Title
the fuller title “The Chronicles of the Entire
Sacred History.”
Author and Date
Neither 1
nor 2 Chronicles contains direct statements regarding the human author, though
Jewish tradition strongly favors Ezra the priests (cf. Ezr 7:1-6) as “the
chronicler.” These records were most likely recorded ca. 450-430 B.C. The
genealogical record in 1Ch 1-9 supports a date after 450 B.C. for the writing.
The NT does not directly quote either 1 or 2 Chronicles.
Background and
Setting
Jerusalem in Nehemiah's Time (Shared Historical Background) |
The
immediate historical backdrop encompassed the Jews’ three-phase return to the
Promised Land from the Babylonian exile: 1) Zerubbabel in Ezr 1-6 (ca. 538
B.C.); 2) Ezra in Ezr 7-10 (ca. 458 B.C.); and 3) Nehemiah in Ne 1-13 (ca. 445
B.C.). Previous history looks back to the Babylonian deportation/Exile (ca.
605-538 B.C.) as predicted/reported by 2 Kings, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and
Habakkuk. The prophets of this restoration era were Haggai, Zechariah, and
Malachi.
The Jews
had returned from their 70 years of captivity (ca. 538 B.C.) to a land that was
markedly different from the one once ruled by King David (ca. 1011-971 B.C.) and
King Solomon (971-931 B.C.): 1) there was no Hebrew king, but rather a Persian
governor (Ezr 5;3; 6:6); 2) there was no security Jerusalem, so Nehemiah had to
rebuild the wall (Ne 1-7); 3) there was no temple, so Zerubbabel had to
reconstruct a pitiful semblance of the Solomonic temple’s former glory (Ezr 3);
4) the Jews no longer dominated the region, but rather were on the defensive
(Ezr 4; Ne 4)); 5) they enjoyed few divine blessings beyond the fact of their
return; 6) they possessed little of the kingdom’s former wealth; and 7) God’s
divine presence no longer resided in Jerusalem, having departed ca. 597-591
B.C. (Eze 8-11).
God's Covenant with David |
Ark of The Covenant Transported to Solomon's Temple |
To put it
mildly, their future looked bleak compared to their majestic past, especially
the time of David and Solomon. The return could best be described as
bittersweet, i.e., bitter because their present poverty brought hurtful
memories about what was forfeited by God’s judgment on their ancestors’ sin,
but sweet because at least they were back in the Land God had given Abraham 17
centuries earlier (Ge 12:1-3). The chronicler’s selective genealogy and history
of Israel, stretching from Adam (1Ch 1:1) to the return from Babylon (2Ch
26:23), was intended to remind the Jews of God’s promises and intentions about:
1) the Land; 2) the nation; 3) the Davidic king; 4) the Levitical priests; 5)
the temple; and 6) true worship, none of which had been abrogated because of
the Babylonian captivity. All of this was to remind them of their spiritual
heritage during the difficult times they faced, and to encourage them to be
faithful to God.
Historical and
Theological Themes
Death and Defeat of Saul and His Sons |
David Anointed as King |
First and
Second Chronicles, as named by Jerome, recreate an OT history in miniature,
with particular emphases on the Davidic Covenant and temple worship. In terms
of literary parallel, 1 Chronicles is the partner of 2 Samuel, in that both
detail the reign of King David. Frist Chronicles opens with Adam (1:1) and
close with the death of David (29:26-30) in 971 B.C. Second Chronicles begins
with Solomon (1:1) and covers the same historical period as 1 and 2 Kings,
while focusing exclusively on the kings of the southern kingdom of Judah, thus
excluding the history of the northern 10 tribes and their rulers, because of
their complete wickedness and false worship. It ranges from the reign of
Solomon (1:1) in 971 B.C. to the return from Babylon in 538 B.C. (36:23). Over
55 percent of the material in Chronicles is unique, i.e., not found in 2Samuel
or 1 and 2 Kings. The “chronicler” tended to omit what was negative or in
opposition to the Davidic kingship; on the other hand, he tended to make unique
contributions validating temple worship and the line of David. Whereas 2Ki 25
ends dismally with the deportation of Judah to Babylon, 2Ch 36:22-23 concludes
hopefully with the Jews’ release from Persia and return to Jerusalem.
These two books were written to the repatriated Jewish exiles as the chronicle of God’s intention of future blessing, in spite of the nation’s past moral/spiritual failure for which the people paid dearly under God’s wrath. First and Second Chronicles could be briefly summarized as follows:
I. A Selected
Genealogical History of Israel (1Ch 1-9)
II. Israel’s United
Kingdom Under Saul (1Ch 10), David (1Ch 11-29), and Solomon (2Ch 1-9)
III. Judah’s Monarchy
in the Davidic Kingdom (2Ch 10-36:21)
IV. Judah’s Release
From Their Seventy Year Captivity (2Ch 36:22,23).
David Conducts Census of Israel |
The
historical themes are inex-tricably linked with the theological in that God’s
divine purposes for Israel have been and will be played out on the stage of
human history. These two books are designed to assure the returning Jews that,
in spite of their checkered past and present plight God will be true to his
covenant promises. God has returned them to the Land first given to Abraham as
a race of people whose ethnic identity (Jewish) was not obliterated by the
deportation and whose national identity (Israel) has been preserved (Ge 12:1-3;
15:5), although they are still under God’s judgment as prescribed by the Mosaic
legislation (Dt 28:15-68). The priestly line of Eleazar’s son Phineas aand the
Levitical line were still intact so that temple worship could continue in the
hopes that God’s presence would one day return (Nu 25:10-13; Mal 3:1). The
Davidic promise of a king was still valid, although future in its fulfillment
(2Sa 7:8-17; 1Ch 17:7-15). Their individual hope of eternal life and
restoration of God’s blessings forever rested in the New Covenant (Jer
31:31-34).
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom |
Two basic
principles enumerated in these two books prevail throughout the OT, namely, obedience
brings blessings, and disobedience brings judgment. In the Chronicles, when the
king obeyed and trusted the Lord, God blessed and protected. But when the king
disobeyed and/or put his trust in something or someone other than the Lord, God
withdrew His blessing and protection. Three basic failures by the kings of
Judah brought God’s wrath: 1) personal sin; 2) false worship/idolatry; and/or
3) trust in man rather than God.
Interpretive
Challenges
Temple Constructed in Jerusalem |
First and
Second Chronicles present a combination of selective genealogical and
historical records and no insurmountable challenges within the two books are
encountered. A few issues arise, such as: 1) Who wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles? Does
the overlap of 2Ch 36:22-23 with Ezr 1:1-3 point to Ezra as author? 2) Does the
use of multiple sources taint the inerrancy doctrine of Scripture? 3) How does
one explain the variations in genealogies of 1Ch 1-9 from other OT genealogies?
4) Are the curses of Dt 28 still in force, even though the 70-year captivity
has concluded? 5) How does one explain the few variations in numbers when
comparing Chronicles with parallel passages in Samuel and Kings? These can be
dealt with by further in depth study in the ESV, Ryrie, or MacArthur Study
Bible notes.
OUTLINE
1 Chronicles
I. Selective Genealogy (1:1-9:34)
A. Adam
to Before David (1:1-2:55)
B.
David to the Captivity (3:1-24)
C. Twelve
Tribes (4:1-9:1)
D. Jerusalem
Dwellers (9:2-34)
II.
David’s Ascent (9:35-12:40)
A.
Saul’s Heritage and Death (9:35-10:14)
B.
David’s Anointing (11:1-3)
C.
Jerusalem’s Conquest (11:4-9)
D.
David’s Men (11:10-12:40)
III.
David’s Reign (13:1-29:30)
A.
The Ark of the Covenant (13:1-16:43)
B. The Davidic Covenant (17:1-27)
C.
Selected Military History (18:1-21:30)
D.
Temple-Building Preparations (22:1-29:20)
E. Transition
to Solomon (29:21-30)
2 Chronicles
I.
Reign of Solomon (1:1-9:31)
A.
Coronation and Beginnings (1:1-17)
B.
Temple Building (2:1-7:22)
C.
Wealth/Achievements (8:1-9:28)
D.
Death (9:29-31)
II.
The Reign of the Kings of Judah (10:1-36:21)
A.
Rehoboam (10:1-12:16)
B. Abijah
(13:1-22)
C.
Asa (14:1-16:14)
D.
Jehoshaphat (17:1-21:3)
E.
Jehoram (21:4-20)
F.
Ahaziah (22:1-9)
G.
Athaliah (22:10-23:21)
H.
Joash (24:1-27)
I.
Amaziah (25:1-28)
J.
Uzziah (26:1-23)
K.
Jotham (27:1-9)
L.
Ahaz (28:1-27)
M.
Hezekiah (29:1-32:33)
N.
Manasseh (33:1-20)
O.
Amon (33:21-25)
P.
Josiah (34:1-35:27)
Q.
Jehoahaz (36:1-4)
R.
Jehoiakim (36:5-8)
S.
Jehoiachin (36:9,10)
T.
Zedekiah (36:11-21)
III.
The Return Proclamation of Cyrus (36:22,23)
MacArthur Study Bible, NASB, Updated Edition.
2006. Nelson Bible, Thomas Nelson. LaHabra, CA.