1ST / 2ND CHRONICLES
The Introduction
In the early Hebrew Manuscripts 1st and 2nd Chronicles were one scroll. The earliest evidence of the division of the book into two is The Septuagint, the Greek version of The Old Testament, of about 200 B.C. Since the original material presented the historical record in one unbroken account, one should read and study 1st and 2nd Chronicles together in order to appreciate the unity and progressive development of the argument of the books.
The Authorship
The author of 1st and 2nd Chronicles is not mentioned in The Old Testament but Jewish tradition has suggested that it was Ezra.
The Date
Nearly all biblical scholars agree that 1st and 2nd Chronicles could not have been written later than the end of the 5th Century B.C., (1st Chronicles 1010 – 971 B.C. / 2nd Chronicles 971 – 539 B.C., perhaps around 400 B.C.).
The Purpose
These two elements will be considered together since one explains the other. In Hebrew, the name of the one scroll for 1st and 2nd Chronicles was known as dibere hayyamim, “the words concerning the days”. This is a historical account of the “days” of the Davidic kings of Israel and Judah. The Greek title Paraleipomena, “things omitted”, in The Septuagint wrongly implies that the only purpose of 1st and 2nd Chronicles is to preserve information not given in Samuel or Kings.
The Outline (1st Chronicles) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: Genealogies (1st Chron. 1 – 9)
A) Patriarchal Genealogies (1)
B) Genealogy of Judah (2)
C) Genealogy of David (3)
D) Genealogy Judah (4:1 – 23)
E) Genealogy of Simeon (4:24 – 43)
F) Genealogies of The Transjordan Tribes (5)
G) Genealogy of Levi (6)
H) Genealogies of The Six Northern Tribes (7)
I) Genealogy of Benjamin (8)
J) Citizens of Jerusalem (9:1 – 34)
K) Genealogy of Saul (9:35 – 44)
Pt 2: ¨The Reign of David (1st Chron. 10 – 29)
A) Death of Saul (10)
B) David’s Heroes (11 – 12)
C) Transporting The Ark (13)
D) David’s establishment in Jerusalem (14 – 16)
E) David’s desire for a temple (17)
F) David’s Foreign Affairs (18 – 20:8)
G) David’s census and The Lord’s punishment (21 – 22:1)
H) David’s plan for a temple (22:2 – 19)
I) David’s theocratic organization (23 – 27)
J) David’s farewell address (28 – 29:22a)
K) David’s successor to the throne (29:22b – 30)
A) Patriarchal Genealogies (1)
B) Genealogy of Judah (2)
C) Genealogy of David (3)
D) Genealogy Judah (4:1 – 23)
E) Genealogy of Simeon (4:24 – 43)
F) Genealogies of The Transjordan Tribes (5)
G) Genealogy of Levi (6)
H) Genealogies of The Six Northern Tribes (7)
I) Genealogy of Benjamin (8)
J) Citizens of Jerusalem (9:1 – 34)
K) Genealogy of Saul (9:35 – 44)
Pt 2: ¨The Reign of David (1st Chron. 10 – 29)
A) Death of Saul (10)
B) David’s Heroes (11 – 12)
C) Transporting The Ark (13)
D) David’s establishment in Jerusalem (14 – 16)
E) David’s desire for a temple (17)
F) David’s Foreign Affairs (18 – 20:8)
G) David’s census and The Lord’s punishment (21 – 22:1)
H) David’s plan for a temple (22:2 – 19)
I) David’s theocratic organization (23 – 27)
J) David’s farewell address (28 – 29:22a)
K) David’s successor to the throne (29:22b – 30)
The Outline (2nd Chronicles) (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook
Pt 1: The Reign of Solomon (2nd Chron. 1 – 9)
A) Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity (1)
B) Building of The Temple (2 – 5:1)
C) Dedication of The Temple (5:2 – 7:10)
D) God’s blessings and cursings (7:11 – 22)
E) Solomon’s successes (8 – 9)
Pt 2: The Reign of The Davidic Dynasty (2nd Chron. 10 – 36)
A) Rehoboam (10 – 12)
B) Abijah (13)
C) Asa (14 – 16)
D) Jehoshaphat (17 – 20)
E) Jehoram (21)
F) Ahaziah (22:1 – 9)
G) Athaliah (22:10 – 23:21)
H) Joash (24)
I) Amaziah (25)
J) Uzziah (26)
K) Jotham (27)
L) Ahaz (28)
M) Hezekiah (29 – 32)
N) Manasseh (33:1 – 20)
O) Amon (33:21 – 25)
P) Josiah (34 – 35)
Q) Jehoahaz (36:1 – 4)
R) Jehoiakim (36: 5 – 8)
S) Jehoiachin (36:9 – 10)
T) Zedekiah (36:11 – 16)
U) The Babylonian Conquest and Exile (36:17 – 21)
V) The Decree of Cyrus (36:22 – 23)
A) Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity (1)
B) Building of The Temple (2 – 5:1)
C) Dedication of The Temple (5:2 – 7:10)
D) God’s blessings and cursings (7:11 – 22)
E) Solomon’s successes (8 – 9)
Pt 2: The Reign of The Davidic Dynasty (2nd Chron. 10 – 36)
A) Rehoboam (10 – 12)
B) Abijah (13)
C) Asa (14 – 16)
D) Jehoshaphat (17 – 20)
E) Jehoram (21)
F) Ahaziah (22:1 – 9)
G) Athaliah (22:10 – 23:21)
H) Joash (24)
I) Amaziah (25)
J) Uzziah (26)
K) Jotham (27)
L) Ahaz (28)
M) Hezekiah (29 – 32)
N) Manasseh (33:1 – 20)
O) Amon (33:21 – 25)
P) Josiah (34 – 35)
Q) Jehoahaz (36:1 – 4)
R) Jehoiakim (36: 5 – 8)
S) Jehoiachin (36:9 – 10)
T) Zedekiah (36:11 – 16)
U) The Babylonian Conquest and Exile (36:17 – 21)
V) The Decree of Cyrus (36:22 – 23)