THE books of Chronicles give us the establishment of the kingdom under David and Solomon, and the history of the kings of Judah, with some allusion to the kings of Israel, until the captivity and destruction of Jerusalem. We have no history of the prophets Elijah and Elisha as the books of Kings give us, neither have we particular mention of the sins of the kings as have been heretofore recorded. The Chronicles also go farther back, tracing Israel's history from Adam, and also go beyond the books of Kings, as speaking of the return of the people to their own land in the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia. (2 Chron. 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))
1. CHRONICLES.
As before noticed, this book begins with a genealogical account from Adam to David and Solomon. In fact, the first eight chapters give us little more than genealogies, beginning from Adam through Noah and his sons; then Abraham through Shem, and his son Isaac, who begat Esau and Israel. After Esau's descendants are looked at, the sons of Israel come before us, so as to bring out David, the son of Jesse. (Chapter 2:1-15) The third chapter gives us David's sons, and the five following chapters take up more particularly the sons of Israel and their descendants. In the ninth chapter we have Jerusalem brought before us, and the children of Israel, the Priests and Levites that dwelt in it, with the variety of offices they filled. At the end of this chapter Saul's origin and family are brought out, followed in the tenth chapter with Saul's overthrow and death; thus clearing the way for David to be brought out more distinctly in his kingly office. We are told that Saul died for his transgression. (13, 14)
The next chapter, therefore, introduces David to us as king over all Israel, who overcomes the Jebusites, and dwells at Jerusalem, which is called "the city of David." This is followed with details of David's mighty nip. (Chapters 11, 12)
The death of Uzza in bringing up the ark because they did it not according to the due order, the victory of David over the Philistines, followed by the removal of the ark according to God's order, with the gladness and thanksgiving connected with it, occupy the next four chapters. David then desires to build a house for God, but God tells him that cannot be because he had been a man of war and had shed blood (compare chap. 28:3), and promises to build him a house and to establish the kingdom in the hands of his son for eve", which bows David's heart in worship before God. (Chapter 17) David's victories over the Philistines, Moabites, the king of Tobah, and the Syrians are then recorded, and the spoil we are told he dedicated to the Lord. (Chapter 18) In the next chapter we see that the Ammonites and Syrians are again overcome; which is followed by the destruction of Rabbah, and of the Philistine giants. (Chapters 19, 20)
The twenty-first chapter gives us David's failure in numbering the people, and God's chastisement on account of it; at the end, David learns the place where the temple is to be built. Afterward we see him preparing abundance of materials for its construction, and giving Solomon a most solemn charge and directions about it. (Chapter 22) Hence the twenty-third chapter opens with, "So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel." We then. get the numbering of the Levites and their offices; the divisions of the priests, the sons of Aaron, into twenty-four courses; the number of singers and their courses; the divisions of the porters; the keepers of the treasures; the captains of thousands and hundreds that served the king in any matter throughout each of the months of the year; the princes of the tribes, and David's several officers. (Chapter 23-27)
The last two chapters give us David's oration to the general assembly of all the princes, captains, stewards, officers, and mighty men at Jerusalem, and his solemn charge to Solomon; also instructions about building the house of the Lord, with the precise pattern, and the exact weight of all vessels of gold and silver; the book concluding with David's dedication of presents to the temple, and rejoicings and willing offerings of all the people, and David and all the people blessing their God, and sacrificing sacrifices unto Jehovah.