First and Second Chronicles

From: Short Sketches of the Books of the Bible

By: Nicolas Simon

To the natural mind, Chronicles may appear to be a rather incomplete adjunct to the book of Kings. However, nothing could be further from the truth. We find in this book—for originally the two books formed a single volume—that we have moved from an historic account of the decline and captivity of Israel and Judah to a new division, a different time, and a new subject.

Though grouped with Kings in the Old Testament arrangement with which we are familiar, this book falls within that part of Scripture called the “Writings”. Written after the captivity (1 Chron. 6:15; 3:17-24¹⁵And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the Lord carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. (1 Chronicles 6:15)
¹⁷And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, ¹⁸Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. ¹⁹And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister: ²⁰And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, five. ²¹And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. ²²And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six. ²³And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three. ²⁴And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven. (1 Chronicles 3:17‑24)), with a remnant of Judah having returned to the land of Israel (see Ezra and Nehemiah), all was in ruin about them. Fragmentary in character, it reflects the condition of that day. What had become of the promises of God, and in particular that which concerned the house of David?

Whereas man in responsibility is the subject of Samuel and Kings, here in this beautiful book we have God’s sovereignty acting in grace to fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes—not one word of which can fail, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29)). It is Israel’s history as God delighted to see it.

Genealogies

The first nine chapters of First Chronicles consist of genealogies—particularly important to a Jew returning from captivity (Ezra 2:59, 62⁵⁹And these were they which went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: (Ezra 2:59)
⁶²These 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))—yet within them there are many gems to be found and meditated upon (e.g. Jabez in 1 Chron. 4:9, 10⁹And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. ¹⁰And 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. (1 Chronicles 4:9‑10)). Extending back to Adam, we have that line blessed by grace according to God’s sovereignty.

In reading these genealogies, it is helpful to see that the natural appears first and then that which is spiritual—owned of God in grace (1 Cor. 15:46⁴⁶Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:46)). Hence, we have Japheth, Ham, and lastly Shem (1 Chron. 1:5, 8, 17⁵The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. (1 Chronicles 1:5)
⁸The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. (1 Chronicles 1:8)
¹⁷The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. (1 Chronicles 1:17)); the sons of Isaac, with Esau first, and then Israel (1 Chron. 1:34³⁴And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel. (1 Chronicles 1:34)).

In the third chapter, we arrive at the grand object of the book, the genealogy of David. Beginning with the fourth chapter we move from the subject of the king, to the nation—Judah, Simeon, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Levi, Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. Benjamin is again brought before us in chapter 9, now as the line of Saul the king. “So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression” (1 Chron. 9:1¹So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression. (1 Chronicles 9:1)).

The Seed of David

A remarkable indication of the character of the book is to be seen in chapter 10 of First Chronicles. In just 14 verses the reign of Saul is introduced and summarily dismissed. Immediately we have the kingdom established according to God’s counsels in chapter 11: “Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel” (1 Chron. 11:3³Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel. (1 Chronicles 11:3)).

We do not read of David’s sin with Bathsheba or Absalom’s rebellion. We hear nothing of Adonijah, instead First Chronicles ends with the peaceful transfer of the throne to Solomon, “whom alone God hath chosen” (1 Chron. 29:1¹Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. (1 Chronicles 29:1)). Solomon’s failures are not recorded; there is no mention of his many wives.

In Chronicles, we see God’s counsels of grace accomplished in David and Solomon as types of Christ, but only in type. From chapter 10 of Second Chronicles to the end of that book, we have the sad history of Judah; from Rehoboam until the destruction of Jerusalem at the hand of the king of Babylon and their captivity in that land. Yet we see God in grace preserving the royal line of David, and to what end? “He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus” (Acts 13:22-23²²And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. ²³Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: (Acts 13:22‑23)).

In Chronicles, as in Samuel, David’s sin in numbering the people is mentioned. However, in Chronicles it is not, “Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord” (2 Sam. 24:14¹⁴And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. (2 Samuel 24:14)); rather, “let me fall now into the hand of the Lord” (1 Chron. 21:13¹³And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. (1 Chronicles 21:13)).

We do not read in Chronicles of David buying the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver (2 Sam. 24:24²⁴And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (2 Samuel 24:24)); rather, David gives to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight (1 Chron. 21:25²⁵So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. (1 Chronicles 21:25)). One is for the threshing floor and the other for the place—it is not just the treasure now, but the whole field (see Matt. 13:44⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44)). It is not measured in silver—the price of redemption—as we find in the book of Samuel (consistent with the character of that book). Rather, here it is measured in gold, the inestimable value of Christ’s work at Calvary as seen in the eyes of God.

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