§ 2. Relation to Ezra and Nehemiah
It is well known that the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book; but further it is certain that Chronicles has been artificially separated from them, and that the three books, Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah, were once a continuous work. The reasons upon which this conclusion is based are as follows:
(1) The ending of Chronicles and the beginning of Ezra are the same (2 Chr. xxxvi. 22 f. = Ezra i. 1—3a), i.e. after the separation was made between Chron. and Ezra-Nehemiah the opening verses of Ezra (recording the proclamation of Cyrus permitting the Jews to return) were retained, or perhaps one should say, were added by someone who was aware of the original continuity of Chron. with Ezra-Nehemiah and who was anxious that Chron. should end in a hopeful strain (see note on 2 Chr. xxxvi. 23). The desirability of securing a hopeful conclusion is much more obvious in the Hebrew than in the English Bible, for, whereas in the English order Ezra immediately follows Chronicles, in the Hebrew Canon Ezra and Nehemiah are made to precede Chronicles, and Chronicles is actually the last book of the Hebrew Bible. (On the reason for this order in the Hebrew, and generally on the separation of Chronicles from Ezra-Nehemiah, see § 9, Position in the Canon, ad fin.)
(2) The same general standpoint and the same special interests are found both in Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah to a remarkable degree. In particular, attention may be called to the following points:
