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First and Second Book of Chronicles-A Remmers
First and Second Book of Chronicles-A Remmers
First and Second Book of Chronicles-A Remmers
by Arend Remmers
http://www.biblecentre.org
29 and 36 chapters
1.
2.
3.
4.
2. Purpose of Writing
The books of Chronicles are not a repetition of the books of Kings. God pursued a special
purpose with the writings of the Chronicles. We may see this already in the long
genealogies of Israel and especially of the house of David, which commences with Adam,
the first man. The books of Chronicles give a divine retrospect over Israel's history and
the history of mankind as well as God's ways with men. One would think of comparing
the Chronicles with Deuteronomy, which is no repetition of the preceding books either.
The Chronicles describe especially the kingdom of Judah. The books of Kings describe
mostly the northern kingdom of the ten tribes (Israel). The Chronicles only mention Israel
when it comes into contact with Judah.
The kingdoms of David and Solomon as well as their successors are the main subject of
the Chronicles. Both David and Solomon form a joint picture of Christ as rejected,
suffering, glorified and reigning king. Therefore David and Solomon's trespasses (David's
adultery with Bathsheba and his murdering Uriah and Solomon's idolatry) are not
mentioned. The books of Kings give more moral teachings and stress the human
responsibility. The Chronicles however contain more typical teachings in connection with
the grace of God.
A further main subject is the erection of the temple. The building of the temple takes up
much more space in the Chronicles than in the first book of Kings. In 1 Chron. we see
David's interest for the temple (God's dwelling-place amidst His people) in chap. 21-29,
and in 2 Chron. 2-7 the building and inauguration of the temple under King Solomon.
Later on, the restoration of worship in the temple is mentioned several times (Josiah,
Hezekiah). The Chronicles show the spiritual side of life in Judah and therefore bear a
priestly character. The books of Kings however bear a prophetic stamp.
As in Kings the soon progressive decline of the people is described. This decline was
interrupted in Judah by several revivals of God fearing kings (especially under
Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah). The description of the history of the people of God
ends with Jehovah's rejection and the deportation of the Jews into Babylonian captivity
(around 605 to 586 BC). Babel is a picture of worldly power in a religious cloak
(compare Gen. 11 and Rev. 17-18).
But at the very end of the two books we find how God awakens the heart of King Cyrus
of Persia to induce the Jews to return to Palestine. In this we find again the grace of God!
3. Peculiarities
The Temple
In addition to the differences between Chronicles and Kings mentioned above we find
further remarkable differences in the descriptions of the temple. In 1 Kings 6:5-10 the
chambers round about are mentioned which are missing in 2 Chronicles. In 2 Chron. 3:14
we read of the veil and in 2 Chron. 4:1 of the altar of brass whereas the author of 1 Kings
does not mention either. This fact, and other small details, make it plain that 1 Kings
describes the habitation of God and the intimate fellowship of God with His people.
Second Chronicles however depicts the place where one can come near to God to
worship Him.
4. Overview of Contents
I. 1 Chronicles 1-9: Genealogies
Chapter 1
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Presentation of Solomon
Chapter 29
Abijah
Jehoshaphat
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Jehoshaphat's Juridiction
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Jehoram
Chapter 22
Ahaziah
Chapter 23
Athaliah
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Amaziah
Chapter 26
Uzziah (Azariah)
Chapter 27
Jotham
Chapter 28
Ahaz
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Hezekiah's Passover
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Manasseh
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Josiah's Passover
Chapter 36