date of composition must be regarded as speculative. It will be helpful to discuss the extreme limits that can be set for the composition of the basic form of Chronicles within the Persian and Hellenistic ages. The absolute terminus a quo is 538 B.C.E., the decree of Cyrus presented in 2 Chr 36:22–23. The terminus ante quem is the mid-third century B.C.E. The terminus a quo is obvious, but the terminus ante quem requires some defense.130 I posit the mid-third century as the latest reasonable time