1 Chronicles Samuel and Kings are written from a prophetic and moral viewpoint, Chronicles is written from a priestly and spiritual perspective.

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1 1 1 Chronicles 1-10 Introduction to 1Chronicles First and Second Chronicles were originally written as one book. They weren t divided into two books until around 200 B.C., with the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. Time period covered: They cover the same period of history that is covered in Second Samuel, First and Second Kings. From the rise of David as king through the divided kingdom, exile, and the decree of King Cyrus (Babylon) to rebuild the temple. The author: Most likely Ezra was the author. Ezra was a priest, and the books have a very priestly emphasis, lots on the temple and worship. Also, the final verses in 2Chronicles 36:22, 23 are exactly repeated in Ezra 1:1-3. Probably the book of Ezra was to be a continuation where Chronicles leaves off, similar to the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. When written: In 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar came down and wiped out the southern kingdom of Judah and took the people to Babylon with him. Seventy years later, the people were allowed to start coming back to rebuild their land. In 457 B.C., Ezra led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. Probably between 450 and 430 B.C., in Jerusalem, for the exiles, that Ezra wrote this history. Nehemiah, the political leader of the time, had collected a large library of historical documents, and it is these sources along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit that Ezra used to compile the Chronicles. Purpose. Why another history? These records serve as a divine commentary on this period of history. Samuel and Kings give a political history of Israel and Judah. Chronicles gives the religious history of David and Judah (but not the northern kingdom of Israel). Samuel and Kings are written from a prophetic and moral viewpoint, Chronicles is written from a priestly and spiritual perspective. The books of Kings show the fall of the kingdom and its deserving judgment, while Chronicles hints at God's preservation through judgment, at God's keeping His promises to David. The book provides for history and a clear identity for the Jews returning from exile. They could have the lineage of the Messiah, who was yet to come. They would know who was qualified to service as Priests and Levites in Temple worship. These are the records that they would have looked at in the days of Ezra & Nehemiah.

2 2 This list established who was truly Jewish and could participate in the rebuilding of the Temple The Genealogies (chs.1-9) If you've ever read this portion of the Bible, you've noticed how boring these chapters are. Why are they here? 1. The Messianic Line David had been promised that His descendant would sit on the throne forever. The Messiah would come through David. We see the connection here from David through Zedekiah. Matthew completes the connection with the lineage of Jesus. 2. The Priestly Line (Ezra's own background) For the exiles, it was important to see that those they had as priests over them were legitimate descendants of Aaron. 3. A Phone Book (Who's Who in the Old Testament...) It s interesting to read through all the names and look for people you know... Note: When you see a name, be careful not to jump to any conclusions too soon, there are lots of people with the same name. Also, there are often different ways that a name will be spelled. 1Chronicles 1 Adam through Isaac/Esau 1:1-4 Adam through Noah s sons 1:5-7 Descendants Japheth 1:8-16 Descendants of Ham 1:17-23 Descendants of Shem 1:19 Peleg: divided. Was this a time of separating the continents? Continental drift? The continents do seem to fit together like a puzzle, if you pushed them together. 1:24-28 Shem through Abraham s sons 1:29-31 Descendants of Ishmael- first son, born from the Egyptian slave girl 1:32-34 Abraham s other sons, including Isaac and Esau 1:32 When Abraham was married to Sarah they were both unable to have children, and God healed them, and brought forth Isaac. After Sarah died, Abraham went on to have 6 more sons. Total of 8, + Ishamel, Isaac 1:35-42 Descendants of Esau/Edom, meaning red. 1:43-54 Dukes of Esau/Edom 1Chronicles 2 Beginning of the tribes of Israel 2:1-2 The sons of Israel/Jacob (son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham) 2:3-17 From Judah (one of the sons of Israel/Jacob) to David. The Messianic line 2: 3, 4 Check out story of Er, Tamar & Judah. 2:7 Story of Achan. 2:13, 14 Important part of lineage, including David, who would be king, line of Messiah 2:18-55 Other Descendants of Judah 2:18 Caleb, of Joshua and Caleb

3 1Chronicles 3 Line of Kings 3:1-9 The sons of David This is a list of the Kings of Judah, all descended from David. The last king mentioned in verse 16 is Zedekiah, who was the last to reign before Babylon carried away the nation. David had 19 sons that were listed here, and many wives. Was polygamy wrong, yes. N.T. clearly states that. Bible doesn t say something is wrong every time it occurs. 3:9-16 Solomon s sons. Solomon went on the become King after his father David. NOTE- Not all the sons have their fill genealogy listed here. It follows the Messianic line. 3:17-24 More sons and grandsons of David This list starts after the Babylonian captivity, giving us a link eventually to the Messiah. 1Chronicles 4 the Land of Judah 4:1-8 More descendants of Judah 4:9-10 Jabez 1 Chronicles 4: And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. This prayer was very popular some years ago, and turned into a book by Bruce Wilkerson. WE should not view this as a formula for prayer. We should see it as a prayer of a godly man that God chose to answer. This passage teaches that the prayers of a righteous man avail much (James 5:16). Jabez prayed that the circumstances that characterized his birth and led to his name (sorrow) would not characterize his life. This God answered! Jabez did not live up to his name. He lived beyond it! 4:11-23 More descendants of Judah 4:24-43 Descendants of Simeon The tribe of Simeon lived within the tribe of Judah, and so they are listed here. 1Chronicles 5 Eastern Tribes 5:1-10 Descendants of Reuben 5:1, 2 Rueben committed adultery with his fathers concubine, and thus was removed from the line of blessing from which would come the Messiah. 5:11-17 Descendants of Gad 5:18-22 A war involving the eastern tribes Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh lived together on the eastern side of the Jordan River. This is a record of their war with the Hagarites. This is an important illustration of the importance of depending upon God. 3

4 4 5:23-24 Leaders of Manasseh 5:25-26 Eastern tribes taken away These were the first tribes to be taken into captivity, falling to the king of Assyria. 1Chronicles 6 Levi 6:1-15 Line of Aaron to the captivity 6:1 1 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Gershonites- Gershonites were charged with the carrying of the curtains, coverings, screens, hangings, cords and instruments of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting on the journeys in the wilderness Kohathites- the most holy portion of the vessels of the tabernacle, including the ark (Num. 4). Merarites- carried the heavier portion, as the boards, bars, sockets, pillars, etc In 6:31-32 after the Tabernacle was in one place, David changed their ministry from those who carried the Tabernacle to those who played music to God. 6:16-48 Families and divisions of Levites 6:28-33 Samuel- His lineage From 1Samuel 1:1, we get the idea that the prophet Samuel was from the tribe of Ephraim (his father is "an Ephraimite"). This presents problems when we see Samuel serving at the tabernacle as a boy, and as offering sacrifices as a man. Only Levites were allowed to actually perform the ritual sacrifices. How could Samuel legally be performing sacrifices when he was an Ephraimite? In 1Chron.6:27-28; 33-34, we see that Samuel was actually a Levite, descended from the family of Kohath. This would make it allowable for him to help with the sacrifices and serve in the tabernacle. His father was an Ephraimite because he was a Levite living in the area of Ephraim. His legacy We read in 1Sam. 8:1-3 that Samuel s sons were corrupt and this is one of the reasons why the people demanded that Samuel appoint a king to rule the nation. But in the genealogy, we see that one of Samuel s grandsons, Heman, was one of David s main worship leaders in the temple (1Chron.6:33). 6:49-53 Line of Aaron the High Priest 6:54-81 Levitical cities

5 5 The tribe of Levi did not have their own distinct territory like the other tribes did. Instead, they were given cities out of each tribe s land, and they lived scattered among all the tribes within their cities. 1Chronicles 7 7:1-5 Descendants of Issachar 7:6-12 Descendants of Benjamin 7:13 Descendants of Naphtali 7:14-19 Descendants of the other Half tribe of Manasseh- On the west side of the Jordan, in the Promised Land Including the daughters of Zelophehad 7:20-29 Descendants of Ephraim 7:30-40 Descendants of Asher 1Chronicles 8 8:1-32 More Descendants of Benjamin The purpose of this list is to lead up to the first king of Israel, Saul 8:33-40 Descendants of King Saul After Saul dies, a record is kept of his descendants 1Chronicles 9 Return from Babylon 9:1-9 Those that settled in Jerusalem 9:1, 2 They were pro active in writing this genealogy before they were exiled, so that when they returned, the people would know who was to serve, etc. This is a list of those that returned. 9:10-13 The Priests that returned 9:14-34 The Levites that returned There s even an interesting description of some of the duties that were done during this initial restoration period (9:23-33). There were gatekeepers, those that opened up in the morning, those that were in charge of the special vessels (plates, bowls, etc.), those that made the holy anointing oil, those that baked things, and the singers. 9:35-44 The lineage of King Saul Chapter 10 is the last part of Saul s life. This is a look backwards It was God who arranged to end Saul s life Saul s unfaithfulness- 1 Samuel 15 God s Faithfulness- Genesis 3:8-15; Genesis 12:1-3