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Introduction to1 & 2 Chronicles

11 November 2007

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1 & 2 Chronicles

Originally one book in the Hebrew O.T.

Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint

Organized as the last book of the Hebrew Bible

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Author of 1 & 2 Chronicles

Talmudic tradition says it was written by the priest, Ezra

Perhaps it was written by one of Ezra’s contemporaries

It is quite similar in style to the book of Ezra

Chronicles and Ezra may have been one consecutive history, like Luke and Acts

The author(s) compiled the information from many sources

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Sources Used for Chronicles

1. The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah

2. A Commentary on the Book of the Kings

3. Chronicles of Samuel the seer

4. Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet

5. Chronicles of Gad the Seer

6. The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite

7. The Visions of Iddo the Seer

8. Records of Shemaiah the Prophet

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Sources Used for Chronicles9. Records of Iddo

10. The annals of Jehu the Son of Hanani

11. The Acts of Uzziah by Isaiah the Prophet

12. The Vision of Isaiah the Prophet

13. The Records of the Hozai

14. The Account of the Chronicles of King David

15. The Writing of David and His Son Solomon

16. Genealogical lists and documents, such as the message and letters of Sennacherib

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3 Historic Accounts Compared

Men God used Samuel Kings Chronicles

Eli Samuel

Saul David

Solomon 19 kings of Judah 19 kings of Israel

Elijah Elisha

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Comparison of 2 Histories

Samuel and Kings Chronicles

Israel’s history from the united kingdom to the two captivities

Southern kingdom’s history, especially the Davidic line

Political history Religious history

Prophetic emphasis on moral concerns

Priestly emphasis on spiritual concerns

Written soon after the events

Written many years after the events

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Comparison of 2 Histories

Samuel and Kings Chronicles

More negative – about rebellion and tragedy

More positive – tells of apostacy, but offers hope in spite of tragedy

Message of judgment Message of hope

Man’s failings God’s faithfulness

Emphasizes kings and prophets

Emphasizes the temple and the priests

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Emphasis of Chronicles

The temple / tabernacle

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Emphasis of Chronicles

The temple / tabernacle

Two purposes:

Sacrifices

Communication with God

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Emphasis of Chronicles

The temple / tabernacle

Symbolism:

God’s presence among His special, chosen people

Spiritual link between Israel’s past and future

Shadow of heaven

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Emphasis of Chronicles

The temple / tabernacle

Chronicles omits northern kingdom’s kings because they had no ties with the temple

Special mention is made of Jewish kings who restored the temple:

Asa

Jehoshaphat

Joash

Hezekiah

Josiah

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First Temple

A story of the first Jewish temple

Idea – by David (1014 B.C.)

Preparation – by David (985 B.C.)

Construction – by Solomon (982-975 B.C.)

Dedication – by Solomon (972 B.C.)

Defiling – by bad kings

Cleansing – by good kings

Destruction – by Nebuchadnezzar (586 B.C.)

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Second Temple

Briefly mentioned at end of Chronicles

Idea – 1st prophesied by Isaiah (~712 B.C.)

Idea – proclaimed by Cyrus (539 B.C.)

Preparation – elders & priests (539 B.C.)

Foundation – by Zerubbabel (535 B.C.)

Completion – by Zerubbabel (517 B.C.)

Dedication – by priests (516 B.C.)

Destruction – by Titus (70 A.D.)

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Temple: Jesus

“In this place there is one greater than the temple.”

Matthew 12:6

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Temple: Jesus

“Destroy this temple,and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2:19

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Temple: Jesus

“Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,

with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands,

that is, not of this creation.Hebrews 9:11 NKJV

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Temple: Father & Son

“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty

and the Lamb are its temple.”

Revelation 21:22

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Temple: Saints

“You are God’s temple,and God’s spirit lives in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:16

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Emphasis of Chronicles Priests / the priesthood

They had to be men from the tribe of Levi

Offered gifts and sacrifices for sins

Compassionate with sinners

Interceded for sinners

Appointed by God

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Emphasis of Chronicles God’s faithfulness in preserving the

theocratic line of David

“And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled … that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.”

(1 Chr. 17:11,14 NKJV ~ 1015 B.C.)

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Emphasis of Chronicles God’s faithfulness in preserving the

theocratic line of Christ

1 Chronicles 1-9 Matthew 1 Luke 3

Adam to Zerubabbel (56 generations)

Abraham to Christ (42 generations)

Jesus to Adam (75 generations)

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Emphasis of Chronicles God’s faithfulness in preserving the

theocratic line of Christ

And in the days of these kingsthe God of heaven will set up

a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break

in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

(Daniel 2:44 NKJV ~ 604 B.C)

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The genealogies and events of 1 & 2 Chronicles span approximately 3500 years:

From Adam (around 4000 B.C.)

to David (around 1000 B.C.)

to Zerubbabel (around 500 B.C.)

Ezra probably completed Chronicles between 450 and 430 B.C., and read it to the remnant who had returned to the Promised Land.

Dates of 1 & 2 Chronicles

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Theme & Purpose Reminder of spiritual heritage of returning remnant and God’s faithfulness to them

Encouragement to rebuild the spiritual heritage and the temple with God’s strength

Hope that all was not lost; God still had a future for His chosen people

Warnings by illustration:

Don’t go back to intermarriage with pagans

Don’t follow the pagans in their idolatry

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Contribution to the Bible

Provides the most comprehensive genealogical tables in the Bible

Shows the work of God in preserving a people for Himself from the beginning of human history to the period after the Babylonian exile – more than other books

Demonstrates God’s keeping His covenant promises in maintaining the Davidic line through the centuries

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Outline of Chronicles

1. The royal line of David (1 Chr. 1-9)

Genealogy; around 3500 years

2. The reign of David (1 Chr. 10-29)

History; 33 years

3. The reign of Solomon (2 Chr. 1-9)

40 years

4. Reigns of the kings of Judah (2 Chr. 10-36)

393 years

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Israelite Dynasties Dynasty = a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family

The divided kingdom Israel Judah

No. of dynasties 9 1

No. of kings before captivity 19 19

No. of years before captivity 224 359

Nation conquered by Assyria Babylon

Note: Judah also had one female ruler, Queen Athaliah

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Kings of the Southern Kingdom

Rehoboam bad mostly 933-916 BC

Abijah bad mostly 915-913 BC

Asa GOOD 912-872 BC

Jehoshaphat GOOD 874-850 BC

Jehoram bad 850-843 BCAhaziah bad 843 BC

Athaliah devilish 843-837 BC

Joash good mostly 843-803 BC

Amaziah good mostly 803-775 BC

Uzziah GOOD mostly 787-735 BC

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Kings of the Southern Kingdom

Jotham GOOD 749-734 BC

Ahaz wicked 741-726 BC

Hezekiah GOOD 726-697 BC

Manasseh terrible 697-642 BC

Amon terrible 641-640 BC

Josiah GOOD 639-608 BCJehoahaz bad 608 BC

Jehoiakim wicked 608-597 BC

Jehoiachin bad 597 BC

Zedekiah bad 597-586 BC

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Judah’s Downfall Moreover all the leaders of the priests

and the people transgressed more and more,according to all the abominations of the

nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers,

rising up early and sending them,because He had compassion on His people

and on His dwelling place.

– 2 Chronicles 36:14,15 NKJV

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Judah’s DownfallBut they mocked the messengers of God,

despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose

against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the

Chaldeans, who killed their young menwith the sword in the house of their sanctuary,

and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak;

He gave them all into his hand.

– 2 Chr. 36:16,17 NKJV

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Application

When facing struggles today, remember how He worked in the past to help you and / or others

Be like David and develop a deep and strong relationship with God

Remember your spiritual heritage – thank God for the one who led you to Jesus

True worship is offering your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)

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Application

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14 NKJV)

Idolatry always brings God’s judgment, and today idols are anything that replaces Jesus in the #1 spot in our hearts.

Bibliography

Special thanks goes to the following:

Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible

Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and e-mails he has written

Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible