1 Chronicles Introduction

I neglected to post this when we started reading 1 Chronicles last week:

1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles were written about 400 BC by an unknown author who may have been a priest in the temple in Jerusalem. They form part of a longer story that concludes with Ezra and Nehemiah. The author, known as the Chronicler, has taken specific stories from Israel’s history to show the link from his current post-Babylonian exile community to the older pre-exile community of King David and his descendents. The Chronicler uses many sources but depends heavily on Samuel and Kings, often quoting entire chapters and longer sections. He also had access to another historical source that is now lost.

The main point of Chronicles is to link the new post-exile community with the old and to remind the readers of the greatest lesson their history had to teach: prosperity and security depended on their faithfulness to God. Idolatry and neglect of God’s law always has and always will lead to disaster and judgment. David is the center of 1 Chronicles.

The book can be outlined as follows:

·         1 Chronicles 1-9          A genealogical survey up to David

·         1 Chronicles 10-12      David’s ascension to the throne

·         1 Chronicles 13-16      David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem

·         1 Chronicles 17           David’s desire to build the temple and the Lord’s response

·         1 Chronicles 18-20      David’s military achievements

·         1 Chronicles 21-29      Elaborate preparations for the building of the Temple                                               before David’s death