Bible 101: Lesson 12

1&2 Chronicles

Like 1&2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings, these books were also originally one in the Hebrew Bible. They retell the same story that was told in the previous four books. Why so much repetition? The order of the books in the Christian bible is different from the traditional Jewish ordering. These books are the last two in the Jewish Bible, and they summarize everything that came before.

Although the history of Israel under the Kings is told again, there are differences from the previous telling. First there are the names – lists and lists of names - nine chapters of genealogy, in fact. The ancestry of the Messiah is meticulously recorded, so that when Jesus comes, there can be no mistake about his heritage.

If there is a theme of Chronicles, it would have to be Worship. The centrality of worship in the life of the people of God is shown through the accounts of the temple, the priests and Levites, the instruments and vocal music, and the role of King David in establishing all of it. It also shows the sad decline of moral and political life as the worship of the true God was abandoned in Israel, and ends at the exile of the southern kingdom of Judah. Since it also records the decree of King Cyrus ending the exile of the Jewish people, it is guessed by some scholars that Ezra wrote the book, but the author is not known for certain.

Messianic Prophecies in 1&2 Chronicles

The throne of David established forever
OT References: 1 Chr 17:11-14, 23-27; 2 Chr 21:7
NT Fulfillment: Matt 19:28; 25:31; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30; 13:23; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8; Heb 1:8; 8:1; 12:2; Rev 22:1