Chronicles Flashcards
Author of Chronicles according to Jewish tradition
Ezra
Time period of Chronicles’ author/writing
During the restoration from exile (c. 450 - 400B.C.)
Sources for Chronicles
Samuel-Kings (~50% is word-for-word)
The Book of the Kings of Israel
The Book of the Annals of King David
The Writings of Samuel the Seer
The Writings of Nathan the Prophet
The Writings of Gad the Seer
Outline of Kings
I. Genealogical Prologue (1 Ch. 1 - 9)
A. Patriarchs (1 Ch. 1)
B. Israel’s Sons (1 Ch. 2 - 3)
C. Families of Judah (1 Ch. 4:1-23)
D. Simeon (1 Ch. 4:24-43)
E. Reuben, Gad, Manasseh (1 Ch. 5)
F. Levi (1 Ch. 6)
G. Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Ephraim, Asher (1 Ch. 7)
H. Saul (1 Ch. 8)
I. Returning Exiles (9)
II. United Monarchy (1 Ch. 10 - 2 Ch. 9)
A. David’s Reign (1 Ch. 10 - 29)
1. Saul’s Death (1 Ch. 10)
2. David’s Ascension (1 Ch. 11 - 12)
3. Return of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Ch. 13 - 17)
4. David’s Conquest (1 Ch. 18 - 20)
5. Organization of David’s Kingdom (1 Ch. 21 - 27)
6. David’s Preparations for the Temple (1 Ch. 28:1-29:9)
7. David’s Farewell and Death (1 Ch. 29:10-30)
B. Solomon’s Reign (2 Ch. 1 - 9)
1. Solomon’s Kingship (2 Ch. 1)
2. Construction of the Temple (2 Ch. 2:1 - 5:1)
3. Dedication of the Temple (2 Ch. 5:2 - 7:22)
4. Solomon’s Activities (2 Ch. 8 - 9)
III. History of Judah
A. Rehoboam (2 Ch. 10 - 12)
B. Abijah (2 Ch. 13:1 - 14:1)
C. Asa (2 Ch. 14:2 - 16:14)
D. Jehoshaphat (2 Ch. 17:1 - 21:1)
E. Jehoram (2 Ch. 21)
F. Ahaziah (2 Ch. 22:1-9)
G. Athaliah and Joash (2 Ch. 22:10 - 24:27)
H. Amaziah (2 Ch. 25)
I. Uzziah (2 Ch. 26)
J. Jotham (2 Ch. 27)
K. Ahaz (2 Ch. 28)
L. Hezekiah (2 Ch. 29 - 32)
M. Manasseh (2 Ch. 33:1-20)
N. Amon (2 Ch. 33:21-25)
O. Josiah (2 Ch. 34:1 - 36:1)
P. Jehoahaz (2 Ch. 36:2-4)
Q. Jehoiakim (2 Ch. 36:5-8)
R. Jehoiachin (2 Ch. 36:9-10)
S. Zedekiah (2 Ch. 36:11-16)
IV. The Exile (2 Ch. 36:17-23)
1 Ch. 11:2
“Previously, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over My people Israel.’”
1 Ch. 17:11-14
Davidic Covenant
Key Features of Chronicles
Kings gives a political history of Israel and Judah, written from a prophetic and moral viewpoint; Chronicles gives a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of Judah only, written from a priestly and spiritual perspective.
The outlook of Samuel-Kings is from the throne (kingly), while that of Chronicles is from the altar (priestly)
Jeroboam
led the rebellion against Rehoboam; reigned as the first king over the northern tribes
Josiah
Judah’s last righteous king
Rehoboam
Solomon’s son, who succeeded him as king; the kingdom split under his leadership
Solomon
Israel’s wisest and most glorious king; wrote much wisdom literature; ended his life as an idolater with all his foreign wives, though, his repentance is expressed in Ecclesiastes
Dates
c. 971 - 538 B.C.
Theme of Chronicles
The centrality of Yahweh’s temple and his presence among his people from the Davidic monarchy through the exile.
The message of Chronicles to its original audience
Chronicles is written to a community restored from exile with a restored temple to show them that Yahweh is with them and has always been. The Solomonic temple and reign of David should push the people to look towards an even greater restoration of the temple and a renewed Davidic king.
The purpose of the genealogies in Chronicles
To demonstrate continuity with the past - needed because of the serious breach in their national history because of the exile
To legitimize the present - to serve as a priest one needs the correct pedigree
To insure the future - there must be a list of royal succession so the credentials of the uture Messiah would be valid
Were the 10 Northern tribes lost due to the Assyrian exile?
No
The central things Chronicles records about David’s and Solomon’s reigns
David’s extensive preparation for the temple and Solomon’s elaborate construction of the temple
Notable exclusions from Chronicles
David’s life as refugee and “traitor”
David’s struggle with Ish-bosheth and his first reign in Hebron
David’s adultery with Bathsheba
David’s trouble with Amnon, Absalom, Sheba, and Adonijah
Solomon’s many wives and idolatry
The reason for the Chronicler omitting the evil, questionable, less than worthy things about David and Solomon
The purpose isn’t to contradict Samuel-Kings or to be dishonest in treating history. Rather it is to present David and Solomon as ideal types of the Messianic King, the son of David, to come.
Are the failures of the other Davidic kings mentioned by the Chronicler?
Yes
Upon which kingdom(s) does Chronicles focus?
Judah; it ignores Israel because they weren’t under the Davidic, royal lineage.
The moral standard of the kings presented in Chronicles
Whether they walk in David’s ways
A theme text of Chronicles
2 Ch. 7:14
…and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will listen from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.
How Chronicles presents the kings when they obey or disobey
When kings are obedient to the covenant they’re presented as receiving immediate blessings (as with Manasseh’s forgiveness and restoration to the throne after his repentance). When they’re disobedient they’re presented as receiving immediate judgment (as with Uzziah’s leprosy)
