NEJS 110b · Brandeis University · Fall 2015
The Hebrew Bible contains a substantial amount of parallel passages — passages which contain the same, or nearly the same, text. While the direction of textual transmission from one passage to another is not always clear, the differences between parallel texts, whether small or large, can often reveal reactions to contemporary events, along with changing concerns, beliefs, and ideals. The book of Chronicles presents a particularly rich source of literary parallels, sharing great amounts of narrative with Samuel-Kings, and also containing parallels with genealogies in Genesis, hymns found in Psalms, and even prophetic material. We will read selections from the Hebrew Bible (primarily from Chronicles) along with their parallels in order to better understand this phenomenon.