An Overview of 1–2 Chronicles

1–2 Chronicles
Written By David Gooding

by David Gooding

The biblical authors used the literary conventions of their day to convey their message. These included structures and patterns less obvious to us in our modern age. David Gooding brought his expertise in ancient literature to the biblical text, and these study notes represent his thinking about the structure, patterns and thought-flow of Ruth.

When speaking to groups of Bible students, he often said, ‘When it comes to Bible study, there is structure, pattern and thought-flow, and the greatest of these is thought-flow. Here are the thoughts of God expressed. Our job is to follow the thought-flow’. He taught that the most important thing to grasp in biblical interpretation is the way the author develops his message, and that discerning structure and patterns within the text should always be directed towards that end.

David Gooding developed these study notes over many years and distributed them at public and private talks. The study notes are not meant to be the last word on the book, and may not cover it entirely. The Myrtlefield Trust offers them to Bible students, preachers and teachers in order to stimulate further thinking about the book, so that its message may be better understood.

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Study Notes

General Introduction

Preparation for Study

Participants should try to read through 1–2 Chronicles before coming to the seminars. It would also increase the potential profit of the seminars if participants had previously made out their own personal table of contents and were conversant with the order of the main events in the two books.

The History

Since the main topic of the two books is the building of the temple at Jerusalem, we shall find it easy to see in the narrative many foreshadowings of Christian themes. But we shall run into difficulties and frustrations and confusions if we do not make sure that we have first understood these books at the historical level. These books were written during the post-exilic period, and, in the first place, for the benefit of those who had returned from exile in Babylon in accordance with Cyrus's decree (2 Chr 36:22–23). To understand their moral and spiritual situation and condition, recall—if need be re-read—Ezra, Nehemiah and the three post-exilic prophets: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Their descendants would eventually have to face the trauma of the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes with the collusion of the Judaean high priests (see Dan 8, 11; 1–2 Maccabees). How would the reading and study of 1–2 Chronicles have helped these post-exilic people?

The Significance of Solomon's Temple

In one sense Solomon's temple was like the tabernacle of Moses: both were built as a dwelling-place for God. But what is the essential difference in their significance? If need be, read again 1 Chronicles 17:4–6 and 2 Chronicles 6:41; 35:3.

The Genealogies (1 Chr 1:1)

  1. Which two tribes occupy the largest space in these chapters? What reason is there for this emphasis?
  2. How far along in history do the genealogies take us? Just up until David and Solomon? Or further? Do any of them continue into the post-exilic period? If so, for what purpose?

Other Points to Consider

  1. Consider all those places in the two books where reference is made to King David's organization of the Levites, and particularly to their singing duties. How would you account for this difference between the arrangements for the temple and those for the tabernacle?
  2. What have these books to contribute to our understanding of the doctrine of 'the wrath of God'?
  3. Would you say that 1–2 Chronicles give more prominence to priests or to prophets?
  4. The histories recorded in 1–2 Chronicles doubtless provide us in our day with many moral, spiritual and practical lessons. Do they also sometimes function as prototypes? If so, of what, and at what levels?
    • of the church?
    • of the millennial temple?
    • of the eternal dwelling-place of God?
  5. The founding of Jerusalem is recorded in 1 Chronicles 11. At what levels has Jerusalem city proved to be significant in the course of history? What part does the 'Jerusalem that is above' play now? What part will Jerusalem city play in the future and in eternity?
  6. Search out all references to David and the Gentiles (peoples, nations, etc.) in 1–2 Chronicles. Why is it important to notice that the gospel is 'concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh' (Rom 1:1–3; 15:8–13; 2 Tim 2:8–13)?

Some Observations on 1–2 Chronicles

The Trajectories of the Two Books

  1. First Chronicles: from Adam, the first man (1 Chr 1:1), to man sitting on the throne of the Lord (1 Chr 29:23; cf. Rev 3:21).
  2. Second Chronicles: from the building of the temple by Solomon (2 Chr 2–7) to its rebuilding under Cyrus (2 Chr 36:22–23).

The Major Themes of the Two Books:

  1. First Chronicles: the necessary stages in the preparation for the building of the temple.
  2. Second Chronicles: the achievement of God's purpose in the actual building of the temple, in its necessary restorations, and in its rebuilding by Cyrus.

The Structure of the Two Books:

  1. First Chronicles: the stages of David's rise to power and exercise of government:
    • 1 Chronicles 10:13–14.
    • 1 Chronicles 14:2–7.
    • 1 Chronicles 18:13–17.
    • 1 Chronicles 23:1.
    • 1 Chronicles 29:23.
  2. Second Chronicles:
    • The building of the temple by Solomon (2 Chr 2–7).
    • Its restoration by Jehoiada and Joash (2 Chr 23–24).
    • Its restoration by Hezekiah (2 Chr 29–31).
    • Its restoration by Josiah (2 Chr 34–35).
    • Its rebuilding by Cyrus (2 Chr 36:22–23).

The Trajectory of First Chronicles

Its Trajectory

From: The first man, Adam (1 Chr 1:1)

To: The Age of Peace and Glory, when a man, Solomon, sat on the throne of the Lord (1 Chr 29:23)

The Principal Stages of the Trajectory

The Appearance of Israel Among the Nations (1 Chr 1:1–10:14)

  1. The main emphasis: Judah (1 Chr 2:2–4:23) and the Levites (1 Chr 6:1–8:11; 9:2–34)
  2. A false step: Saul—the first, disobedient king (1 Chr 10:1–14)
  3. A good move: The kingdom is turned over to David (1 Chr 10:14)

The Foundation of the City of Jerusalem (1 Chr 11:1–14:7)

  1. The main emphasis: The unification of the people of God, and its diversity within the unity.
  2. A false step: A false attitude towards the bringing up of the ark.
  3. A good move: The blessing of God on the house of Obed-Edom

The Coming of the Lord to Jerusalem (1 Chr 14:8–18:17)

  1. The main emphasis: 'The Lord reigns' (1 Chr 16:31) and the implications of this for the nations.
  2. A false step: David's suggestion to build a permanent house for God.
  3. A good move: The Davidic Covenant and David's victories.

The Destruction of the Last Enemies (1 Chr 19:1–22:19)

  1. The main emphasis: The crown is taken from the king of Amman's head and placed on David's head (1 Chr 20:2).
  2. A false step: David numbers the people.
  3. A good move: the decision on exactly where the temple will be built.

The Preparation of the Materials and the Organization—in Anticipation—of the Service of God in the Temple that Shall Be Built (1 Chr 23:1-29:30)

  1. Solomon, the son, is appointed as consort, and later as king, and charged to build the house.
  2. The organization of the Levites, singers, musicians, door-keepers etc.
  3. David's great prayer at the offering to God of all the materials for building God a house.

The Trajectory of Second Chronicles

Its Trajectory

  1. The age of peace and glory under David and Solomon.
  2. The extinction of the Davidic dynasty with the exile and the return of Israel under the Gentile Emperor Cyrus (the Lord's anointed, see Isa 45:1).

The Main Stages of this Trajectory

The Age of Peace and Glory (2 Chr 1:1–9:31)

The main emphasis: the building of the House of the Lord in fulfilment of God's promise to David (2 Chr 2:1–8:1; see especially 2 Chr 6:4–17). And the provision God made for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel, on condition that the Davidic monarchs behave like David (2 Chr 6:19–7:22).

First Descent (2 Chr 10:1–22:10)

The secession of the 10 northern tribes from the Davidic dynasty, followed by the almost total destruction of the Davidic dynasty by Athaliah (of the north).

First Restoration (2 Chr 22:10–24:16)

The recovery and restoration of the Davidic dynasty by Jehoiada the priest: the renewal of the covenant and the house of the Lord.

Second Descent (2 Chr 24:17–28:27)

The syncretism of the Davidic monarchs and the challenge of the Assyrian empire.

Second Restoration (2 Chr 29:1–32:33)

Hezekiah's Passover and his firm stand against the Assyrian emperor—atheism.

Third Descent (2 Chr 33:1–25)

The apostasy of the Davidic monarchs: a graven image in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (2 Chr 33:7).

Third Restoration (2 Chr 34:1–35:19)

Josiah destroys idolatry; purifies the house of the Lord; discovers the 'book' and celebrates the Passover according to Moses and David.

Fourth Descent (2 Chr 35:20–36:21)

The false attitude of the Davidic monarchs towards the imperialistic powers of the Gentiles and the dispersion of Israel among the Gentiles with the Babylonian exile.

Fourth Restoration (2 Chr 36:22–23)

In fulfilment of the promise made by Jeremiah, the Lord awakens the spirit of Cyrus to build a house for the Lord in Jerusalem, allowing the Israelites to return to their country.

Comparing 1–2 Chronicles
1. The appearance of Israel among the nations. The kingdom is given to David (1 Chr 1-10). 1’. The suspension of the Davidic dynasty. Israel’s dispersion among the Gentiles: the return (2 Chr 36).
2. The founding of the city of Jerusalem (1 Chr 11). Uzzah stretches out his hand to the ark to hold it and perishes (1 Chr 13). 2’. Manasseh places images and idols in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem (2 Chr 33). Josiah refuses to stop opposing God and perishes (2 Chr 35:21-22).
3. The throne of God is established in Jerusalem (1 Chr 15-16). The proclamation among the nations ‘the lord reigns’. The oneness of God; the oneness of Israel (1 Chr 16; 17). David defeats the Philistines and burns their gods (1 Chr 14.12). 3’. King Amaziah worships the gods of the Edomites whom he had defeated. King Ahaz worships the gods of the Syrians who had defeated him (2 Chr 25; 28). The king of Assyria asserts that there is no difference between the God of Jerusalem and the other gods he has defeated (2 Chr 32).
4. The age of Ornan. David has the vision of the angel of the Lord with the sword extended against Jerusalem. The king offers himself to be executed instead of the innocent ‘sheep’ (1 Chr 21). Solomon, David’s son, is a young man ‘of tender age’; the people are exhorted to support him (1 Chr 22.5). 4’. The 10 tribes rebel against Rehoboam when he was ‘of tender age’ (2 Chr 13:7). The age of Samaria (2 Chr 18:9). The king of Judah and the king of Israel, dressed in their royal robes sit on their thrones surrounded by their prophets. The vision of Micaiah—the lord on his throne surrounded by the heavenly army. A lying spirit is sent to induce Ahab for his death. Israel ‘scattered upon the mountains like sheep’.
5. David prepares materials and men for the temple (1 Chr 23-29). 5’. Solomon builds the temple (2 Chr 1–9).

Different Levels of Interpretation

The Historical Level

The books of Chronicles were written after the return from Exile, apparently during the Persian period, and sometime in the 4^th^ century BC.

What message would they have had for the first readers?

Was it that all of God's promises to Israel had been fulfilled with the return? That all they had to do now was to be content with the rebuilding of the temple and the punctilious fulfilment of the temple worship, and in no way expect the restoration of the Davidic dynasty? Liberal Judaism today holds a modern version of this view. 

Do the books of Chronicles say anything that would have served as a guide for the Jews who lived two centuries later, helping them to react in a correct way to Antiochus Epiphanes and his 'abomination of desolation' (167–164 BC)?

The Philosophical Level

The famous philosopher Karl Popper, in his book entitled Enemies of the Open Society, censures both Plato and Marx, and all those like them who elaborate their blueprints to one day achieve the utopia—a Golden Age—of peace and prosperity for the whole world, and then try to impose their systems with religious zeal, oppression and persecution. He reasons that the only way society can progress safely and happily is through a series of small, gradual and pragmatic improvements. In the light of Popper's reasoning what shall we say about the glory age under the reigns of David and Solomon? And what shall we say about the Christian hope of a glorious age to come?

The Christological Level

Matthew (1:1) and Paul (Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8) indicate that a basic facet of the Christian gospel is the fact that Jesus is the Son of David. Likewise, Peter (Acts 2:25–32) and Paul (Acts 13:34–37) assert that the resurrection of Jesus is the fulfilment of God's promises to David. How would you demonstrate with the New Testament that Christ has the solution to the governmental failures adopted by the kings of the house of David in the books of Chronicles? (Compare, for example, 2 Chr 10 with Matt 11:25–30).

The Practical Level

What practical lessons do the books of Chronicles have for us today?

  1. For elders in their churches

  2. For believing parents in the upbringing of their children.

  3. For God's people in general

The Prophetic Level

Do the events described in the books of Chronicles have any significance as prototypes of the various stages leading up to the present and future reign of Christ?

A Literary Approach to 1–2 Chronicles

The position: at the end of the Hebrew canon.

The scope: from creation to the return from the exile.

The extent: from the first man, Adam, until man—in the person of Solomon—sat on the throne of the Lord (1 Chr 29:23) and inaugurated Israel's golden age of peace. With this idea compare Psalm 8; Hebrews 2; Romans 8:17–23.

The Formal Literary Division-Markers

Stages in the Development of David's Reign

Stage 1

Adam (1 Chr 1:1).

Saul executed: the kingdom turned over to David (1 Chr 10:13–14).

Stage 2

All Israel anoint David king over Israel (1 Chr 11:1–3).

Stage 3

David perceived that the Lord established him king over Israel. List of David's wives and sons (1 Chr 14:1–7).

Stage 4

And David reigned over all Israel and executed judgment and justice. List of David's officers and officials (1 Chr 18:14–17).

Stage 5

When David was old, he made Solomon, his son, king over Israel (1 Chr 23:1).

And they made Solomon . . . king the second time (1 Chr 29:22).

A Pattern in the First Four Stages

One notable advance, followed by a notable mistake, leading to a new advance:
1. Advance: The rise of Israel out of the nations.
Mistake: The disobedience of Saul (but it leads to David).
2. Advance: The founding of Jerusalem.
Mistake: False attempt to bring up the ark (but it leads to blessing).
3. Advance: The coming of the ark to Jerusalem.
Mistake: David’s premature suggestion to build God a permanent house (but it leads to God’s promise to build David a house).
4. Advance: Victory over Ammon and the sons of the giants.
Mistake: The numbering of Israel (but it leads to the choice of a site for the altar and temple).

An Outline for a Series of Sermons Based on 1 Chronicles

General Theme: Man Shall Sit on the Throne of the Lord

  1. By whose authority?

  2. By whose power?

  3. According to whose plan?

  4. For whose glory?

  5. At whose expense?

Some Guidance in the Exposition of the Main Stages

Stage 1

Adam, the first man; Saul the first king; Christ the second man and true king (cf. Rom 5:12–19; Acts 13:21–23).

Stage 2

The unifying of the people of God: the founding of Jerusalem city. Its significance at the level of history and prophecy; its typological and theological significance (Gal 4; Heb 11–12; Rev 21–22).

Stage 3

  1. The establishment of the kingdom: The coming of the Lord to Jerusalem to reign (cf. 1 Chr 13:6; 16:33; Ps 93; 96:10, 13; 97:1; 98:9; 99:1–2; Rev 11:17–18).

  2. David not allowed to build the temple: but his son, the man of peace, to build it (cf. Heb 1:5).

Stage 4

The execution of justice and judgment: the last enemies destroyed: Ammon's crown on David's head; the last of the giants subdued; the final answer to Satan's wiles; the introduction of the king's son, the man of peace.

Stages 5–6

Co-regency of Solomon with David: preparations for the temple. Solomon's sole reign; the building of the temple; the age of peace and bliss.

 
David Gooding
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