that 2 Chronicles ended originally with v. 21, which he finds to be a more satisfying ending than the fragmentary v. 23. In his view vv. 22–23 were added to point up the hopeful notes that were already in vv. 20–21.69 That, of course, could have been the Chronicler’s own intention by citing these verses from Ezra. As William Riley has pointed out, the hope in v. 21 is very understated and only implies Israel’s restoration to the land.70 Indeed, Riley argues that the hope in Chronicles is post-Davidic,
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