1 and 2 Chronicles Flashcards
English title “Chronicles”
comes to us from St. Jerome. Jerome was commissioned in 382 by Pope Damasus I to revise the “Old Latin” Bible to the Latin used at that time. It was later called the Vulgate.
responsible for dividing the single Book of Chronicles into 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Septuagint
Amount of shared material in Chronicles and Samuel and Kings
Fully 50 percent, of 1 & 2 Chronicles is the same material found in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.
Most scholars place the writing of Chronicles
within Ezra’s lifetime (450-400 B.C.).
Location in Hebrew Cannon
1 and 2 Chronicles are the last and final books.
Perspective of Chronicles
tend to reflect the perspective of a reforming priest (as Ezra was) with emphasis on the Temple and the Levitical Priesthood.
Omitted from Chronicles
Solomon’s Apostasy
David’s Adultery
Adonijah’s Rebellion
Biblical Sources used
1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings (about 50% come from these sources)
The Author’s/Editor’s Purpose
to remind his readers of the victories of their heritage and to assure them of triumphs in the future.
reason Chronicles was written
Chronicles was written as a statement of faith that God’s promises were still true even though they had miserably failed.
Samuel and Kings vs Chronicles
Samuel and Kings Chronicles
Prophetic authorship: Priestly authorship:
emphasizes the prophetic emphasizes the priestly
ministry and moral concerns. ministry & spiritual concerns.
More negative; Rebellion More positive; Apostasy, but
and tragedy. hope in spite of tragedy.
Message of judgment. Message of hope.
Man’s failings. God’s faithfulness.
Emphasizes kings Emphasizes the temple
and prophets. and the priests.p
David’s greatness came from
from his attitude toward God, which expressed itself in two ways;
His care for the ark (a symbol of God’s grace)
His desire to build the temple (a symbol of worship, which responds to God’s grace)
Point of genealogical lists
- the author of Chronicles demonstrated a national identity reaching back across the tragedy of the exile
- The lists demonstrated continuity between generations.
- The first readers could believe that the promises God gave their ancestors before the exile were also for them.
Important characters of genealogies
Adam was important as the head of the human race receiving the Adamic Covenent (blessings).
Abraham was important because of the promises God gave him and his descendants in the Abrahamic Covenant.
David was important because of his role as Israel’s divinely chosen king and because of the promises God gave him in the Davidic Covenant
The author perceived God’s chosen instruments of salvation:
The Davidic line of kings
The City of Jerusalem
The Temple
Saul’s death
-Saul’s death became, for the author, a prototype or pattern of the exile.
Music
- David originated musical guilds and services.
- Bringing the ark into Jerusalem marked the beginning of the Levitical singers’ ministry in Israel
A place is designated for the temple
The primary reason for including the incident involving David counting the men in Chronicles was that it explains the site chosen for the temple.
Solomon’s greatness
His real greatness lay in his humility before God.
Solomon’s primary service to the nation
the building of the temple
Solomon’s failure
he ceased to recognize God’s sovereign rule over him and his kingdom, the very thing the temple he built promoted.
five main religious revivals
Asa. Jehoshaphat Joash Hezekiah Josiah
Similarities of Solomon’s Temple and The Church
Solomon’s Temple The Church
Solomon’s temple was a The Church is a spiritual
physical and material temple. temple.
The presence of God The Holy Spirit filled the
filled Solomon’s temple Church at its beginning.
at its beginning.
Solomon’s temple was The Church is to be the center
the center of spiritual of spiritual life in the world.
life in Israel.
Solomon’s temple reminded The Church is to remind all
His people of His heavenly people of his rule over them
rule over them and with them. and his presence with them.
Solomon’s temple At various times and places,
degenerated into the Church has been reduced
symbolism and form. to form and symbolism.
Site of the temple
Mount Moriah. The very spot where Abraham was called to sacrifice his son Isaac
