1Ch 10:1

Vv 1-14: The death of Saul at the hands of the Philistines. The book of Chronicles dismisses the whole of the reign of Saul in one ch. No mention of any of his activities. Chronicles is concerned with the line of David. Hence Saul is passed over so quickly.

1Ch 10:6

ALL HIS HOUSE DIED TOGETHER: 1Sa 31:6 says, “all his men”, ie those who immediately surrounded him in the battle. There were others, both of his sons and his troops, that managed to survive (2Sa 2:8; 21:8).

1Ch 10:7

THE PHILISTINES CAME AND OCCUPIED THEM: Now the Philistines were living in the very heartland of Israel (the valley of Jezreel). Cp 1Ch 22:18: by the end of David’s reign there was “rest on every side”; David had retaken these lands, and reorganized the kingdom (1Ch 27:1,25).

1Ch 10:11

Vv 11,12: The men of Jabesh Gilead had been delivered by Saul (1Sa 11:1-13); this explains their valiant actions.

1Ch 10:12

JABESH: Sig “dried up, withered”. Saul = the natural kingdom, which failed.

1Ch 10:13

SAUL DIED BECAUSE HE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO THE LORD: “This shows the nature of unforgivable sin. It is a matter of heart. No sin is any worse than any other in the sense that the smallest sin leaves us in need of God’s grace. It is certain that the sins which are recorded of David would prevent his entry into eternal life, were it not for the grace of God. So we have to conclude that it is not the presence or absence of sin which affects our salvation, but the attitude of humility and contrition which God requires, which was not present in Saul” (PC).

1Ch 10:14

INQUIRE: What looks to be a contradiction may be explained by recourse to the meaning of the underlying Hebrew words. In 1Ch 10:14, we are told that Saul “did NOT inquire of the LORD”, whereas in 1Sa 28:6, we are told that he DID “inquire”. The explanation is fairly simple: (1) The word translated “inquire” in 1Ch 10:14 is “darash”, which signifies “to follow after, and especially to worship”. (2) The word translated “inquire” in 1Sa 28:6 is “shaal”, which signifies “to request, or (even) to demand” (incidentally, it is related to the meaning of the name “Saul”).

So, Saul did “inquire” of the LORD in making requests or demands (1Sa 28:6), but he did NOT “inquire” of the LORD in the sense of truly seeking after Him (1Ch 10:14)! [However, Saul DOES “seek out diligently” (the Hebrew “darash”) the witch of Endor: 1Sa 28:7! Now there’s a sad commentary.]

1Ch 11:1

HEBRON: Sig “community, or alliance” — very appropriate in this context.

1Ch 11:2

AND THE LORD YOUR GOD SAID TO YOU, ‘YOU WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL’: Even while Saul was nominally the ruler and David was in exile and hiding, it seems that David had been acting as a “shepherd” over the people: protecting those in the south from the Philistines, for example, and providing succour to others who were being oppressed by Saul.

1Ch 11:3

COMPACT: Heb “berith” = covenant.

1Ch 11:4

David did not take Jebus until 7 1/2 years after he had been king in Hebron (2Sa 2:11). David must have known that God had selected the area of Jerusalem for the place where His altar and temple would be situated.

1Ch 11:6

1Ch 11:6.

Joab accomplishes this by leading men up the water shaft: 2Sa 5:8.

1Ch 11:9

AND DAVID BECAME MORE AND MORE POWERFUL, BECAUSE THE LORD ALMIGHTY WAS WITH HIM: “David’s success is attributed directly to God. His life was in perspective. God was with him as he had not been with Saul. David’s attitude before God was, is seems, almost second to none (apart from Jesus, of course) and the result was a great deal of blessing. But let us remember the terrible sufferings he had too. We should not assume that God has deserted us when we go through the bad times. David is a great example to us: 2Sa 3:1; 5:10” (PC).

1Ch 11:15

VALLEY OF REPHAIM: Consistently translated in NIV. AV has “valley of the giants” (Jos 15:18; 18:16; Isa 17:5) or “valley of Rephaim” (2Sa 5:18,22; 23:13; 1Ch 11:15; 14:9; Isa 17:5).

1Ch 11:19

“There is something peculiarly touching and beautiful in the above scene, whether we contemplate the act of the three mighty men in procuring the water for David, or David’s act in pouring it out to the Lord. It is evident that David discerned, in an act of such uncommon devotedness, a sacrifice which none but the Lord Himself could duly appreciate. The odor of such a sacrifice was far too fragrant for him to interrupt it in its ascent to the throne of the God of Israel. Wherefore he, very properly and very graciously, allows it to pass him by, in order that it might go up to the One who alone was worthy to receive it, or able to appreciate it. All this reminds us, forcibly, of that beautiful compendium of Christian devotedness set forth in Phi 2:17,18: ‘Yea, and if I be poured out upon the sacrifice, and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all; for this cause ye also joy and rejoice with me.’ In this passage, the apostle represents the Philippian saints in their character as priests, presenting a sacrifice and performing a priestly ministration to God; and such was the intensity of his self-forgetting devotedness, that he could rejoice in his being poured out as a drink-offering upon their sacrifice, so that all might ascend, in fragrant odor to God” (CHM, cited in Pink).

There is, perhaps, a New Testament echo of this incident: the “three mighty men” of Christ were Peter, James, and John; like David’s mighty men, they desired the kingdom and glory for their master. But the apostles did not really understand that Jesus must first “pour out” his life (cp Mat 16:21-23; 17:4; 19:27; 20:20-23) before he could drink of the cup of joy in his Father’s kingdom. So Jesus, who turned water into wine (blood) at Cana (John 2:8), did in fact pour out the “water”, or blood, of his own body, on the cross — like David, he could not drink fully of the joy until he had first experienced the sorrow (Heb 12:2).

1Ch 11:23

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.

1Ch 11:26

Vv 26-47: Cp list, 2Sa 23. The extra names here prob replaced those slain in battle or retired. This list may be at end of David’s reign, in ct 2Sa 23 at beginning.

1Ch 5:1

Cp 1Ch 26:10. Consider then how many times throughout the history of the patriarchs, God chooses one who is NOT the firstborn. All this, perhaps, is intended to point to Christ, the true “firstborn over all creation” (Col 1:15): no other “firstborns” could come close to doing what THIS firstborn did!

1Ch 5:2

AND A RULER CAME FROM HIM: “For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah” (Heb 7:14).

1Ch 5:5

BAAL: A peculiar name for any Jew!

1Ch 5:9

Reuben had many cattle — so they requested territory east of Jordan (Num 32:1).

1Ch 5:10

Cp vv 18-22.

1Ch 5:18

Vv 18-22: War against the Hagarites.

1Ch 5:19

JETUR, NAPHISH: Sons of Ishmael: Gen 25:15.

1Ch 5:22

MANY OTHERS FELL SLAIN, BECAUSE THE BATTLE WAS GOD’S: “Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this v with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure. The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites, they slew ‘men, an hundred thousand’, ‘for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him.’

“The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in Jehovah’s name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people. The great reason of their extraordinary success lay in the fact that ‘the war was of God’.

“Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places… you are waging Jehovah’s war, and unless He himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The battle is the Lord’s and He will deliver His enemies into our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale” (CHS).

1Ch 5:24

Other Manassites were “mighty men” under David (1Ch 12:21).

1Ch 5:26

KJV has “And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, AND the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria…”

1Ch 6:1

1Ch 6: Tribe of Levi, family tree. The historian continues with the record of Levi, and the tribal responsibilities. Extra care was given to this genealogy for it was important for the returning priests to prove the fact of their position: (1) Levi is the father of Kohath, Gershom, and Merari. (2) Kohath is the father of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, as well as 9 of the 22 divisions of the Levites (1Ch 23:12-20). (3) Amram is the father of Moses and Aaron. (4) Aaron is the father of Eleazar and Ithamar; from Eleazar come 16 of the 24 divisions of priests; from Ithamar come 8 of the 24 divisions of priests (1Ch 24). (5) Izhar is the father of Heman (1Ch 6:33-38); from Heman come 14 of the 24 divisions of singers (1Ch 25:4). (6) Uzziel is the father of Elizaphan (Exo 6:22). (7) Gershom is the father of Asaph (1Ch 6:39-43); from Asaph come 4 of the 24 divisions of singers (1Ch 25:2). (8) Gershom is also the father of 9 of the 22 divisions of the Levites (1Ch 23:7-11). (9) Merari is the father of Ethan/Jeduthun (1Ch 6:44-47); from Ethan come 6 of the 24 divisions of singers (1Ch 25:3). (10) Merari is also the father of 4 of the 22 divisions of Levites (1Ch 23:21-24).

The above may be summarized in the following table:

1Ch 7:15

ZELOPHEHAD, WHO HAD ONLY DAUGHTERS: Cp Num 26:33; 27:1-7.

1Ch 7:21

EZER AND ELEAD WERE KILLED BY THE NATIVE-BORN MEN OF GATH, WHEN THEY WENT DOWN TO SEIZE THEIR LIVESTOCK: Ezer and Elead were men of Ephraim. “[They] had probably joined the families of their grandfather Joseph’s brothers, who had settled in Goshen, only to be slain there on the northeastern border of Egypt by Palestinian raiders who came down from their birthplace in Gath. (But Keil says that Ezer and Elead were killed when they were involved in cattle rustling. The pronouns [‘they’ and ‘their’] are ambiguous)” (EBC).

1Ch 8:13

BERIAH AND SHEMA… DROVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF GATH: The Philistines control and influence extended beyond the Gaza strip and up the coastal plain and into the Jezreel valley at this time. This was also the case at the time of the death of Saul (1Sa 31).

1Ch 8:34

MERIB-BAAL (MEPHIBOSHETH): The treatment of the name “Baal” is probably an example of deliberate change, for theological reasons, by the scribes who copied out the scriptures. With personal names that included the word “Baal” (which could simply mean “master” or “lord”), the scribes deliberately replaced “Baal” with “Bosheth” (which means “shame”). To them the idol “Baal”, in all his many forms, was a “shameful thing”, and any passing allusion to him was to be avoided if possible. Hence, it is likely that Jonathan’s son was actually named “Meribbaal”, but later scribes made sure that the (by then) hated name of “Baal” was replaced — yielding “Mephibosheth” (cp 1Ch 8:34; 9:40 and 2Sa 9:6; 19:24; 21:7).

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 1:1

“It seems that often when we come to do the ‘Daily Readings’ in the books of Chronicles we inwardly groan. Our view might well be that Chronicles is just lists of names. We may be tempted to skip parts of the Chronicles readings even though we know that [being Scripture] in some ways they are ‘useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness’ (2Ti 3:16)” (PF).

1Ch 1:5

A substantial part of this genealogy reproduces the table of nations from Gen 10. Far from being irrelevant, there must be value in recording this information. In fact, these relationships provide the basis for our understanding of much of prophecy, and how and why certain nations interacted at different times.

1Ch 1:7

TARSHISH: “Beryl”. Tartessus, southern Spain, Britain, trade center: Isa 23n; Eze 38:13n.

1Ch 1:10

NIMROD: The namesake for Merodach, god of Babylon.

1Ch 1:36

ZEPHO: Or “Zophar” (LXX): cp Job 2:11.

1Ch 1:43

THE KINGS WHO REIGNED IN EDOM: The kings promised in Gen 35:11.

1Ch 2:3

SHELAH: His genealogy is in 1Ch 4:21-23.

ER, JUDAH’S FIRSTBORN, WAS WICKED IN THE LORD’S SIGHT; SO THE LORD PUT HIM TO DEATH: God also slew Onan, for refusing to perform the duty of the surviving brother and raise up seed to Er (Gen 38:2-10), but that is not recorded here. Why is one’s death mentioned, but not the other’s?

1Ch 2:6

ETHAN, HEMAN, CALCOL AND DARDA: These last four appear to be descendants of Zerah — wise men contemporary with Solomon (1Ki 4:31). Heman was also (?) a grandson of Samuel (1Ch 6:33,34), a Levite assigned to Judah.

1Ch 2:7

ACHAR: Called “Achan” in Jos 7: this is the man of Judah who secretly appropriated for himself some of the spoils of war at the fall of Jericho (Jos 7:1-26; 22:20). Yahweh revealed to Joshua that Israel’s defeat at Ai was caused by the presence of sin in the camp. When the sacred lot specified Achan as the offender, he confessed to coveting, stealing, and concealing in his tent fine clothing, silver, and gold, all of which was under the sacrificial ban, “devoted to the Lord for destruction”. Achan and his family were stoned to death, and their bodies and possessions were burned in the valley of Achor (“troubling”: same word as “Achar” here) south of Jericho.

Was Achan’s name changed — posthumously — to Achar, matching the name of his place of burial, a word which signifies “trouble” or “troubler”?

This incident, in Josh 7, illustrates the truth of the proverb: “A greedy man brings trouble [Heb ‘akar’] to his family” (Pro 15:27).

1Ch 2:9

JERAHMEEL: See vv 25-55.

RAM: See vv 10-17.

CALEB: Or “Chelubai”: see vv 18-24,42; 1Ch 4:15.

1Ch 2:10

Vv 10-17: From Ram to David, the Messianic line.

AMMINADAB: Aaron married Elisheba daughter of Amminadab (Exo 6:23).

NAHSHON: Head of the tribe of Judah in Moses’ day: Num 1:7; 2:3; 7:12,17; 10:14.

1Ch 2:15

THE SEVENTH DAVID: Eight sons are mentioned in 1Sa 17:12. Perhaps one died, or was son of a concubine.

1Ch 2:17

This line continues with David in 1Ch 3:1-10.

1Ch 2:33

PELETH: Ancestor of Pelethites: 2Sa 15:18; BS 10:23.

1Ch 2:36

ZABAD: One of David’s mighty men: 1Ch 11:41.

1Ch 2:38

AZARIAH: One of captains of Jehoiada the priest: 2Ch 23:1.

1Ch 2:41

ELISHAMA: Poss Jehoiakim’s scribe (Jer 36:12).

1Ch 3:1

“What’s in a name? These early chapters in Chronicles are daunting to many as they check their daily readings. The names are hard to pronounce; difficult to read; and often name people completely unknown. What a difference, if it were our personal names found in the record, especially if they were related to the warriors of David, or those of his household! In this chapter the sons of David are revealed: [1] those born in Hebron (vv 1-4), and [2] those in Jerusalem (vv 5-9). Antitypically, the greater David (Yahshua the Anointed) will acknowledge his ‘seed’ (the saints) when he is revealed to them upon his return; and later when established in Jerusalem (the nations who accept his rulership). So the record reveals: [3] The line of David through Solomon to Zedekiah (vv 10-16). [4] The line of David from Zedekiah to Zerubbabel (vv 17-19a). Soon the names will be revealed, as the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus opens the books of life, and the records of the past and present. As the spiritual children of David, it is our privilege to develop his characteristics in our lives, and anticipate standing with him in the joy of immortality” (GEM).

Six sons of David, born in Hebron: the same as list in 2Sa 3:2-5, with one exception — “Daniel”.

JEZREEL… CARMEL: Both of these were villages of Judah, not the better-known northern sites (Jos 15:55,56).

DANIEL: Or “Chileab” (AV mg) (2Sa 3:3): a very slight corruption of the same name.

1Ch 3:2

TALMAI KING OF GESHUR: The mention that Absalom’s mother was the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur explains why Absalom fled to Geshur after he had killed Amnon: 2Sa 13:37.

1Ch 3:5

Vv 5-9: 13 sons of David, born in Jerusalem: