1Ch 29:1

1Ch 29: Outline: (1) David encourages the people by his own example to give to the work of the temple (vv 1-5). (2) So the chief of the fathers gave willingly (vv 6-9). (3) Which prompted David to praise God in prayer and Psalm (vv 10-19). (4) David speaks to the congregation and they make Solomon king the second time (vv 20-25). (5) David’s forty year reign and his death recorded (vv 26-28). (6) Explanation is given as to where else it is possible to read of David’s acts (vv 29,30).

The great work which David began is now finished. He sleeps and his son reigns in his stead, sitting on the throne of the Lord.

1Ch 29:4

OPHIR: See Lesson, Ophir.

1Ch 29:9

THE PEOPLE REJOICED AT THE WILLING RESPONSE OF THEIR LEADERS: “They were not only glad that they had it to offer, but that they had hearts to do it; they found themselves quite free to do the work, and saw it was so with others, which gave them extreme pleasure…”

FOR THEY HAD GIVEN FREELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE LORD: “Not grudgingly, but cheerfully; not pressed and urged to it; not by constraint, but freely, and that with a pure view to the honour and glory of God…”

DAVID THE KING ALSO REJOICED GREATLY: “It made his heart glad exceedingly, now he was old, and just going out of the world, to see this good work in such forwardness, on which his heart had been so much set; it gave him reason to believe it would be set about in good earnest, be carried on with vigour, and brought to perfection” (Gill).

1Ch 29:14

WHO AM I, AND WHO ARE MY PEOPLE…?: Cp 1Sa 18:18: the same righteous question that David had asked at the beginning.

1Ch 29:23

12 tribes under David and Solomon = the kingdom of God in the past (Exo 19:3-6). Kingdom was divided after Solomon: 1Ki 11:29-36. Typ Christ on his throne: Jer 3:17.

Author: Ezra

Time: 1050 – 536 BC

Summary: Like the Book of Kings, 1Ch and 2Ch were originally one book according to Jewish tradition. However, the Chronicles are not simply a repeat of the history already recorded in the books of Samuel and Kings. The Book of Chronicles was written to remind the nation of their entire history, and of their position among other nations, emphasizing the history of priestly worship from the death of Saul to the end of the Babylonian captivity. The Chronicles contain more of the relationship of the kings to the worship of God, than does the Book of Kings. The history of the Northern Kingdom is omitted from the Chronicles because the Northern Kingdom had no bearing on the development of the true worship of God in Jerusalem.

Key verses:

“David… said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you’ ” (1Ch 28:20).

“But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (2Ch 6:18).

Outline

1. Genealogies: 1Ch 1:1 – 9:44

a) Patriarchs: 1Ch 1:1-54 b) Judah: 1Ch 2:1 – 4:23 c) Simeon: 1Ch 4:24 -43 d) Tribes east of the Jordan River: 1Ch 5:1-26 e) Levi: 1Ch 6:1-81 f) Six other tribes: 1Ch 7:1 – 9:44

2. The reign of David: 1Ch 10:1 – 29:30

a) The death of Saul: 1Ch 10:1-14 b) David’s rise: 1Ch 11:1 – 20:8 c) David’s latter days: 1Ch 21:1 – 29:30

3. The reign of Solomon: 2Ch 1:1 – 9:31

a) Solomon’s inauguration: 2Ch 1:1-17 b) Solomon’s Temple: 2Ch 2:1 – 7:22 c) Solomon’s Kingdom: 2Ch 8:1 – 9:31

4. The kingdom of Judah: 2Ch 10:1 – 36:23

a) The division of the kingdom: 2Ch 10:1 – 11:23 b) Rehoboam: 2Ch 12:1-16 c) Abijah: 2Ch 13:1-22 d) Asa: 2Ch 14:1-16:14 e) Jehoshaphat: 2Ch 17:1-20:37 f) Jehoram and Ahaziah: 2Ch 21:1-22:9 g) Joash: 2Ch 22:10-24:27 h) Amaziah: 2Ch 25:1-28 i) Uzziah: 2Ch 26:1-23 j) Jotham: 2Ch 27:1-9 k) Ahaz: 2Ch 28:1-27 l) Hezekiah: 2Ch 29:1-32:33 m) Manasseh: 2Ch 33:1-20 n) Amon: 2Ch 33:21-25 o) Josiah: 2Ch 34:1-36:1 p) Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah: 2Ch 36:2-14 q) Exile: 2Ch 36:15-23

SAMUEL / KINGS / CHRONICLES DIFFERENCE

“Samuel-Kings was written just after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The author, whether it was Jeremiah or someone else from the ‘school of the prophets,’ had access to the royal records of both the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, as well as records that antedated the Divided Kingdom period. It is truly a story about the history of the kings of Israel, beginning with the desire to have a king because of the wickedness of first Eli’s sons and then Samuel’s, down to the wickedness of the last kings of Judah before it became time to ‘overturn, overturn, overturn… until he come whose right it is’ (Ezek 21:27). Samuel-Kings then documents much of the reasons for judgment.

“Chronicles, on the other hand, was written more to encourage the returning exiles. From the opening words citing Cyrus’ decree, down through the selection of material showing God’s continuing grace even during times of judgment, the writer of Chronicles (Ezra?) concentrates on God’s plan to return the exiles back to the land, living righteously under God’s rulership. The Chronicles record differs from that of Samuel-Kings with regard to Abijah’s reign and also Manasseh’s… the differing treatments of David’s reign are also instructive. If one only reads Chronicles, one would never know about the seven-and-a-half years of Ishbosheth’s reign, about David’s sin regarding Bathsheba and Uriah, or about any of the fallout from that sin — namely what happened with Amnon and Tamar, and about all that involved Absalom’s rebellion.

“In short, Samuel-Kings serves to document why God was right to judge both Israel and Judah, while Chronicles was focusing more on God’s mercy” (DB).

1Ch 27:1

1Ch 27: David also organized his army (vv 1-15), Israel’s tribal leaders (vv 16-24), his administrators (vv 25-31), and his counselors and advisers (vv 32-34). He did all this to insure the future stability of the kingdom, so that God’s promises could be fulfilled without unnecessary opposition or confusion. The writer mentions 12 tribes, but in this list these include Levi and the two halves of Manasseh. He omits Gad and Asher in this tally (vv 16-24; cf 1Ch 7).

1Ch 22–27 record David’s preparation for the fulfillment of those covenant promises made to him — which would be fulfilled in part after he had passed off the scene. His preoccupation with God’s promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles’ original readers. David’s zeal for the house of Yahweh reflected his zeal for the reputation of his God. He truly put God’s glory before his own personal ambitions.

Vv 1-15: Twelve army captains named among mighty men. Joab the commander (v 34).

Eight of 12 captains were of Judah, two of Ephraim, and 2 of Benjamin (Ellicott).

1Ch 27:6

BENAIAH: More details of his exploits are given in 1Ch 11:22-25 and 2Sa 23:21-23.

1Ch 27:7

HIS SON ZEBADIAH WAS HIS SUCCESSOR: Since Asahel was slain at beginning of David’s reign (1Ch 11:26; 2Sa 2:18-23).

1Ch 27:16

Vv 16-24: Twelve tribal princes.

1Ch 27:17

Two princes for Levi: one for the tribe, one for the Aaronic branch.

1Ch 27:24

WRATH CAME ON ISRAEL ON ACCOUNT OF THIS NUMBERING: (1) The census was incomplete, and (2) the half-shekel was not collected.

1Ch 27:25

Vv 25-34: In this extensive list of the things that David had, which needed oversight, there is no mention of horses. David did not multiply horses because the law of Moses had forbidden it (Deu 17:16).

Vv 25-31: Twelve overseers.

1Ch 28:1

“David was facing the end of his life. With typical faithfulness, there was one thing on his mind: the realisation of the great temple of Yahweh, for which he had set his heart. In his farewell speech he charges the elders of Israel to continue his passion for the temple, and to support his son, Solomon, in the great work to which Yahweh had committed him. David’s glorious reign reaches a climax as the aristocracy of Israel is gathered together, and in the presence of Solomon, David makes his final request and exhortation. In his passionate address he sets out: [1] How Yahweh chose David and Solomon: vv 1-8; [2] A personal charge to Solomon, and the passing over of the plans and ordering of the temple: vv 9-19; [3] The work had been commenced by Yahweh, and it is for Solomon to complete it: vv 20.21.

“Publicly the king advises the young heir to the throne regarding his conduct and duty, and makes reference to the great divine work that Solomon must do. He pledges the nation’s support, and challenges the people to be liberal in their donations to this work, by a personal example of liberality. Solomon is proclaimed and anointed king. and with a final prayer and thanksgiving, David’s work is brought to a fitting close. By training a shepherd in youth to become a hero in warfare, and a king in old age, there remained for the people an example of steadfast faith and unity of purpose. David was a fit type of Christ, for his actual personal reign never ended, but instead merged into that of his son who stood as joint-king with his Father. In his son Solomon, David built the temple on Zion. He provided all the elements, the gold, silver and instruments of every king, and thereby typified the work of the Lord Jesus in his redemptive work, so that a glorious temple of living stones might be accomplished to the honour and glory of Yahweh” (GEM).

1Ch 28:2

David sat as a worshiper (2Sa 7:18), lay as a penitent (2Sa 12:16), and, stood as a servant (1Ch 28:2).

Notice David’s humble and respectful manner toward inferiors.

FOOTSTOOL: The Ark of the Covenant, and the Temple — where the Almighty resides (Psa 99:5; 132:7; Lam 2:1; 1Ch 28:2; Isa 60:13; 66:1).

1Ch 28:3

BECAUSE YOU ARE A WARRIOR AND HAVE SHED BLOOD: Cp 1Ki 5:3: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.” Reason: not that David was unworthy, but that he was too busy fighting God’s wars. (Or, alternatively, did David simply ASSUME that this was the reason — when, in fact, it was not?)

1Ch 28:5

THE THRONE OF THE KINGDOM: David’s throne is the same as the throne of the Lord (1Ch 29:23).

1Ch 28:6

“This is a verse with many beautiful overtones. A consideration of the following passages will bring them out. There is sonship, temple-building and rest all associated with Solomon here and, of course, with Jesus: 2Sa 7:13,14; 2Ch 1:9; Zech 6:12,13; Heb 3:3-6; 4:5” (PC).

1Ch 28:11

DAVID GAVE HIS SON SOLOMON THE PLANS…: As Moses had been directly instructed by God: Exo 25:40. God gives precise instructions for worshiping Him: here, the outward preparation; but here, and later also: inward preparations also.

1Ch 28:21

We are all workers to build God’s temple: Isa 66:1,2; 1Pe 2:5; 1Co 3:16; 6:9; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:20-22; Heb 3:6; Rev 3:12.

1Ch 25:1

COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY: Interestingly, the priests and Levites here are designated by a military term: they are, in effect, the “captains” (“sarim”) of the LORD’s “host” or army (“tsaba”). In other words they are “warring the warfare” of the Temple! Just as the whole nation of Israel was organized into the semblance of an elaborate military encampment in the wilderness, the tabernacle — where the glory of the LORD dwelt in their midst — was the “campaign headquarters.

This figure of speech — of the worship and service of God being a military service — is also prominent in the NT, where for example Paul exhorts Timothy: “I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight” (1Ti 1:18), and tells the Corinthian brethren: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2Co 10:3,4). In fact, he pictures the believer in the likeness of a Roman soldier, fully equipped and armed to fight the battle of faith (Eph 6:11-17). And thereby the deadly nature of the enterprise of the Christian life is underlined: those who follow Christ are engaged in a fight to the death against sin, both inside and outside!

THE MINISTRY OF PROPHESYING, ACCOMPANIED BY HARPS, LYRES, AND CYMBALS: Proving conclusively that music is a fit medium for teaching! This ordering of the singers must have pleased David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (2Sa 23:1). However, we should not presume that David did this just because he liked music. Rather, it was part of his service to God. Likewise, our singing should not be for our pleasure or entertainment, but to the glory of the Father.

1Ch 25:7

MUSIC FOR THE LORD: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16).

1Ch 26:1

1Ch 26: David organized the officers of the Levites as gatekeepers (1Ch 26:1-19), treasury guards (1Ch 26:20-28), and leaders in external affairs (1Ch 26:29-32). The gatekeepers were the temple guards (cf 1Ch 26:7,8). David even specified the number of guards at each temple gate (1Ch 26:17,18). There were 24 guard stations manned 24 hours a day. In view of the wealth in and about the temple, security needed to be tight (cf 1Ch 26:27,28).

1Ch 26:15

THE STOREHOUSE: Given as a proper name in KJV: “Asuppim”. But NIV is prob correct.

1Ch 22:1

1Ch 22: Outline: (1) David again prepares for the temple (vv 1-5); (2) David instructs Solomon about the promises and the temple (vv 6-16); (3) David then commands the princes to help Solomon (vv 17-19). David was preparing for the temple right from the time of the promise (1Ch 17) and now there is no doubt. Solomon is the one who is charged with the task of building it, and the princes are commanded to support Solomon in that work.

It began as a bad decision on David’s part. He decided to number Israel’s fighting men, which was a thing that both God and Joab were not happy about. When Joab had finished counting and brought the number back, David realized what he had done and asked for forgiveness. God gave David three options as a consequence of his actions, and David chose three day’s plague by the hand of the LORD. It turned from bad to worse now, as 70,000 Israelite men died in the plague. God stopped the plague in Jerusalem at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite; it was there that David was told to make an altar. But now, passing on from all the bad that had happened, God began to work for good. This threshing floor became the site of the new temple, and David began a new and glorious chapter in Israel’s history as the temple preparations began to take place.

David did not know where his actions were going to lead. He could not see that it would all culminate in the temple of God. Neither can we see how things in our lives will work together for good — but God will bring it to pass just like he did with David (cp Rom 8:28).

1Ch 22:8

It almost looks as though David is being punished because he had been a warrior. But Solomon’s words in 1Ki 5:3,4 may put this in better perspective: “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.”

That is, until his death, David had to devote most of his time to fighting his enemies and expanding his kingdom to its rightful bounds. This was a necessity, and David — a man of faith — did as the LORD required. But David was not GUILTY for “shedding much blood” in wars, because he was fighting the wars God had commanded.

And when it is considered that Jesus, the fulfillment of both the type of David and the type of Solomon, will both fight great wars AND build a temple for the LORD… then this explanation looks even more reasonable.

1Ch 22:9

ALL HIS ENEMIES ON EVERY SIDE: See Lesson, Nations “round about”.

1Ch 23:1

1Ch 23: Outline: :1 So the old man David makes Solomon king (v 1); (2) David speaks of the divisions of the Levites in the temple worship that is to come (vv 2-32): the sons of Gershom (v 7), of Kohath (v 12), and of Merari (v21). In making Solomon king, David again delineates the sons of Levi for their work according to their fathers.

1Ch 23:3

THIRTY YEARS OLD: But see v 24n.

1Ch 23:24

TWENTY YEARS OLD: Ct v 3. This seems to be the age of Levites at the beginning of their service in the Temple. It seems as though the age of Levites when beginning service must have declined from 30 to 25 to 20 (cp 1Ch 23:3; Num 8:24,25; 1Ch 23:24-27). A possible reason: when the Levitical duties became fixed and expanded in the Temple era, less strength but more numbers were required (1Ch 23:26; Temple 95). Or, another possibility: a 10-year training period.

1Ch 23:25

THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, HAS GRANTED REST TO HIS PEOPLE…: Yahweh planned to give Israel rest after their wandering (Deu 3:20). This promise is picked up by Joshua (Jos 22:4; 23:1). But this “rest” was not fully achieved earlier; now Solomon sees it as the temple is erected and dedicated (1Ki 8:56; 1Ch 23:25). Nevertheless, this was only a shadow — it would all come to an end with the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Jer 50:34). The point: “If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;” (Heb 4:8,9).

1Ch 23:30

EVERY MORNING: Manna given (Exo 16:21). Fire on the altar (Lev 6:12). Incense offered (Exo 30:7). Praise offered (here). Service offered (1Ch 9:27). Sacrifice presented (2Ch 2:4; 13:11). God visits (Job 7:18). God is their arm (Isa 33:2). His compassions new (Lam 3:23). The Philistines present themselves (1Sa 17:16). God silences the wicked (Psa 101:8). Judgment (Zep 3:5). Administer justice (Jer 21:12).

1Ch 23:31

REGULARLY: Or “continually” (AV). This word, referring to the worship under the Law of Moses, is picked up in Heb 7:3; 10:1; 13:15 to show the contrast with the new covenant: the continual and seeming endless repetition of sacrifices under the old covenant suggested that they could never take away sin.

1Ch 24:1

Vv 1-18: This ordering of the priest for worship at the Altar that David had set up becomes the basis for the ordering of priests in the temple which Solomon later built.

1Ch 20:1

Vv 1-3: Rabbah of the Ammonites is taken. No mention of the incident involving Bathsheba and Uriah (2Sa 11:16-25).

1Ch 20:3

CONSIGNING THEM TO LABOR WITH SAWS…: KJV has “cut them with saws”, but (1) Heb word — by a small change — can sig “put”. Sw 2Sa 12:31. Or (2) Heb “soor” used only once, perhaps from rt “yashar” = to rule. Or (3) If indeed it does mean “cut”, then ref Jdg 1:6,7 — where thumbs and great toes of Adonibezek were cut off, and he acknowledges the righteousness of it: “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.”

1Ch 20:5

Vv 5-8: Brief accounts of the removal of the remaining giants from the Philistines, all removed by these men who, though named, are not mentioned to any extent, if at all, elsewhere. Evidently there was a purpose in giving the details of David’s fight with Goliath, but there were no additional spiritual lessons to be gained from the details of these other events.

LIKE A WEAVER’S ROD: Not size but appearance and shape. A spear with a leash or cord, increasing leverage, and thus enabling the soldier to throw it a greater distance. Refd in 1Sa 17:7; 2Sa 21:19; 1Ch 20:5; 11:23.