1 CHRONICLES
Title:
In the Hebrew Bible 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles were a single book. Jewish scholars divided them into two when they translated the Old Testament into Greek.
Author and date:
According to ancient Jewish tradition Ezra wrote both books of Chronicles, as well as Ezra and Nehemiah. These books were written probably between 450 and 430 BC.
Themes:
Genealogies tracing the origins of the people of Israel back to Abraham, Noah, and Adam. Most of this book gives events in the life of King David. In this way it can be compared with 2 Samuel. But this book emphasizes the greatness of David and has little to say about his sins and the punishment that came to him because of them. The story of his sin with Bathsheba is omitted; also the account of Absalom’s rebellion. This book teaches that the true glory of the Jewish nation could be found only in its relationship with Jehovah God. Obeying the one true God is the key to success and blessing.
Contents:
Genealogies from Adam to David 1:1—9:44
From Adam to Jacob’s sons 1:1-54
Jacob’s 12 sons 2:1-2
Judah’s descendants 2:3—4:21
Jabez’s prayer 4:9-10
Simeon’s descendants 4:24-43
Descendants of Reuben, Gad, Manasseh 5:1-26
Levi’s descendants 6:1-80
Descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali,
Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher 7:1-40
Benjamin’s descendants to Saul and his sons 8:1-40
Jews who settled in Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon 9:1-34
Saul’s genealogy 9:35-44
The death of Saul 10:1-14
David becomes king 11:1-3
David conquers Jerusalem 11:4-9
David’s mighty warriors 11:10-47
David’s men who joined him in the desert 12:1-22
Those who joined David in Hebron 12:23-40
David tries to bring back the ark, Uzzah’s death 13:1-14
David in Jerusalem 14:1-7
David defeats the Philistines 14:8-17
David brings the ark to Jerusalem 15:1—16:6
David’s song of praise 16:7-36
God’s covenant with David 17:1-15
David’s prayer 17:16-27
David’s conquests chapters 18—20
David’s sin in ordering a census 21:1-8
The consequences of David’s sin 21:8-17
Stopping the sword of God’s angel 21:18-30
Preparations for building the temple 22:2-19
The families of the Levites and their work 23:1-32
The divisions of the priests 24:1-19
The singers for temple worship 25:1-31
The gatekeepers of the temple 26:1-19
Various officials 26:20-32
The army and its officers 27:1-15
Other officers 27:16-34
David’s plans for the temple 28:1-21
Gifts for the temple 29:1-9
David’s prayer 29:10-19
Solomon established as king 29:21-25
The death of David 29:26-30