wisdom is shown primarily in his work on the temple, not, as in 1 Kings, in his judicial brilliance in solving the dispute between the two prostitutes (1 Kgs 3:16-28), his administrative abilities (1 Kgs 4:1-19), or his knowledge about nature or his composing of proverbs (1 Kgs 4:29-34). Solomon's high status is confirmed by his recognition by foreign kings. King Huram of Tyre sent a letter to Solomon that read: "Because Yahweh loves his people he has made you king over them" and "Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for Yahweh, and a royal palace for himself" (2 Chr 2:11-12). Huram is made to sound like an adherent to the Israelite religion and, most important, an international advocate of Solomon. According to 2 Chr 8:2, Huram had ceded a number of cities to Solomon. (14) While Huram is, of course, a Phoenician king, his neighboring city of Sidon is related genealogically to Canaan, the son of Ham the African (1 Chr 1:3). Tyre was considered part of Canaan in any case.

At the end of Solomon's reign he was honored by a visit by the queen of Sheba, who came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. (15) Modern historians believe that her trip also involved securing trade relations with and through Israel and with guarding her trade with East Africa. The location of Sheba (ancient Saba) is disputed. Most would associate it with the region now occupied by Yemen in the southwest Arabian peninsula, (16) although the Ethiopian church retains a legend of her as a person who bore a child to Solomon, who was the ancestor of Haile Salassie. (17) Sheba in the genealogies is associated with both Cush (Nubia; 1 Chr 1:9) and Hagar, Abraham's Egyptian concubine (1 Chr 1:32). The queen of Sheba matches Huram in her endorsement of Solomon: "Blessed be Yahweh our God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for Yahweh your God. Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness" (2 Chr 9:8). The queen of Sheba is a person of fabulous wealth and generosity in Chronicles. She gives the king one hundred twenty talents of gold and incomparable spices and precious stones (2 Chr 9:9).