Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(“words of days,” annals). Thirteenth and fourteenth of O. T. Books. Originally one book called Paraleipoinena, “things omitted.” A supplement to Kings, compiled, no doubt, by Ezra. The history covers a period of 3500 years.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Like the Gospel of John among the Gospels, so these books among the historical books of the Old Testament have a special character. John goes back to “the beginning,” when the Eternal Word was with God: the Chronicles go back to the beginning of man’s history: “Adam, Sheth, Enosh,” in order to develop that history in the chosen line of promise and grace. The peculiarities of the Chronicles have been a stumbling block to some of the learned critics. It is evident from 1 Chronicles 6:1515And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (1 Chronicles 6:15) and 2 Chronicles 36:22-2322Now 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, 23Thus 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. (2 Chronicles 36:22‑23) that they date after the captivity of Judah, the writer compiling the records of the chosen line according to grace—grace which restored them from their captivity. It may be asked, Why omit so many things found in the books of Samuel and the Kings? and why add events not in those early books? There is design in the differences, God being the author of them. One fact should help the elucidation, namely, that after the division of the kingdom, the history of Judah only is given. Therefore more is said of David, and of his preparations and pattern for the Temple, and the history of David’s line is traced, with which the mercies of God for Israel were connected in the aspect of grace and of the blessing and ways of God with that people.
Like Deuteronomy, the Chronicles rehearse and show blessing to be consequent on obedience. The history in Samuel and Kings is far more general, and gives the history of the nation to whom the testimony of God was confided in the midst of other nations.
It is not known who wrote the Chronicles, but this is of little consequence, seeing that it does not touch the question of their inspiration, which is strongly marked by the peculiar character of their contents. It is thought that they were written by Ezra, and it will be seen that the end of 2 Chronicles agrees with the beginning of Ezra. The learned say that there are also internal resemblances which make it very probable that they are by the same writer. This has been objected to on the ground of the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 3:1-24: it is contended that the number of generations after Zerubbabel in 1 Chronicles 3:1919And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister: (1 Chronicles 3:19) is so large that the writer must have lived in the days of Alexander the Great, and therefore could not have been contemporary with Ezra. But there is a break in the genealogy in the middle of 1 Chronicles 3:2121And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. (1 Chronicles 3:21); “the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah” closes one list; and what follows is a separate list, and may have run parallel with the other.
The Chronicles are by the Jews included in the Hagiographa, or “Sacred Books,” and are placed at the end of the Hebrew Bible. “They were regarded as a summary of sacred history.”
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1 Chronicles 11:1-9
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2 Samuel 5:1-10
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1 Chronicles 11:10-47
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2 Samuel 23:8-39
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1 Chronicles 13:1-14
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2 Samuel 6:1-11
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1 Chronicles 14:1-17
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2 Samuel 5:11-25
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1 Chronicles 15, 16
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2 Samuel 6:12-23
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1 Chronicles 17
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2 Samuel 7
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1 Chronicles 18
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2 Samuel 8
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1 Chronicles 19
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2 Samuel 10
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1 Chronicles 20:1-3
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2 Samuel 11:1; 12:26-31
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1 Chronicles 20:4-8
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2 Samuel 21:18-22
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1 Chronicles 21
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2 Samuel 24
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Bible Handbook:
4004 B.C. – 29 Chapters – 942 Verses
The two books of Samuel, the two books of Kings, and the two books of Chronicles originally constituted three independent books. The rejection of direct Divine government, formation of the kingdom, its establishment in man’s hands, with the interesting connection between prophecy, priesthood, and kingly power, along with full biographical accounts of Samuel, Saul, and David, are the main subjects of the books of Samuel. The public history of the kingdom established according to Divine purpose in David, its glory, extent, decline and ruin, the temple, the figure of heaven our dwelling place (without a veil), and the kingdom of Israel or the ten tribes specially noticed, are the important matters treated of in the books of Kings. In their typical import, the books of Kings and Chronicles set forth the glory and majesty of the millennial kingdom of our Lord, but with this manifest difference, that in the former, besides the public and general history of the kingdom, the heavenly character of the blessed future and our place in it, is the great point; hence in the description of the temple with its many rooms (John 14:22In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)), neither veil nor ‘brazen altar’ are mentioned. The veil set up would represent a people outside, whereas we dwell in the house; while the altar, the point of approach to an earthly people, could have no application to us, for we are already brought to God (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). But in the books of Chronicles, where the temple and its furniture are minutely described, both veil and altar are seen, the reason being that these books figure the earthly aspect of the coming kingdom in which the Jews and the saved nations are in the foreground, and however blest on earth, they will still have to draw near, as those not in the immediate circle of the Divine presence.
In the books of Chronicles the kingdom of Israel is but little noticed, the great points being the establishment of royalty in the house of David according to God and the history of kingly government from its rise till its utter ruin in Judah; thus, while covering the same period as the books of Kings, the inner history is more fully recorded. The grace of God in connection with the throne and the temple and their relation to the future millennial glory (typically), are prominent subjects in those books. David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah are the leading personages of these inspired records.
In the restoration of the commonwealth, the returned remnants from Babylon would find the genealogical lists (from Adam) contained in the first nine chapters of all importance in determining the lineage of priests and Levites, the sole authority to minister in holy things (Ezra 2:6262These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (Ezra 2:62)); and their value to the people was equally great as enabling them to recover their former place and inheritance in Israel. Thus these two books were invaluable to the remnants, having been drawn up (1 Chron. 6:1515And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (1 Chronicles 6:15)) during their captivity, and amongst other purposes intended for their special help and blessing. The adultery of David, the idolatry of Solomon, and other grave faults are omitted in these books, the grace of God being everywhere prominent in the history as here recorded. David’s history is presented, not biographically as the man, or officially as the king, but only in those actions and events which constituted him a marked and fitting type of the Lord, hence his history generally is not at all the point in this book. Distinct typical teaching is given in the books of Chronicles; while as distinct moral teachings and lessons are characteristic of the books of Samuel. The temple and its services are also very specially in view. David is everything and everywhere in this first book of Chronicles. He is here seen making all ready for the peaceful and glorious sway of Solomon. Thus the first part of Christ’s millennial reign will be the full answer to this book.
“Remark here that the extent of authority which David exercised was very great and of wide bearing. The whole religious order was reconstructed. Everything, even to the age of the Levites’ service, depends on the authority and regulations of David, as formerly on those of Moses. All the patterns of the temple and of its vessels are given him by inspiration, as that of the tabernacle and all belonging to it had been given to Moses.”
General Divisions
Chapters 1-9 — Genealogy and history according to the sovereign goodness of God from Adam to the captivity.
Chapters 10-21 — From the death of Saul till the sacrifice on the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, whereby the judgment of God upon Jerusalem was arrested.
Chapters 22-29 — David’s preparation for the erection of the house of God, its services, ministers and priests closing in worship, and the accession of Solomon to the throne of Jehovah.
Parallelism Between the Books of Chronicles and Samuel
We are indebted to another for the following parallelism between the books of Chronicles and Samuel. The slight differences in several instances are quite in keeping with the moral purpose intended in each book: —
The list might be extended, but these will suffice for our purpose.
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