1&2 Chronicles

Author: Possibly compiled by Ezra the priest

Period: c.1010-536 B.C.

Title: The English names of these books are derived from the titles used in the Latin Vulgate. The Septuagint used the title Paraleipomenon (“things omitted”), which reflects their belief that the books provided additional material to what was in the books of Samuel and Kings. The Greek version was the first edition to divide the book into two units. The Hebrew title of this book, dibre hayyamim, means “the annals of the days (or years).”

Summary: 1 and 2 Chronicles are not simply a repetition of history already recorded in the books of Samuel and Kings. The Book of Chronicles was written to remind the nation of their entire history, and of their position among other nations, emphasizing the history of priestly worship from the death of Saul to the end of the Babylonian captivity. The Books of Chronicles contain more detail on the organization of public worship, of religious ceremonies, of Levites and singers and of the relationship of kings to the worship of God, than does the Book of Kings. The history of the Northern Kingdom is omitted from the Chronicles because the Northern Kingdom had no bearing on the development of true worship of God in Jerusalem.

Breakdown:

Genealogies: 1 Chronicles 1:1 – 9:44

  • Patriarchs: 1:1-54
  • Judah: 2:1 – 4:23
  • Simeon: 4:24-43
  • Tribes east of the Jordan River: 5:1-26
  • Levi: 6:1-81
  • Six other tribes: 7:1 – 8:40; 9:35-44
  • Jerusalem’s inhabitants: 9:1-34

The reign of David: 1 Chronicles 10:1 – 29:30

  • Background: the death of Saul: 10:1-14
  • David’s rise: 11:1 – 20:8
  • David’s latter days: 21:1 – 29:30

The reign of Solomon: 2 Chronicles 1:1 – 9:31

  • Solomon’s inauguration: 1:1-17
  • Solomon’s temple: 2:1 – 7:22
  • Solomon’s kingdom: 8:1 – 9:31

The kingdom of Judah: 2 Chronicles 10:1 – 36:23

  • The division of the kingdom: 10:1 – 11:23
  • The rulers of Judah: 12:1 – 36:16
  • The Exile: 36:15-23

THE RULERS OF JUDAH: 2 Chronicles

  • Rehoboam: 12:1-16
  • Abijah: 13:1-22
  • Asa: 14:1-16:4
  • Jehoshaphat: 17:1-20:37
  • Jehoram: 21:1-20
  • Ahaziah: 22:1-9
  • Athaliah: 22:10-23:21
  • Joash: 24:1-27
  • Amaziah: 25:1-28
  • Uzziah: 26:1-23
  • Jotham: 27:1-9
  • Ahaz: 28:1-27
  • Hezekiah: 29:1-32:33
  • Manasseh: 33:1-20
  • Amon: 33:21-25
  • Josiah: 34:1-35:27
  • Jehoahaz: 36:1-4
  • Jehoiakim: 36:5-8
  • Jehoiachin: 36:9-10
  • Zedekiah: 36:11-14