Old Testament
1 Chronicles
29 chapters
Start reading: 1 Chronicles 1About this book
First Chronicles retells Israel's story for a community that has come home from exile and is wondering who it is now. It opens with long genealogies, from Adam through the tribes, to show that the people still belong to God's purposes and to the land. The narrative then turns to King David: the death of Saul, David's anointing over all Israel, the capture of Jerusalem, and the bringing of the ark of God to the city with music and rejoicing. God's promise to David of a house and an enduring kingdom stands at the center. The book passes over David's worst failures and dwells instead on his preparation for the temple: the plans, the materials, the organizing of priests, Levites and musicians, and his prayer of praise as he hands the work to Solomon. Worship, unity and the line of David are the heart of the story. Christians have long read the promise to David as pointing to Jesus.
- Author
- Anonymous; Jewish tradition points to Ezra, and many scholars speak of an unnamed 'Chronicler'.
- Date
- Written after the exile, most often dated to the fifth or fourth century BC.
- Audience
- The Jews who returned to Judah from Babylon, needing a sense of identity, worship and hope.
Themes
Belonging to God's peopleDavid and the promised kingdomWorship and the templeSeeking God wholeheartedly
Outline
- 1:1–9:44Genealogies from Adam to the returned exiles
- 10:1–12:40Saul's end and David made king
- 13:1–16:43The ark brought to Jerusalem
- 17:1–17:27God's covenant with David
- 18:1–21:30David's victories and the census
- 22:1–29:30Preparing the temple and passing the throne to Solomon
Key verses
Chapters of 1 Chronicles
- 11 Chronicles 1The Chronicles open with a sweeping genealogy that traces humanity from Adam through Noah's sons to the nations, then narrows to Abraham's family.
- 21 Chronicles 2The genealogy focuses on Israel's twelve sons, then gives special attention to Judah, since David and the royal line come from him.
- 31 Chronicles 3This chapter lists David's descendants: the sons born at Hebron and Jerusalem, including Solomon, then the line of kings of Judah down to the exile.
- 41 Chronicles 4More of Judah's clans are listed, with small stories tucked among the names.
- 51 Chronicles 5The genealogy turns to the tribes east of the Jordan: Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
- 61 Chronicles 6This long chapter traces the tribe of Levi, from Aaron's line of high priests down to the exile, then the families of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari.
- 71 Chronicles 7Genealogies of several northern tribes follow: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher.
- 81 Chronicles 8The chapter gives a detailed genealogy of Benjamin, the tribe that lived near Jerusalem, with a focus on the family of Saul, Israel's first king, and his son Jonathan.
- 91 Chronicles 9The genealogies end with the returned exiles who resettled Jerusalem: Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
- 101 Chronicles 10The narrative begins with the last battle of Saul.
- 111 Chronicles 11All Israel gathers at Hebron and anoints David king, recalling that the Lord had promised he would shepherd his people.
- 121 Chronicles 12This chapter lists the warriors who joined David before he became king, including skilled archers and slingers from Saul's own tribe of Benjamin who could use either hand, brave Gadites described as fierce as lions, and men from Judah and Manasseh.
- 131 Chronicles 13David consults the leaders of Israel and proposes bringing the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem.
- 141 Chronicles 14Hiram of Tyre sends materials and craftsmen to build David a palace, and David realizes that the Lord has established him as king for the sake of Israel.
- 151 Chronicles 15David prepares a place for the ark in Jerusalem and this time insists that only the Levites carry it, as God's law requires, admitting that the earlier attempt failed because they had not sought the Lord in the proper way.
- 161 Chronicles 16The ark is placed in the tent David pitched, and offerings are presented.
- 171 Chronicles 17David, living in a cedar palace, tells Nathan he wants to build a house for the ark.
- 181 Chronicles 18This chapter summarizes David's military successes.
- 191 Chronicles 19When the Ammonite king dies, David sends envoys to console his son Hanun, but the Ammonite princes convince Hanun that they are spies, so he shames them by shaving half their beards and cutting their clothes.
- 201 Chronicles 20In the spring, Joab leads Israel's army to destroy the Ammonite city of Rabbah, while David stays in Jerusalem.
- 211 Chronicles 21Satan stirs David to count Israel's fighting men.
- 221 Chronicles 22David identifies the threshing floor as the site for the temple and begins stockpiling materials: iron, bronze, cedar, and huge amounts of gold and silver.
- 231 Chronicles 23When David is old, he makes Solomon king and organizes the Levites for temple service.
- 241 Chronicles 24David divides Aaron's descendants into twenty-four priestly divisions, using lots so that no family could claim favoritism.
- 251 Chronicles 25David sets apart certain sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying with harps, lyres, and cymbals.
- 261 Chronicles 26The chapter assigns the gatekeepers, including Korahites and Merarites, to guard the temple gates, with duties chosen by lot, and highlights families like Obed-Edom, whose household the Lord had blessed, giving him strong and capable sons.
- 271 Chronicles 27The chapter describes the organization of Israel's civil and military service.
- 281 Chronicles 28David assembles Israel's leaders and explains that he wanted to build a temple but God chose Solomon instead, because David had been a warrior.
- 291 Chronicles 29David gives generously for the temple from his own treasure and invites the leaders to give, and they respond with great joy.