The Testament of Darius (DNa/DNb) and Constructions of Kings and Kingship in 1-2 Chronicles

In this paper I argue that many aspects of the distinctive vocabulary and themes of 1-2 Chronicles reflect Achaemenid ideology as seen in the Testament of Darius. The doctrine of immediate retribution, the motif of seeking-and-finding, the use of the words maʿal and hitḥazzeq, the motif of the deity choosing the king, and other features are discussed. Close readings of the Old Persian of DNa and DNb, the Aramaic of DNb 50-60, and the Hebrew texts attempt to demonstrate the validity of the hypothesis. I conclude with a brief excursus on the role of foreign monarchs in Chronicles and how the portrayals of those figures impinge on ideology of kingship