1 & 2 Chronicles
Introduction to the Book

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Through Christ, Who taught us the way to Love: David Buffaloe, Didaskalos Ministries

1 Chronicles 27:24  "Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David."

I. Title of the Book

A. Originally both 1 and 2 Chronicles were all in one Book. It's name was "The Account of Things" or "The Account of the Days".

B. When the Jews translated the Hebrew Scripture into the Greek Septuagint, Chronicles was divided into two books. It was called, literally, "Things passed over". This was not really a good title because, though there are many things mentioned in Chronicles not found elsewhere in Scripture, there are also many previously published events that were retold in the book.

C. When the Hebrew and Greek Chronicles were retranslated into Latin (the Latin Vulgate) the name "Chronicles" was given to the books. The name "Chronicles" was taken from 1 Chronicles 27:24.

1. This is actually a better name, because "Chronicles" literally means "a historical record".

2. Chronicles is not an exhaustive history of Israel, but a "selected" history.

A. The writer could not have been a prophet. Israel, who carefully guarded the Scriptures, did not list Chronicles with either the former or latter prophets, nor among the poetical books of Scripture.

B. The book, as written, seems to reflect the time when Israel (Judah and Benjamin) was carried away into the Babylonian captivity.

C. There is internal evidence that the Book was written by Ezra. The last two verses of 2 Chronicles:

2 Chronicles 36:22-23 "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up."

And the first two verses of Ezra:

Ezra 1:1-2 "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."

Are virtually identical. Ezra's book, then, seems to be a continuation of Chronicles. So it appears that Ezra was the writer of Chronicles, as well as Ezra. The Jewish commentary the Talmud reaches the same conclusion.

D. Perhaps it would be better to characterize Ezra as the "compiler" rather than the writer of Chronicles:

1 Chronicles 9:1  "So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression."

1 Chronicles 29:29  "Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer"

As Ezra notes that all the information found in Chronicles was compiled from four, possibly five books: The book of the King of Israel, The book of the King of Judah, the book of Samuel the seer, the book of Nathan the prophet, and the book of Gad the seer.

IV. Outline of 1 Chronicles

A. The first nine chapters deal with the genealogies of Israel.

1. Chapter one covers the genealogy from Adam to Jacob.

2. Chapters two through nine emphasizes the genealogy of Jacob's family.

aa. The captive Israelites, released from Babylonian imprisonment, are asking "what tribe do we belong to?". This is an important question for each Israelite to answer because their tribal identity determined their residence in the land and their place of service in Israel.

bb. Service in the Temple of God was determined by tribal association. In order for the priesthood to be re-established and the Temple to be rebuilt, each Israelite had to discover if they were or were not priests, were or were not responsible for shaping the things of God. It had been 490 years of captivity, and people had no idea where to begin - Chronicles corrected that deficiency.

B. The rest of the Book deals with the reign of King David. Saul is mentioned, but only in passing. He was the people's choice for King, not God's, and given little credit.

1. Chapters 11-12, David ascends to the Throne of Israel.
2. Chapters 13-16, David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
3. Chapters 17-22, David prepares for the glory of the Temple.
4. Chapters 23-27, David prepares for service in the Temple.
5. Chapters 28-29, David's final instructions concerning the Temple.

aa. Why is so much emphasis placed on the Temple? Because the edict of King Cyrus, who released the Jews, was to allow Israel to rebuild the Temple. God wanted Israel to get off their backsides and get busy doing His work.

A. Kings and Samuel are biographical, whereas Chronicles is strictly statistical.

B. Kings and Samuel are written as an indictment against Israel, were both written by prophets, and showed why Israel was thrown into captivity. Chronicles was written to encourage released Israel to rebuild the Temple that was destroyed. Kings and Samuel are books that condemn, Chronicles encourages.

C. Kings and Samuel contain the civil history of Israel, whereas Chronicles contains the sacred history of Israel.

D. In Chronicles Northern Israel is ignored. Only Southern Israel (Judah, Benjamin) is referred to. Kings and Samuel recognizes both Northern and Southern Israel as two separate, divided kingdoms.

A. To show the post-exile people of Israel a link to their past through the genealogies.

B. To show the glorious heritage of the returning remnant of Israel. Though Israel was imprisoned, they still have a heritage because of the promises God made to Abraham.

C. To show that Israel's heritage can only be preserved through the ecclesiastical institutions of God: the Davidic line, the Temple, and the Holy Priesthood. When Israel refused to follow God, worshipping Him and Him alone, God imprisoned the nation.

D. To show Israel that their heritage could only be sustained by individual responses of faith.

E. To challenge the nation of Israel to a renewed dedication to God, an exhortation to revival.

A. Chronicles begins with the conquest of the land of Canaan, a time reflected in the writings of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.

B. Chronicles then covers the monarchy of Israel, a time reflected in Samuel (1&2) and Kings (1&2).

1. Three Kings are mentioned: Saul, David, and Solomon.

2. After the reign of Solomon Israel divides into Northern and Southern Israel.

aa. Northern Israel is carried away into Assyrian captivity in 722 BC.

bb. Southern Israel is carried away into Babylonian captivity in  586-587 BC.

C. Chronicles then covers the period of the restoration, a time reflected in the writings of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

A. Chapters 1-9: The history of Solomon

1. Chapter 1: Insight into the wealth and wisdom of Solomon.

2. Chapters 2-7: Solomon builds the Temple, and dedicates it to God.

3. Chapters 8-9: The closing activities, and the death of Solomon.

B. Chapters 10-36

1. Chapters 10-36 (all but last two verses), the history of the Kings of Southern Israel.

2. Chapter 36.22-23, the edict of King Cyrus allowing the Israelites to return to the land and rebuild the Temple.

C. Note several things about chapters 10-36:

1. Northern Israel is completely ignored in this chronology. This is because of several factors:

aa. There wasn't one good King in all of Northern Israel's history, nor were any of these Kings chosen by or indwelt with God the Holy Spirit.

bb. None of the Kings of Northern Israel were descended of the line of David.

cc. Northern Israel was involved in apostasy. The foundation of Israel is their relationship with God, and Northern Israel totally rejected that foundation, so God ignored them.

dd. The Davidic line is still in Southern Israel, and it is this line that has the authority to rebuild the Temple, even though no one from this line is on the throne. This is the Messianic line, the line of Christ, and 2 Chronicles preserves this line.

D. 2 Chronicles emphasizes spiritual religious reform. Half of the latter section of the book focuses on four kings (Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah) who seek to reform Israel, leading Israel to revival.

1. Manasseh, one of the wickedest of all kings of Israel, was carried away into Babylonian captivity. In 2 Chronicles 33.11-13 he was saved by faith in God:

2 Chronicles 33:11-13 "Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.  And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,  And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God."

This story is significant because what happened in Manasseh's life was a "type" or illustration of what was happening in the nation Israel. When Israel was in captivity she repented, and after returning to the land, though she was often disobedient, she was never idolatrous again. The same was true of Manasseh. Manasseh is also a good illustration of God's power of salvation. There is no one so defiled that the Grace of God cannot reach them, if they'll submit to it.

A. There are five Temples of God mentioned in Scripture.

1. Solomon built the first Temple. It was destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon placed Southern Israel into captivity.

aa. Solomon's Temple was on the eastern side of the old city of Jerusalem, and was built on a large rock foundation. Where it used to stand now a Temple to Islam stands.

bb. The land the Temple stood on was originally a threshing floor (2 Chronicles 3.1). This was the same area where Abraham offered his son to God as a sacrifice.

cc. Solomon's Temple was the most beautiful Temple built to date. When Zerubbabel's Temple was completed (its replacement), the people looked at the Temple and wept because it was so inferior to the original.

dd. In 2 Chronicles 6 Solomon dedicated the Temple, and prayed that when the people worshipped in the Temple God would watch them. This started the Jewish tradition of praying toward the Temple. No matter where they were, they always faced toward Jerusalem and prayed toward the Temple. This is why Daniel ...

Daniel 6:10  "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

.... prayed facing Jerusalem, because the Temple was there (or supposed to be there). This was God's symbol that He was with Israel.

2. When Israel was released from captivity, Zerubbabel built the second Temple (Ezra 1-6). This Temple was defended by the Maccabees (some history related to this can be found in the Apocryphal writings).

aa. The second Temple was defiled when a pig was offered as a sacrifice in it, and it was destroyed by the Roman Army.

3. When Herod came into power in Israel he authorized the building of the third Temple. Herod had Zerubbabel's Temple (what was left of it) totally demolished and built his on the same spot.

aa. Construction started around 19 BC, and the Temple was not fully completed until 64 AD, taking almost 80 years to build.

bb. Herod's Temple was the one that our Lord Jesus walked and ministered in.

cc. Herod's Temple was destroyed in 70 AD when the Roman empire utterly dispersed Israel, so it was only completed about 6 years before it was razed.

4. Israel will rebuild the Temple for the Great Tribulation (Revelation 13; 2 Thessalonians 2.4; Daniel 9.26-27).

5. There will also be a Temple of God during the Millennium (Ezekiel 40-48).

6. There has been no physical Temple in Israel for nearly 2000 years. During this, the Church Age, each believer in Christ is a Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3.16; 6.19)

B. God places His Temple with a people to show that He is with them, and they with Him. Israel rejected Messiah, rejected God's teachings, rejected His theocracy, and as such had no right to His Temple.

C. While the Temple stood, Israel was under God's greater blessing. With the Temple destroyed, Israel was under God's greater discipline.

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