The End of History and the Last King: Achaemenid Ideology and Community Identity in Ezra-Nehemiah

David Janzen's book examines community identity in the post-exilic temple community in Ezra-Nehemiah, exploring the possible influences of the Achaemenids, the ruling Persian dynasty, on its construction. He argues that Ezra-Nehemiah accepts Achaemenid claims for the necessity and beneficence of their hegemony, reflecting the Achaemenid assertion that the peoples they have colonized are incapable of living in peace and happiness without Persian rule. The final chapter suggests that Ezra-Nehemiah was produced by an elite group within the Persian-period temple assembly, and that its pro-Achaemenid worldview was not widely accepted within that community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book explores the community identity in the post-exilic temple community in Ezra-Nehemiah, examining the possible influences of the Achaemenids, the ruling Persian dynasty, on its construction. David Janzen reads Ezra-Nehemiah in dialogue with the Achaemenids' Old Persian inscriptions, as well as with other media used by the dynasty, such as reliefs, seals, coins, architecture, and imperial parks. He also discusses the cultural and religious background of Achaemenid thought, particularly its intersections with Zoroastrian beliefs. Janzen argues that Ezra-Nehemiah accepts Achaemenid claims for the necessity and beneficence of their hegemony, resulting in a belief that divine and royal wills are entirely aligned. Ezra-Nehemiah reflects the Achaemenid assertion that the peoples they have colonized are incapable of living in peace and happiness without the Persian rule that God established to benefit humanity, and that the dynasty rewards the peoples who do what they desire, as it reflects divine desire. The final chapter of the book argues that Ezra-Nehemiah was produced by an elite group within the Persian-period temple assembly, and shows that Ezra-Nehemiah's pro-Achaemenid worldview was not widely accepted within that community.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780567698001