Theme: A Message of Hope

1 and 2 Chronicles were written more than a century after 1 and 2 Kings. Chronicles comes from a difficult moment in Israel’s history. Cyrus has allowed the people to return – but more Jews live in Babylon than in Jerusalem. The temple has been rebuilt – but it is smaller and less impressive than Solomon’s temple. There is no Davidic king on the throne. The Messiah has not appeared. Chronicles is written to a people who need to know that “God has not forgotten us. We are still his people. There is hope.”

Ancient tradition credits Ezra as the author of Chronicles. This is partly because the last two verses of 2 Chronicles are repeated as the first two verses of Ezra. Chronicles itself does not identify an author. Because of this, the author is usually called the “Chronicler.”

In the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is the last book in the canon. This is appropriate because of Chronicles’ likely date as one of the last Old Testament books to be written, between 450 and 400 B.C. It is also appropriate because of Chronicles’ purpose. Chronicles is not primarily a historical book, although the history in Chronicles is true. Its primary purpose is to bring a message of hope by looking at Israel’s history through a new lens. Chronicles looks to the future fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, promises that will be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.

Chronicles and Kings

The relationship between Chronicles and Kings is similar to the relationship between the three synoptic gospels; they look at the same material from contrasting points of view. Chronicles surveys the same history as Samuel and Kings. However, it looks at these events from a new perspective. Kings asked, “Why are the promises of the covenant unfulfilled?” Chronicles asks, “Is there hope for the future? Does God have a purpose for his people?”

The Chronicler’s purpose is seen in his selection of material. He does not give a complete history of Israel. Instead, he chooses material that shows how God has worked in Israel’s history to accomplish his purposes. The author is not trying to deny the dark times in Israel’s history; his readers knew those dark times very well. However, the purpose of Chronicles is not to explain God’s judgments; the purpose of Chronicles is to give hope to a people who are in despair. By ending with the proclamation of Cyrus, Chronicles concludes with a message of hope; God is still protecting his people.

Samuel/Kings	Chronicles
Why did God judge his people?	Is there a future for God’s people?
Includes the story of Saul’s reign	Includes only the death of Saul
The history of both kingdoms	The history of Judah
Emphasis on the prophets	Emphasis on the priests and temple
“Did the king walk in David’s path?”	“Was the king faithful to temple worship?”
God’s righteous judgment	God’s everlasting mercy

Overview of Chronicles[11]

Genealogies (1 Chronicles 1-9)

Genealogies? Boring! Yes, these chapters can be boring, but they are important. Why? They remind God’s people that he has not forgotten them.

In the 5th century B.C., a genealogy of Israel’s tribes seemed meaningless. The ten tribes of the northern kingdom had been destroyed by Assyria and would never recover their identity. The people of Judah were scattered throughout Egypt, Babylon, and Persia.

In this situation, the genealogies carried an important message: “God has not forgotten us. We are his chosen people. We still know who we are; we can trace our genealogy back to Adam.” Although the northern kingdom has disappeared, the chronicler wants Judah to remember that God chose “all Israel” and has not forgotten them.[1]

One excerpt will demonstrate how the genealogies fit the chronicler’s purpose. In Hebrew, the name Jabez is similar to the word for “pain.” Jabez was a man with no great heritage, but he “called on the God of Israel…. And God granted him that which he requested.”[2] The prayer of Jabez is not a magic formula for getting things from God. The prayer of Jabez is a reminder that God hears those who call on him, even when they have no personal or family advantages. The story of Jabez encouraged the early readers of Chronicles to call on God; even in dark days, he would hear their cry.

The Reign of David (1 Chronicles 10–29)

Saul is included in the genealogies, but the only detailed information about Saul is his death. Saul’s reign is of little interest to the chronicler. The chronicler’s interest in Saul is summed up, “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD … therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.”[3]

The focus of the chronicler is on David and his kingly line. Chronicles tells of David and his mighty men. It does not tell of David’s sin with Bathsheba. The readers of Chronicles already knew the story of David’s sin; this was not important to the purpose for Chronicles.

Interestingly, although the Bathsheba story is not included in Chronicles, David’s sin in numbering the people is included. Why? This story is important to the chronicler’s emphasis on the temple. In his repentance, David bought Ornan’s threshingfloor to build an altar for sacrifice. This became the site of the temple.[4]

The temple is important to Chronicles. Following the story of David’s census in 1 Chronicles 21, Chronicles tells of David’s plan for building the temple and his organization of the Levites, priests, musicians, gatekeepers, and temple treasurers. The chronicler reminds a discouraged people that the temple is central to their identity; he writes to encourage faithfulness to temple worship.

The Reign of Solomon (2 Chronicles 1–9)

The reign of Solomon is important to the chronicler because of the temple. Chronicles omits Solomon’s apostasy, but devotes six chapters to the building, furnishing, and dedication of the temple. Chronicles shows God’s response at the dedication of the temple: “The fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.”[5]

Later in this chapter, God promises Solomon that “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”[6]

This promise is important for Israel after the exile. It assures them that God has not forsaken his people. The promises of the covenant remain unfulfilled, but if Israel will call on God, he will hear from heaven and will heal their land. This parallels the message of Malachi, writing at about the same time as the chronicler. True repentance for sin and faithfulness to God’s commands will bring God’s blessing to the returned exiles.

The Kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 10–36)

Kings follows both the northern kingdom and Judah after the division of Israel; both kingdoms show the effects of God’s judgments. The chronicler, however, is interested in a message of hope; only Judah shows God’s promise for the future. Following the division of Israel, Chronicles traces only the history of Judah.

Again in this section, the purpose of the chronicler guided his choice of material. In Kings, Hezekiah’s spiritual reforms are treated in one verse.[7] In Chronicles, three chapters are devoted to the details of Hezekiah’s reforms.[8] Chronicles emphasizes Hezekiah’s devotion to the temple and his faithfulness to God.

Another interesting contrast between Chronicles and Kings is seen in the story of Manasseh. Kings shows Manasseh as the worst of Judah’s kings, the one whose sin made exile inevitable.[9] Chronicles tells us that while he was in captivity, Manasseh repented. Manasseh was released from Babylon and returned to Jerusalem. He did away with the idols in the temple.[10]

For the author of Kings, the primary message of Manasseh’s rule is that sin brings God’s judgment. For the author of Chronicles, the primary message of Manasseh’s rule is that repentance brings God’s forgiveness. Both messages are vital to understanding the history of Israel. Chronicles is more than a repeat of Kings; it is a companion to Kings, showing another aspect of God’s word for his people.

[1] The phrase “all Israel” is used forty-two times in Chronicles. It recognizes God’s continuing purpose even for a nation that has been disbanded. God’s redemptive purpose will be accomplished in spite of the destruction of the northern kingdom.

[2] 1 Chronicles 4:10

[3] 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

[4] 1 Chronicles 21:18-28; 2 Chronicles 3:1

[5] 2 Chronicles 7:2-3

[6] 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

[7] 2 Kings 18:4

[8] 2 Chronicles 29-31

[9] 2 Kings 21:11-15.

[10] 2 Chronicles 33:10-20

[11]Advice for new Christians:
Don’t start your Bible reading with 1 Chronicles 1-9!
Advice for older Christians:
Don’t ignore 1 Chronicles 1-9!