First and Second Book of Chronicles

by Arend Remmers
http://www.biblecentre.org
29 and 36 chapters
1.
2.
3.
4.

Author and Time of Writing

Purpose of Writing
Peculiarities
Overview of Contents

1. Author and Time of Writing

The two books of Chronicles are the very last books of the Hebrew Old Testament.
Originally they formed one single book as the books of Samuel and Kings. The division
of the books originates from the translation of the Septuagint, which is the Greek version
of the OT. From then on the division was taken over into the translations of the Holy
Scriptures until finally it was taken over into the Hebrew Bible (firstly by Daniel
Bomberg in 1517 AC).
First Chron. 3:19ff; 9:1-2 and 2 Chron. 36:22-23 make it clear that the two books were
only written or completed after the Babylonian captivity. As the last verses of 2
Chronicles and the first few verses of the book of Ezra are nearly identical and as the
book of Ezra is the historical sequence of Chronicles the Jewish scholars who wrote the
Talmud named Ezra as author of the Chronicles. The detailed genealogies at the
beginning (chap. 1-9) would also endorse Ezra's authorship. The genealogies were of
great importance for the Jews after the exile (compare Ezra 2:62).
As in most of the OT writings the name of the author is however not mentioned. The
priestly character of these books goes well with Ezra who was a priest as well (Ezra 7:15.11). The time of writing would have been around 450 to 400 BC.
Throughout the books a number of historical accounts is mentioned upon which the
writer could base his writings (1 Chron. 5:17; 9:1; 23:27; 27:24; 29:29; 2 Chron. 9:29;
12:15; 13:22; 24:27; 26.22; 27:7, 33:19; 35:25). For the reader acknowledging the Bible
as God's inspired Word these circumstances, however, are not that important. More
important is the fact that God Himself had the books written in order to admonish us (1
Cor. 10:6+11).

2. Purpose of Writing

The books of Chronicles are not a repetition of the books of Kings. God pursued a special
purpose with the writings of the Chronicles. We may see this already in the long
genealogies of Israel and especially of the house of David, which commences with Adam,
the first man. The books of Chronicles give a divine retrospect over Israel's history and
the history of mankind as well as God's ways with men. One would think of comparing
the Chronicles with Deuteronomy, which is no repetition of the preceding books either.
The Chronicles describe especially the kingdom of Judah. The books of Kings describe
mostly the northern kingdom of the ten tribes (Israel). The Chronicles only mention Israel
when it comes into contact with Judah.
The kingdoms of David and Solomon as well as their successors are the main subject of
the Chronicles. Both David and Solomon form a joint picture of Christ as rejected,
suffering, glorified and reigning king. Therefore David and Solomon's trespasses (David's
adultery with Bathsheba and his murdering Uriah and Solomon's idolatry) are not
mentioned. The books of Kings give more moral teachings and stress the human
responsibility. The Chronicles however contain more typical teachings in connection with
the grace of God.
A further main subject is the erection of the temple. The building of the temple takes up
much more space in the Chronicles than in the first book of Kings. In 1 Chron. we see
David's interest for the temple (God's dwelling-place amidst His people) in chap. 21-29,
and in 2 Chron. 2-7 the building and inauguration of the temple under King Solomon.
Later on, the restoration of worship in the temple is mentioned several times (Josiah,
Hezekiah). The Chronicles show the spiritual side of life in Judah and therefore bear a
priestly character. The books of Kings however bear a prophetic stamp.
As in Kings the soon progressive decline of the people is described. This decline was
interrupted in Judah by several revivals of God fearing kings (especially under
Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah). The description of the history of the people of God
ends with Jehovah's rejection and the deportation of the Jews into Babylonian captivity
(around 605 to 586 BC). Babel is a picture of worldly power in a religious cloak
(compare Gen. 11 and Rev. 17-18).
But at the very end of the two books we find how God awakens the heart of King Cyrus
of Persia to induce the Jews to return to Palestine. In this we find again the grace of God!

3. Peculiarities
The Temple
In addition to the differences between Chronicles and Kings mentioned above we find
further remarkable differences in the descriptions of the temple. In 1 Kings 6:5-10 the
chambers round about are mentioned which are missing in 2 Chronicles. In 2 Chron. 3:14
we read of the veil and in 2 Chron. 4:1 of the altar of brass whereas the author of 1 Kings
does not mention either. This fact, and other small details, make it plain that 1 Kings

describes the habitation of God and the intimate fellowship of God with His people.
Second Chronicles however depicts the place where one can come near to God to
worship Him.

4. Overview of Contents
I. 1 Chronicles 1-9: Genealogies
Chapter 1

From Adam until Edom

Chapter 2:1-4:23 Judah, especially the House of David

Chapter 4:24-8:40 The other Ten Tribes of Israel
Chapter 9

The Inhabitants of Jerusalem

II. 1 Chronicles 10-29: David's Reign

Chapter 10

The End of King Saul

Chapter 11

King David and his Mighty Men

Chapter 12

David's faithful Followers

Chapter 13

David and the Ark of Covenant

Chapter 14

David's Victories over the Philistines

Chapter 15-16 The Ark of Covenant comes to Jerusalem

Chapter 17

David's Desire to build a Temple

Chapter 18-20 The Wars of David

Chapter 21

The Census and its Punishment

Chapter 22

Preparations for the Building of the Temple

Chapter 23

Service of the Levites

Chapter 24

Service of the Priests

Chapter 25

Service of the Singers

Chapter 26

Service of the Porters and other Servants

Chapter 27

Captains and Civil Servants

Chapter 28

Presentation of Solomon

Chapter 29

David's Last Words and his Death

III. 2 Chronicles 1-9: Solomon's Reign

Chapter 1

Solomon's Accession to the Throne

Chapter 2-4 Building of the Temple

Chapter 5-7 Inauguration of the Temple
Chapter 8-9 Solomon's Glory and Death
IV. 2 Chronicles 10-36: The Kingdom of Judah until the Exile
Chapter 10-12 Division of the Kingdom and Reign of Rehoboam
Chapter 13

Abijah

Chapter 14-16 Asa

Chapter 17

Jehoshaphat

Chapter 18

Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab

Chapter 19

Jehoshaphat's Juridiction

Chapter 20

Salvation of the Moabites

Chapter 21

Jehoram

Chapter 22

Ahaziah

Chapter 23

Athaliah

Chapter 24

Joash's Zeal and Fall

Chapter 25

Amaziah

Chapter 26

Uzziah (Azariah)

Chapter 27

Jotham

Chapter 28

Ahaz

Chapter 29

Hezekiah cleanses the Temple

Chapter 30

Hezekiah's Passover

Chapter 31

Further Reformations of Hezekiah

Chapter 32

Sennacherib's (King of Assyria) Attack

Chapter 33

Manasseh

Chapter 34

Josiah cleanses the Temple and the Law is Found

Chapter 35

Josiah's Passover

Chapter 36

Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah; Jerusalem destroyed