1 Introduction to 1 & 2 Chronicles 11 November 2007

2 1 & 2 Chronicles Originally one book in the Hebrew O.T. Split into two books in the Greek Septuagint Organized as the last book of the Hebrew Bible

3 Author of 1 & 2 Chronicles Talmudic tradition says it was written by the priest, Ezra Perhaps it was written by one of Ezras contemporaries It is quite similar in style to the book of Ezra Chronicles and Ezra may have been one consecutive history, like Luke and Acts The author(s) compiled the information from many sources

4 Sources Used for Chronicles 1.The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah 2.A Commentary on the Book of the Kings 3.Chronicles of Samuel the seer 4.Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet 5.Chronicles of Gad the Seer 6.The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite 7.The Visions of Iddo the Seer 8.Records of Shemaiah the Prophet

5 Sources Used for Chronicles 9. Records of Iddo 10. The annals of Jehu the Son of Hanani 11. The Acts of Uzziah by Isaiah the Prophet 12. The Vision of Isaiah the Prophet 13. The Records of the Hozai 14. The Account of the Chronicles of King David 15. The Writing of David and His Son Solomon 16. Genealogical lists and documents, such as the message and letters of Sennacherib

6 3 Historic Accounts Compared Men God usedSamuelKingsChronicles Eli Samuel Saul David Solomon 19 kings of Judah 19 kings of Israel Elijah Elisha

7 Comparison of 2 Histories Samuel and KingsChronicles Israels history from the united kingdom to the two captivities Southern kingdoms history, especially the Davidic line Political historyReligious history Prophetic emphasis on moral concerns Priestly emphasis on spiritual concerns Written soon after the events Written many years after the events

8 Comparison of 2 Histories Samuel and KingsChronicles More negative – about rebellion and tragedy More positive – tells of apostacy, but offers hope in spite of tragedy Message of judgmentMessage of hope Mans failingsGods faithfulness Emphasizes kings and prophets Emphasizes the temple and the priests

9 Emphasis of Chronicles The temple / tabernacle

10 Emphasis of Chronicles The temple / tabernacle Two purposes: Sacrifices Communication with God

11 Emphasis of Chronicles The temple / tabernacle Symbolism: Gods presence among His special, chosen people Spiritual link between Israels past and future Shadow of heaven

12 Emphasis of Chronicles The temple / tabernacle Chronicles omits northern kingdoms kings because they had no ties with the temple Special mention is made of Jewish kings who restored the temple: Asa Jehoshaphat Joash Hezekiah Josiah

13 First Temple A story of the first Jewish temple Idea – by David (1014 B.C.) Preparation – by David (985 B.C.) Construction – by Solomon ( B.C.) Dedication – by Solomon (972 B.C.) Defiling – by bad kings Cleansing – by good kings Destruction – by Nebuchadnezzar (586 B.C.)

14 Second Temple Briefly mentioned at end of Chronicles Idea – 1 st prophesied by Isaiah (~712 B.C.) Idea – proclaimed by Cyrus (539 B.C.) Preparation – elders & priests (539 B.C.) Foundation – by Zerubbabel (535 B.C.) Completion – by Zerubbabel (517 B.C.) Dedication – by priests (516 B.C.) Destruction – by Titus (70 A.D.)

15 Temple: Jesus In this place there is one greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6

16 Temple: Jesus Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19

17 Temple: Jesus Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Hebrews 9:11 NKJV

18 Temple: Father & Son But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. Revelation 21:22

19 Temple: Saints You are Gods temple, and Gods spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

20 Emphasis of Chronicles Priests / the priesthood They had to be men from the tribe of Levi Offered gifts and sacrifices for sins Compassionate with sinners Interceded for sinners Appointed by God

21 Emphasis of Chronicles Gods faithfulness in preserving the theocratic line of David And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled … that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever ; and his throne shall be established forever. (1 Chr. 17:11,14 NKJV ~ 1015 B.C.)

22 Emphasis of Chronicles Gods faithfulness in preserving the theocratic line of Christ 1 Chronicles 1-9Matthew 1Luke 3 Adam to Zerubabbel (56 generations) Abraham to Christ (42 generations) Jesus to Adam (75 generations)

23 Emphasis of Chronicles Gods faithfulness in preserving the theocratic line of Christ And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44 NKJV ~ 604 B.C)

24 The genealogies and events of 1 & 2 Chronicles span approximately 3500 years: From Adam (around 4000 B.C.) to David (around 1000 B.C.) to Zerubbabel (around 500 B.C.) Ezra probably completed Chronicles between 450 and 430 B.C., and read it to the remnant who had returned to the Promised Land. Dates of 1 & 2 Chronicles

25 Theme & Purpose Reminder of spiritual heritage of returning remnant and Gods faithfulness to them Encouragement to rebuild the spiritual heritage and the temple with Gods strength Hope that all was not lost; God still had a future for His chosen people Warnings by illustration: Dont go back to intermarriage with pagans Dont follow the pagans in their idolatry

26 Contribution to the Bible Provides the most comprehensive genealogical tables in the Bible Shows the work of God in preserving a people for Himself from the beginning of human history to the period after the Babylonian exile – more than other books Demonstrates Gods keeping His covenant promises in maintaining the Davidic line through the centuries

27 Outline of Chronicles 1.The royal line of David (1 Chr. 1-9) Genealogy; around 3500 years 2.The reign of David (1 Chr ) History; 33 years 3.The reign of Solomon (2 Chr. 1-9) 40 years 4.Reigns of the kings of Judah (2 Chr ) 393 years

28 Israelite Dynasties Dynasty = a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family The divided kingdomIsraelJudah No. of dynasties91 No. of kings before captivity19 No. of years before captivity Nation conquered byAssyriaBabylon Note: Judah also had one female ruler, Queen Athaliah

29 Kings of the Southern Kingdom Rehoboam bad mostly BC Abijah bad mostly BC Asa GOOD BC Jehoshaphat GOOD BC Jehoram bad BC Ahaziah bad 843 BC Athaliah devilish BC Joash good mostly BC Amaziah good mostly BC Uzziah GOOD mostly BC

30 Kings of the Southern Kingdom Jotham GOOD BC Ahaz wicked BC Hezekiah GOOD BC Manasseh terrible BC Amon terrible BC Josiah GOOD BC Jehoahaz bad 608 BC Jehoiakim wicked BC Jehoiachin bad 597 BC Zedekiah bad BC

31 Judahs Downfall Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. – 2 Chronicles 36:14,15 NKJV

32 Judahs Downfall But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. – 2 Chr. 36:16,17 NKJV

33 Application When facing struggles today, remember how He worked in the past to help you and / or others Be like David and develop a deep and strong relationship with God Remember your spiritual heritage – thank God for the one who led you to Jesus True worship is offering your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)

34 Application If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14 NKJV ) Idolatry always brings Gods judgment, and today idols are anything that replaces Jesus in the #1 spot in our hearts.

Bibliography Special thanks goes to the following: Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and s he has written Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible