Introduction to 1–2 Chronicles

Although Chronicles is anonymous, the Babylonian Talmud (Bava Batra 15a) preserves a rabbinic tradition which asserts that Chronicles (as well as Ezra-Nehemiah) were authored by Ezra the scribe. This is very plausible. Christians have also traditionally held Ezra to be the author. Aside from the usual higher critical tendency to date everything much later, there is nothing that militates against it.

Ezra as author is consistent with the fact that the genealogy of the descendants of David in 1 Chron 3:18-24 goes as far as the seventh generation after Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was a key leader of the first group of returnees around 537 BC and continued to be active in leadership as far as 520 BC (according to Ezra 5–6 and Haggai 1–2) when the second temple was finished. Seven generations from Zerubbabel could reasonably be counted down to around the time when someone like Ezra may have written Chronicles (c. 400 BC).

The fact that Ezra is specifically called “the scribe” (Ezra 8:1, 4, 13; 12:36) adds plausibility to the view that he was the author. He certainly would have been uniquely qualified to do so. We must also recognize the possibility that later editors after Ezra may have given Chronicles its final canonical shape.

There is a close connection between Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah: 2 Chron 36 ends and Ezra 1 opens with the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple. Furthermore, it is clear that Chronicles was written from the perspective in which the heart breaking loss of Solomon’s Temple was in the distant past and the temple had by then been rebuilt. The question Chronicles addresses is not, “How could this tragedy have happened?” (the question Kings addresses) but “What is God’s vocation for us as the restored community around this new temple?” That is also the focus of Ezra-Nehemiah.

Dates of Events Covered by 1–2 Chronicles

Chronicles covers a breathtakingly large historical span, from Adam down to the decree of Cyrus.

Passages	Events	Dates
1 Chron. 1–9	From Adam to King Saul	Creation—1010 BC
1 Chron. 10—2 Chron. 9	Reigns of David and Solomon	1010 BC—931 BC
2 Chron. 10:1—36:16	From the division of the kingdom to Judah’s fall	931 BC—586 BC
2 Chron. 36:17–21	Babylonian captivity	586 BC—538 BC
2 Chron. 36:22–23	Decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple	538 BC

Differences Between Kings and Chronicles

Although Kings and Chronicles may at first glance seem to be duplicative, there are significant differences, as detailed in the following table:

1–2 Kings	1–2 Chronicles
Written between 586–538 BC, during the Babylonian captivity.	Written around 400 BC, during the Persian period, for the post-exilic restoration community (Ezra 2).
Written while the destruction of Solomon’s temple (Pss. 74, 79, 137; Lam.) and the apparent cutting off of David’s line (Ps. 89:38ff.) were still fresh traumatic events.	Written much later: after the return from exile (538 BC), completion of the second temple (516 BC), Ezra (458 BC), and Nehemiah (445 BC).
Gives a lengthy description of the Babylonians’ destruction of the temple.	Passes over the temple’s destruction and captivity quickly—five verses—to reach Cyrus’s decree to rebuild.
Answers, “How could this have happened?” The kings and people rebelled against God (Lam. 1:18).	Answers, “After the exile and return, what is God’s purpose for us as the restoration community?”
Emphasizes covenant breaking and covenant curse.	Emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s eternal, unchanging promises to David.
Elijah and Elisha’s ministries occupy sixteen chapters (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 10).	This material is edited out; Elijah receives only a brief mention (2 Chron. 21:12).
Emphasizes David’s and Solomon’s failures as cracks in the foundation leading to Israel’s and Judah’s final undoing.	Presents David’s and Solomon’s reigns as an ideal golden age with fewer flaws. For example, 2 Chronicles 9 omits Solomon’s unfaithfulness through his many foreign wives (1 Kings 11).
Gives a briefer description of temple construction—four chapters—for the temple that was burned to the ground.	Gives a more elaborate description of the temple—fifteen chapters. With the temple rebuilt, the community is called to recommit itself to worship according to King David’s inspired instructions; hence the information about Levites, priests, musicians, and gatekeepers (1 Chron. 23–26).

Davidic Covenant Fulfilled in Christ

“The central theme of Chronicles is the significance of the Davidic covenant as the enduring basis of Israel’s life and hope. The Davidic covenant is expressed in two institutions that derive directly from it: the monarchy and the temple. These institutions are mutually related (1 Chron. 17:10b–14), and together they represent God’s kingdom in Israel (2 Chron. 13:5, 8). The Davidic covenant does not replace the Mosaic but builds on it for the new age of the monarchy and the temple.” — ESV Study Bible

The Davidic Covenant

2 Samuel 7:12–16

1 Chronicles 17:10b–14

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

“Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”

Second Samuel focuses on the human side; First Chronicles focuses on the divine side. In one sense, it is David’s house—his dynasty—and David’s kingdom. But at a deeper level, it is God’s kingdom.

In 2 Samuel, God speaks to David and assures him of an enduring dynasty. In 1 Chronicles, God speaks to the post-exilic restoration community—after the Davidic line of kings appears to have been cast off (Ps. 89:38–44)—and says in effect: “It was never about David to begin with; it is my throne and my kingdom, and I will see to it that it is brought to completion.”

This prepares the way for New Testament fulfillment. The angel Gabriel tells Mary:

“The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of this kingdom there will be no end.” — Luke 1:32b–33