(BA) Chronicles

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Chronicles is a condensation and rewriting of the Primary History, mostly Samuel and Kings. Like the primary history, it begins with Adam (1 Chronicles 1) and goes from there. However, unlike the long narratives in the Primary History, Chronicles covers the early material mostly in the form of genealogies alone, leaving out the stories. The genealogies at the beginning of Chronicles span the first nine chapters, and then the narrative begins when David comes to power, following the Davidic monarchy to its end, and ending with a hopeful note as the accession of Cyrus gives hope for restoring the temple. Because the Chronicler rewrites material in Samuel and Kings, a careful look at what the Chronicler chooses to include, to leave out, and to change allows a careful reader to gain insight into the Chronicler's motivations and views.

Chronicles 1 begins with Adam and includes the genealogy from Adam to Abraham and information from the Table of Nations, along with information about Abraham's various descendants. 1 Chronicles 2 introduces the twelve sons of Israel and then lists descendants of Judah. 1 Chronicles 3 gives descendants of David, extending seven generations^[1] after Jehoiachin (exiled 597 BCE), placing the writing of Chronicles around 420 BCE at the very earliest. 1 Chronicles 4 gives more descendants of Judah and Simeon. 1 Chronicles 5 continues with similar material for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. 1 Chronicles 6 deals with the descendants of Levi. 1 Chronicles 7 is about the descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. 1 Chronicles 8 gives descendants of Benjamin, including the lineage of Saul for approximately twelve generations (or three centuries) after Saul. 1 Chronicles 9 gives a list of returnees from the Babylonian captivity, and, for reasons that are not obvious, reproduces much of the genealogy of Saul from the previous chapter.

The narratives of Chronicles begin with 1 Chronicles 10, in which Saul kills himself at the end of a battle with the Philistines, and God turns the kingdom over to David. David is crowned king, takes Jerusalem, and his thirty warriors are listed (11). Various names and numbers of soldiers who allied themselves with David are given (12). David attacks to bring the ark to Jerusalem (13). David receives supplies from Tyre, accumulates wives and children, and defeats the Philistines (14). The ark is brought to Jerusalem (15). A poem is recited in front of the people, and various officials are stationed for the temple service (16). David wants to build a house for Yahweh, but the offer is very politely declined by God (17). David is victorious over various foreign enemies (18), including the Ammonites (19). David's forces capture Rabbath-Ammon and kill various giants (20). David takes a census, and as punishment Yahweh kills ten thousands of Israelites, until David offers sacrifices at Ornan's threshing-floor (21). At this site David plans the construction of the temple, and gives his son Solomon orders about the project (22). David counts the Levites and assigns them responsibilities according to their genealogies (23). The genealogical groups of priests and Levites are listed (24). David's ritual musicians are listed (25), then gatekeepers and so on (26). The organization of David's military and other affairs are described (27). David calls a meeting of his officials and outlines his plans for the temple (28). David and others volunteer supplies for building the temple. David prays, and Solomon is crowned king. David dies (29).

2 Chronicles 1 begins with Solomon visiting the shrine at Gibeon and asking for wisdom, which God grants him, along with wealth. Solomon acquires timber from his ally Hiram of Tyre, and conscripts the local non-Israelite population to work on building the temple (2). Solomon builds the temple (3), and it is described in detail (4). Then the ark is brought to Jerusalem (5). Solomon gives a speech and a prayer (6), and dedicates the temple with sacrifices. God appears and tells Solomon about the future of the Davidic kingdom and the importance of obedience (7). Solomon expands his kingdom, enslaves the indigenous peoples of his land, and continues in trade and building projects (8). Solomon is visited by the Queen of Sheba, and his magnificent wealth is described. Solomon dies (9).

Solomon's son Rehoboam takes the throne, and threatens to be even more oppressive than Solomon, resulting in his loss of Israel, the northern part of the United Kingdom of Israel (2 Chronicles 10). Rehoboam considers war against the north, but is dissuaded by God. Rehoboam fortifies the south, is supported by the Levites and priests, and faithful Israelites (11). In his fifth year, Judah is invaded by Pharaoh Sishak, and the temple and royal treasuries looted. Twelve years later, Rehoboam dies and Abijah becomes king (12). Abijah roundly defeats Jeroboam, the king of the North, in battle (13). Abijah dies and is replaced by his son Asa. Asa defeats a million-man Cushite army (14). Asa institutes a monotheistic reform (15). However, late in his reign Asa angers God through an alliance with Aram against Israel, and then imprisons the prophet who delivers God's rebuke. Asa contracts a foot disease and dies (16).

Asa is succeeded by his devout and powerful son Jehoshaphat, who goes from strength to strength (2 Chronicles 17). Ahab (king of Israel) and Jehoshaphat go to war against Aram, despite the ironic warning of Yahweh not to do so, and Ahab is killed (18). Jehoshaphat is rebuked, but commended for his anti-idolatrous policies, and Jehoshaphat establishes judges over his people (19). Ammonites and Moabites attempt to invade, but without Jehoshaphat doing anything but praying, God defeats the enemies in spectacular fashion. However, God undermines Jehoshaphat's attempt at a joint merchant ship venture with Israel (20). Jehoshaphat dies, and is succeeded by Jehoram (21).

Jehoram is a wicked king: he kills all his brothers and marries into Ahab's family. As a result, he faces rebellions in Edom and Libnah, and God strikes him with a disease that leads to fatal rectal prolapse (2 Chronicles 21). He is succeeded by his wicked son Ahaziah, who is killed by Jehu (22). His mother Athaliah seizes control of Judah, and Ahaziah's successor, a baby named Joash, is taken into hiding (22). The priest Jehoiada stages and coup and places the young child Joash on the throne, and has Athaliah killed. The people recommit themselves to Yahweh (23). During the priesthood of Jehoiada, Joash rules righteously and repairs the temple. Johoiada dies, and Joash takes a turn away from faithful Yahwism, resulting in invasion and his death (24).

Amaziah rules Judah, mostly well. He defeats Edom, but then worships Edomite gods, resulting in his defeat by Israel. Amaziah is killed by his own officers (2 Chronicles 25). Uzziah becomes king, and does good in the eyes of Yahweh. His reign is successful, until he trespasses by usurping the priestly prerogative of burning incense. He is struck by leprosy, and retires into quarantine while his son Jotham rules, until he dies (26). Jotham reigned well and successfully until his death (27). He is succeeded by Ahaz, whose wickedness is appropriately met with defeats by Aram, Israel, Philistines, and Edomites (28).

The next king of Judah is Hezekiah, an exemplary king. Hezekiah orders the consecration of the Levites and the purification of the temple, and makes offerings (2 Chronicles 29). Next, Hezekiah orders the Passover observed (30). The Israelites destroy all the country shrines and Asherahs, and Hezekiah sees to the provisions for the priests and Levites (31). Hezekiah's kingdom is nearly overrun by Sennacherib, but God kills the enemies. Hezekiah dies, and is succeeded by Manasseh (32).

Manasseh is an evil king, engaging in polytheism. Manasseh is taken prisoner to Babylon, and returned by God when he repents of his wicked ways and launches a partial return to faithful Yahwism. He was succeeded by his son Amon, whose short reign ends in assassination (2 Chronicles 33).

Amon is succeeded by Josiah, an exemplary king who destroys pagan worship, purifies the temple, and reforms on the basis of the newly discovered Law of God (2 Chronicles 34). He celebrates the Passover. Unfortunately, he dies in an odd incident at the hands of Egypt (35). His son Jehoahaz rules for only three months before he is exiled to Egypt and replaced by his Jehoahaz's brother Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim rules for eleven wicked years, and is taken captive to Babylon. Jehoiakim's son Jehoiachin then reigns three months, and then he too is taken captive to Babylon, and replaced by his brother^[2] Zedekiah, who rules for eleven increasingly wicked years. Then, due to Judah's wickedness, God causes the Babylonians to carry off the Israelites into captivity, where they stay for seventy years.^[3] In the first year of Cyrus, a decree is made permitting a return to the land, and the rebuilding of the temple (36).

With that Chronicles comes to an end, at the exact spot where Nehemiah will pick up the narrative.

Curtis, Edward Lewis (1910). A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Chronicles.

Japhet, Sara (2009). The Ideology of the Book of Chronicles and its Place in Biblical Thought.

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