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CHAPTER 13 – 1 Chronicles: Approx. 3958 B.C.-Approx. 400 B.C.

1 Chronicles is the thirteenth book of the Bible followed by 2 Chronicles, the fourteenth book of the Bible. These two books appeared in the Hebrew Bible as one book with the title dibre hayyamim which is translated “Events of the days.” The Septuagint divided it into two books. The English title comes down to us from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate which has the title Chronicorum Liber, “Book of Chronicles.”

Authorship

The book of 1 Chronicles is an original work incorporating material from numerous Jewish (Hebrew) sources under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Early Jewish writers generally agree that 1 Chronicles was written by the priest, Ezra, by about 400 B.C.

Summary

First Chronicles covers the period from creation in approximately 3958 B.C. to about 400 B.C. It does so by first selectively tracing genealogies from Adam, the first human being created by God, in about 3958 B.C. to the generation living in about 400 B.C.

The rest of 1 Chronicles overlaps the contents of 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, and 1 Kings, beginning with the death of king Saul and ending with the death of king David. While the book contains some events in the history of Saul and David, it also stresses the moral and spiritual aspects of these events.

So, after the genealogies in the book, there is the record of king Saul’s death and that he died for the sins he committed against God. Then comes an account of the anointing of David as king, and David’s capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites. David grows greater and greater because God is with him.

Next, comes the exploits of the mighty men of David’s army and a list of the other valiant men of his army. After this comes David’s attempt to move the Ark in a new cart from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. In the process of removal, Uzza incurs God’s anger and dies. So, David leaves the Ark with the family of Obed-edom and God blesses this family while the Ark was with them.

David’s house and household are then described and his victories over the Philistines. Next, is the record of how David brings the Ark to Jerusalem with joy, accompanied by music, with the Levites bearing the Ark according to God’s commandments. The psalm (a sacred song) of praise which David wrote and delivered to the singers and musicians on that day is recorded next.

After this is the account of David’s purpose to build a Temple for God, God’s message that He would not allow David to build it, but David’s son would build the Temple. Also, God tells David that He would establish David’s throne forever and so David prays a prayer of praise to God.

Next, is the record of David’s victories over the Philistines, Syria, Edom, and the Ammonites. Satan then tempts David to count Israel, and David yields to Satan’s temptation and counts Israel. God gives David three choices for punishment for this sin, and so there was a plague upon Israel. God then tells David to build an altar to Him in the threshing floor of Ornan (Araunah) the Jebusite. David does so and the plague ceases.

Next, is the record that David prepares much material for the building of the Temple, and that David gives a charge to his son, Solomon, and the leaders of Israel. When David is old, he makes his son, Solomon, king of Israel.

After this is an account of David organising for the worship service in the Temple to be built, the officers among the Levites to praise God with the musical instruments that David had made, as well as the 24 divisions of the descendants of Aaron as musicians. Also is a record of the Levites as gatekeepers, officers over the treasury, and officers over work outside the Temple, in addition to captains and stewards.

Next, is David’s charge to Israel and to Solomon, and David gives to Solomon the pattern which God gave him of the Temple to be built. David then outlines to Israel the precious things that he had set aside for the building of the Temple and asks the people who among them is willing to consecrate themselves to the service of the Temple. In response, the leaders and rulers offered to God willingly.

David then blesses the people and prays a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Solomon then sits on the throne of David instead of his father and prospers with all Israel obeying him. After this, the record is that God magnified Solomon exceedingly and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as no other king before him in Israel had.

The book closes with the record that David reigned forty years over Israel and that he died in a good, old age full of riches and honour, and his son, Solomon, reigned in his stead.

Themes

• Genealogies.
• The organisation of the worship of God.
• The organisation of musicians and the singing of sacred songs.
• Prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
• The blessings of God.
• God’s guidance.
• Punishment for disobeying God’s commandments.
• The life history of a godly leader.
• A spiritual view from God of one person’s life experience.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God can give humanity His plans for any work to be done.
• God is with those who please Him.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

God said to king Saul of Israel, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD [God] hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD [God] hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD [God] commanded thee.” 1 Samuel 13:14. Thus, God rejected Saul as king, and chose David to be king over all Israel.

Now, “David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD [God] loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [beloved of God], because of the LORD [God].” 2 Samuel 12:24, 25.

Thus, both David and his son, Solomon, were loved by God because they repented of their sins, had faith in the promises of God, and because they had a heart of love like God’s heart, for “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Be careful to worship God in an acceptable way.
• Delight in singing and listening to sacred songs.
• Pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God.
• Obey God so that you may receive His blessings.
• Follow God’s plan for your life and not your own plans.

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