1 & 2 Chronicles Lesson 1
1 Chronicles
A record of divinely chosen families through whom God would carry out His plan of redemption
Key Verses: I Chronicles 29:11,12 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”
Theme: To give the actual historical account of the events from the reign of David to the captivity. Much attention is given to the plans and preparations for the building of the Temple.
Date: 450 to 400 B. C. (After the captivity)
Writer: Most historians agree that Ezra wrote the book at the close of the Babylonian captivity.
Written: Originally as one book and divided by Septuagint translators. Covers a period of 3,500 years. At one time was called “Acts of the Days.”
The Book: Number in the Bible: 13th of 66 Books, Number of Chapters: 29, Number of verses: 939, Number in order of writing: 8th Book of History.
Purpose: To show how God preserved the tribe of Judah and the line of David through which the Messiah was to come.
Divisions: Chapters 1-9-The Genealogies: Chapters 10-12-David made king; Chapters 13-16-The Ark brought to Jerusalem; Chapter 17- David purposes to build the Temple; Chapters 18-20-David’s victories; Chapter 21- The people numbered; Chapter 22-David’s preparation for the Temple; Chapter 23-Duties of the Levite’s Designated; Chapter 24- Priests organized; Chapter 25-27- Further organization; Chapters 28-29- David’s final word and prayer.
Facts: I Chronicles deals primarily with David. II Chronicles gives prominence to the house of David. * Chapters 1-9 give the largest table of names in the Bible. * “The Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah” mentioned in I Kings 22:39,45 are not the same as I and II Chronicles. *I Chronicles is a recap of things that have gone before. I Chronicles and II Chronicles reveal: 1. The pitiful shortcomings of man. 2. The character of God 3. The importance of the prophets of God 4. A true philosophy of history.
Outline: I. The Genealogies- Chapters 1-9 A. From Adam to the Edomites- Chapter 1 B. The sons of Israel and the tribe of Judah- Chapters 2-4:23 C. Simeon, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh- Chapters 4:24-5 D. Levi- Chapter 6 E. Issachar, Naphtali, half tribe of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher- Chapter 7 F. Benjamin- Chapter 8 G. The record of the inhabitants of Jerusalem after the return- Chapter 9 II. The Overthrow and End of Saul- Chapter 10 III. The Crowning of David and Establishment of his Kingdom –Chapters 11-21 A. David in Hebron- Chapter 11 B. David’s warriors and friends –Chapter 12 C. The Ark removed from Kirjath-jearim- Chapter 13 D. David’s increase and blessing- Chapter 14 E. The Ark brought to JerusalemChapters 15-16:3 F. The great celebration- Chapters 16:4-43 G. The covenant and the promise- Chapter 17 H. David’s wars and successful reign- Chapter 18 I. The wars with Ammon, Syria, and the Philistines- Chapters 19-20 J. The numbering of the people and the punishment- Chapter 21 IV. Preparations for the Building of the Temple. David’s Death- Chapters 22- 24 A. The preparations and charge to Solomon- Chapter 22 B. The numbering and arrangement of the Levites- Chapter 23 C. The twenty-four courses of the priests- Chapter 24 D. The singers and musicians of the temple- Chapter 25 E. The porters and other temple officers- Chapter 26 F. The captains, princes, and various officers and counsellors- Chapter 27 G. The last acts of David and his death- Chapters 28-29
Miscellaneous: The scope of Chronicles begins with Adam and ends with the decree of Cyrus. The book of Chronicles covers the longest period of any of the books of the Bible. Beginning with David and going through to Zedekiah, it relates the history of twenty-one kings and also the inglorious reign of Queen Athaliah, the usurper. The kings of Israel are mentioned only occasionally in passing. There were the same number of kings on the throne of Israel, however, the kingdom Revised 8-21-2023 Copyright © 2016 (I & II Chronicles) page 2 of Judah lasted one hundred thirty-six years longer than the kingdom of Israel. This was one effect that the half dozen Godfearing kings of Judah had on the history of their nation. During the period covered by the Hebrew history of the Old Testament, Israel came into conflict with four world powers; Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Later they came into conflict with Greece and Rome as well. Against their changing panorama of world empire, God wrote Hebrew history. Overruling the passions and powers of men, immutable in His counsels, invincible in His purposes, from generation to generation pursuing His eternal purposes all down through the years. God cannot be dethroned. This is the message of Chronicles and it is as valid today as when it was written.
2 Chronicles
“A History of the Southern Kingdom”
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 30:18b-19 “But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
Theme: The secret of being victorious and overcoming religion and life is in the preparation of the heart to seek the Lord and serve Him.
Date: 450 to 400 B.C. (At the end of the Babylonian captivity)
Writer: Ezra, the Priest-Scribe Ezra also led in the rebuilding of the Temple. The style of writing very closely resembles that of Nehemiah.
Written: It is written to give a journalistic account of how God preserved Judah one hundred and thirty-six years after the fall of Israel and the preservation of the house of David through which the Messiah would come.
The Book: Number in the Bible: 14th of 66 books, Number of Chapters: 36, Number of verses: 822, Number of order in writing: 9th Book of History
Purpose: *To record the reign of Solomon. *To give an account of the building of the Temple. *To give an account of the history of Judah after the ten tribes pulled away.
Divisions: 1. The reign of Solomon (Chapters 1-9) 2. The religious reforms in Judah (Chapters 10-36)
Facts: * II Chronicles records the history of the southern kingdom of Judah from the reign of Solomon to the return of the exiles from Babylon. * The apostate northern kingdom prominent in Kings is hardly mentioned in Chronicles. * II Chronicles closely parallels the book of Ezra. *The last verses of II Chronicles (36:11-23) are the same as the opening verses of Ezra (Ezra 1:1-3). *Religious revivals are recorded under Asa, Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah.
Outline: I. The Reign of Solomon (Chapters 1-99) A. Solomon’s wisdom, wealth, and worship (Chapter 1) B. Solomon builds and furnishes the Temple (Chapters 2-4) C. Solomon consecrates and dedicates the Temple (Chapters 5-7) D. Solomon builds cities and becomes famous (Chapter 8) E. Solomon visited by queen of Sheba (Chapter 9) II. The Rebellion of the Ten Tribes (Chapter 10) A. Jeroboam leads the northern kingdom. B. Rehoboam leads the southern kingdom. III. The Reign of the Kings of Judah (Chapters 11-36) A. Apostasy under Rehoboam (Chapters 11-16) B. Reformation under Jehoshaphat (Chapters 17-20) C. Apostasy under Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah (Chapters 21-22) D. Reformation under Joash—and later, failure (Chapters 23-24) E. Apostasy under Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz (Chapters 25-28) F. Reformation under Hezekiah (Chapters 29-32) G. Apostasy under Manasseh (Chapter 33) H. Reformation under Josiah (Chapters 34-35) I. Apostasy for the final time (Chapter36:1-14) IV. The Captivity by Nebuchadnezzar (Chapters 36:15- 23)
Miscellaneous: *Israel had spent four hundred years worshipping in a tent. * David was forbidden to build the Temple because he was a man of war (II Chronicles 22:8). * The Temple was built of great stones, cedar beams, and boards overlaid with gold. * Estimates given indicate that our money today would have cost two to five billion dollars. *It was built like the Tabernacle but with every part twice the size. * Solomon’s Temple stood about four hundred years: 970-586 B.C. * Zerubbabel’s Temple stood about five hundred years: 520-20 B.C. * Herod’s Temple stood about ninety years: 20 B.C.-70 A.D.
-Outlines for both books were written by Dr. Tom Wallace
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