CHRONICLES

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are really one continuous work by one author. The division into two books came about simply due to the size of the text.
Chronicles covers five hundred years of Israel’s history, starting with the death of King Saul (1 Chr 9-10), the reign of David (1011 BC to 971 BC), the reign of Solomon, including the building of the temple (971 to 931 BC) and the reign of the Kings of Judah (from 931 BC to 586 BC) to the very end, when Babylon conquers and destroys Judah, Jerusalem and God’s temple. Chronicles therefore overlaps with the book of Samuel and Kings, but it adds much new material, especially on David, Solomon and the good, reforming kings of Judah.
Chronicles has a very marked focus on the temple, the worship of Israel, the yearly feasts, the priests and the Levites. For example the Levites are mentioned only three times in Samuel and Kings combined, but a hundred times in Chronicles. It doesn’t surprise, therefore, that Chronicles was written by a priest, the scribe Ezra, who worked hard to re-establish the worship of God at the re-built temple in Jerusalem after the exile.
The Jews had been exiled to Babylon in 586 BC, but – as the prophet Jeremiah had predicted – were given permission to return to Judah in 538 BC. A first group of around fifty thousand Jews had returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel in 536 BC. They had, after some troubles, been able to re-build the temple on its original site in Jerusalem, though is wasn’t as glorious as Solomon’s temple had been. Then a second group of Jews returs under the leadership of the priest Ezra in 458 BC. Ezra throws himself into the re-establishing of the temple worship, the teaching of the Law, the re-organization of the priests and Levites, the collection of sacred writings and the proper observance of the yearly feasts (Ezra 7-10).
The situation of the Jews at this time is not very encouraging: They have been permitted to return, but their numbers are few. They are ruled not by a Davidic king, but a governor, who is politically accountable to the vast, idolatrous empire of Medo-Persia. The temple has been rebuilt in Jerusalem, but it is only a shadow of what Solomon’s grand temple had been. The walls of Jerusalem are still broken and the land is inhabited by several other nations, many of which had historically been enemies of Israel. This situation causes many questions in the Jews’ minds: Is God really with us? Are we still the covenant people? Are his promises on us? Why is God not restoring our nation more fully? How do we keep our identity in such a mixed setting? What are our roots?
By writing the book of Chronicles, Ezra seeks to answer these questions. He gives them their roots, anchoring them in genealogies going all the way back to their patriarch Abraham, even to Adam. He is assuring them of their descent, reminding them of their history and their chosenness as a nation (1 Chr 1-9). He tells them their history. He is inspiring his discouraged fellow Jews by the stories of the great King David, who was a worshiper and sought the Lord with all his heart. His personal devotion to God, his trust in God’s word, his growing army in the wilderness, his victories in God’s name, his bringing the ark to Jerusalem with joy, his establishing of a regular temple worship and organizing of the priests, Levites and government officials (1 Chr 11-29) all would inspire the returned Jews to understand their high heritage and challenge them to live up to it.
Ezra continues his account with the story of King Solomon, who is confirmed as the new king and faithfully builds the temple (2 Chr 2-7). Israel thrives and becomes the lighthouse to other nations that it was always meant to be (2 Chr 8-9). Following Ezra only describes the kings of Judah (2 Chr 10-36), not those of Israel, and gives more space to good, reforming kings, who set their hearts to seek God, repair the temple, restore its worship and organize the Levites and priests. These kings are role models for the returned Jews who are seeking to reform their society.
Ezra also warns them by telling the history of what went wrong; how Judah, by not seeking God and by neglecting the temple and God’s true worship, finally lost their temple, land and king.

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are really one continuous work by one author. The division into two books came about simply due to the size of the text.

Relationship of Chronicles with other Biblical books

Chronicles covers five hundred years of Israel’s history (1011 BC to 586 BC). It describes the death of King Saul (1 Chr 9-10), the reign of David (1 Chr 11-29), the reign of Solomon, including the building of the temple (2 Chr 1-9) and the reign of the Kings of Judah to the very end when Babylon conquers and destroys Judah, Jerusalem and God’s temple (2 Chr 10-36).
Chronicles thus overlaps with the book of Samuel and even more strongly with the book of Kings, but it also adds much new material, especially on David, Solomon and the good kings of Judah. In the Hebrew Scriptures Chronicles is the last book of the ‘Old Testament’. The final books are arranged as follows: Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah and then Chronicles. Chronicles is thus a summary, a looking back over history. It was compiled by using various earlier record, writings and sources that are meticulously listed and referred to throughout the book.

The author

Chronicles has a very marked focus on the temple, the worship of Israel, the yearly feasts, the priests and the Levites. For example the Levites are mentioned only three times in Samuel and Kings combined, but a hundred times in Chronicles. Kings is clearly written from a prophet’s perspective (Jeremiah being its author) but Chronicles is written from a priest’s perspective. The author doesn’t state his name directly, but everything points to the scribe Ezra, a priest, who returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah to help re-establish the worship of God at the re-built temple in Jerusalem.
Ezra is described as a priest of Aaron’s son Eleazar’s line, a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, a scholar (Ezr 7:11). He experiences God’s grace and favor when organizing the second group to return to Judah ‘the gracious hand of God was upon him’ (Ezr 7:9). His life mission is to ‘set his heart to study the law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach it in Israel’ (Ezr 7:10).
According to Jewish tradition Ezra wrote three books: Ezra, Nehemiah and Chronicles, which form a series at the end of the Hebrew Scriptures. There is also a clear textual connection: The last paragraph of Chronicles and the first paragraph of Ezra is virtually the same, linking the books together.

The return to Judah

After centuries of a downhill slide, Judah had finally been finally conquered, destroyed and its population exiled to Babylon in 586 BC. With the Medo-Persians swallowing up Babylon in 539 BC, policies towards conquered peoples change drastically. The victorious King Cyrus gives permission for peoples in his realm to return to their homelands in 538 BC, including the Jews. Jeremiah had predicted that the exile would last 70 years, and those who set their hope on God take the opportunity to return to Judah.
First group of about fifty thousand Jews return to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel in 536 BC. They have, after some troubles, been able to re-build the temple on its original site in Jerusalem, though is isn’t as glorious as Solomon’s temple had been. A second group of Jews return under the leadership of the priest Ezra in 458 BC. Ezra throws himself into teaching the Law and bringing various reforms. In 444 BC Nehemiah comes with a third group and as the new governor rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem.

Historical situation

The situation of the returned Jews in Judah is not very encouraging: They have been officially permitted to return, but their numbers are few. They are ruled not by a Davidic king as before, but by a governor, who is politically accountable to the vast, idolatrous empire of Medo-Persia. They have managed to rebuild the temple, but it is only a shadow of what Solomon’s grand temple had been. The walls of Jerusalem are still broken (until the arrival of Nehemiah), there is little security and the land is inhabited by several other nations, many of which have historically been Israel’s enemies. Taxes are high and the Jews aren’t flourishing economically.
This situation would cause many questions to arise in the Jews’ minds: Is God really with us? Are we still the covenant people? Is God’s calling still on us? Why is God not restoring our nation more fully? We are a people among other peoples and under a foreign over-lordship. How do we keep our identity in such a mixed setting? What are our roots? Where are God’s glorious promises?

Ezra’s goal for writing Chronicles

By writing the book of Chronicles, Ezra seeks to answer these questions. He gives the Jews their roots, anchoring them in genealogies going all the way back to their patriarch Abraham, even to Adam. He is assuring them of their descent, reminding them of their history and their chosenness as a nation (1 Chr 1-9). He is inspiring his discouraged fellow Jews by the stories of the great King David, who was a worshipper of God and sought the Lord with all his heart. His personal devotion to God, his trust in God’s word, his growing army in the wilderness, his victories in God’s name, his bringing the ark to Jerusalem with joy, his establishing of a regular temple worship and organizing of the priests, Levites and government officials (1 Chr 11-29) all would inspire the returned Jews to understand their high heritage and challenge them to live up to it.
Ezra continues his account with the story of King Solomon, who is confirmed as the new king, and having been charged by David (1 Chr 28) and having been given wisdom by God (2 Chr 1) sets about building the temple (2 Chr 2-7). Israel thrives and becomes the lighthouse it was meant to be (2 Chr 8-9).
In Chronicles Ezra only describes the kings of Judah, not those of Israel, and gives more space to good, reforming kings, who set their hearts to seek God, repair the temple, restore its worship and organize its Levites and priests. These kings are role models for the returned Jews who are seeking to reform their society.
Ezra also warns the Jews by telling the history of what went wrong, of how Judah, by not seeking God and by neglecting the temple and God’s true worship, finally lost their temple, the promised land and their king.

The genealogies 1 Chronicles 1-9

Ezra records the genealogy of Israel from Adam to Abraham and on to Jacob with his twelve sons. He further records the genealogies of the twelve tribes, but gives much importance and space to two tribes only: Judah and Levi. The other ten tribes of Israel have been exiled and dispersed by Assyria in 722 BC. They have been absorbed into other nations, never return and no longer have any visible Israelite identity in history, so Ezra doesn’t focus on them. The tribe of Judah (including the tribe of Simeon, some of Benjamin and a good part of the Levites) were exiled by Babylon in 586 BC. Only some fifty thousand of them return to Judah when Cyrus gave the permission in 538 BC. It is on these returned Jews that the Ezra focuses, and it is their genealogies that he chiefly records in Chronicles. The different groups within the Levites who returned are also mentioned: the priests, the gate keepers, those attending to the holy things and the singers (1 Chr 9).
In this way Ezra is showing his readers their roots and their identity as the people of God, the ones on whom the calling and the promises of God now rest. Many have gone before. Their present faithfulness really counts.

King Saul 1 Chronicles 10

Ezra only mentions King Saul in passing, and mostly as a contrast to King David. The end of Saul’s life is tragic: a hopeless battle, three of his sons killed, him separated from God and despairing, finally a suicide (1 Chr 10).

King David 1 Chronicles 11-29

How very different is the end of David’s life: He is full of praise and gratefulness to God, sees a godly son succeed him, plans and prepares for the temple and dies in peace (1 Chr 28-29).
Ezra is also careful to show that David does not commit the sins that disqualified Saul from a lasting kingship: David very much obeys God’s instructions in warfare (1 Ch 14:8-17), unlike Saul who didn’t (1 Sam 13). Also David (after some initial trouble) affirms the roles of the priests in bringing the ark (1 Chr 15:11-15), unlike Saul who usurped the priestly role by offering sacrifices himself (1 Sam 15).
Ezra doesn’t focus on the long years of David fleeing from Saul and living in the wilderness, and even among the enemy, but he gives much detail on how more and more Israelites freely joined David in the wilderness (1 Chr 12). He describes how David grows into true leadership: Though fleeing and at constant risk of betrayal, he makes himself extremely vulnerable by trusting people and going out to new groups of warriors wanting to join, basically giving them every opportunity to kill him. David’s leadership is such, that people seek to be under his authority. It is also interesting to see who joins him, though he cannot offer them anything right now, not even security, far less reward. Those joining are not only troops from Judah, but from many other tribes of Israel, also from Benjamin (which is Saul’s tribe), people even from Saul’s own family (1 Chr 12:1), and even people from many other nations: Zelek is an Ammonite (1 Chr 11:39), Ithmah is a Moabite (1 Chr 11:46), Uriah from among the thirty is a Hittite and his special Cherethites and Pelethites seem to be foreign troops loyal to David. Even at his most compromised point, when lining up to fight on the side of the Philistines against Israel, some Manassites go over to him (1 Chr 12:19). Ezra comments one group like this: ‘men of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs’ (1 Ch 12:32). David has appeal across boundaries and against the odds.
Ezra thus gives much space to David’s leadership, military ability and his many victories (1 Chr 11-12, 18-20, 27, six chapters). The only issue getting more focus is David’s desire to build a temple. In answer to this desire God promises to ‘build David a house’, a far-reaching Messianic prophecy (1 Chr 17). David, stunned by the awesome promise and being kept from building the temple himself, throws himself into preparing for it. David hands detailed plans, lavish provisions and responsibility over to his son Solomon, motivating him for this great task (1 Chr 13-17, 21-26, 28-29, 13 chapters).
Ezra omits the very well known stories of David’s weakness and trouble, the adultery with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, the problems with his sons and the rebellion of Absalon. The only story showing David’s weakness, is the military census he commands, resulting in a plague. But even this story seems to be mentioned only to explain, how the site for the future temple should be revealed (1 Chr 21).
Ezra inspires his readers by the example of Israel’s greatest king, so they would be like him: wholeheartedly devoted, in personal relationship with God, putting their trust in God, loving the temple, committed to worship, obedient and influential.

King Solomon 2 Chronicles 1-9

As also in Kings, Ezra describes the dream with King Solomon’s humble request for wisdom, that is generously granted by God (2 Chr 1). For a full six chapters and with great detail Solomon’s preparations for the temple, the building of the temple, the making of the furnishings, the bringing of the ark, the dedication of the temple and Solomon’s prayer at that ceremony are described (2 Chr 2-7). Solomon’s other building activities, his lavish sacrifices and participation in the temple feasts, his wealth and magnificence are celebrated. Israel has become the lighthouse it was meant to be. The visit of the Queen of Sheba is epitomizing that (2 Chr 8-9). Ezra shows his readers the beauty and power of a nation under God to motivate them to be faithful where they are now. None of the negatives about Solomon reported in Kings can be found in Chronicles, not his apostasy, nor the heavy taxation or forced labor.

Kings of Judah 2 Chronicles 10-36

Ezra tells his readers Judah’s history over the next four hundred years (931-586 BC), how Judah falls from the height it reached under David and Solomon and sinks deeper and deeper into idolatry and lawlessness. Again Ezra focuses on seeking God and on proper worship at the temple. One way he evaluates the kings of Judah is precisely by their relationship to God and by their relationship with the temple. Good kings are those who repair the temple, provide for its maintenance by votive gifts, make generous offerings, value and organize the priests and Levites and motivate Israel in the observance of the feasts.
Ezra also shows his readers the opposite as a warning from history: Those who do not ‘set their heart to seek God’, who do not worship God rightly, but rather fall into idolatry, abandon the true worship and neglect the temple, priesthood and Levites, end up destroying themselves. Not only that, they end up destroying the people and the country.
Ezra also records plainly that God shows no favor to a temple building if people’s hearts are unfaithful: God allows his temple to be defiled, looted and destroyed in 586 BC. He doesn’t want religiosity or ‘empty shells’. Yet the second temple the returned Jews just built (even thou it is far more modest than Solomon’s) is a symbol of the presence and favor of God: God seeks fellowship with his willing people.
Ezra definitely stresses the central temple, corporate worship and the celebration of the feasts as a Jewish society. But he also holds that true worship is a matter of the heart of the individual. His cry is that people would personally ‘set their hearts to seek God’, and so be an example and positive force in their society. Ezra describes the need of people, both individually and corporately, coming into a covenant with God.
Ezra thus encourages his readers: This is your heritage, your identity. Devote yourself to walk in it! He also warns his readers: This is how Israel failed before. Do not make the same mistake again!

The reforming kings Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah

Especially four kings, those who are instrumental in bringing a spiritual revival, are described with much detail in Chronicles.

King Asa 911-870 BC, 2 Chr 14-15
King Asa removes idols, male temple prostitutes and by removing his grandmother from a position of honor because she made an Asherah image. He relies on God when he is attacked by a huge Ethiopian army and God grants him a victory. Prophet Azariah affirms him: ‘The Lord is with you … if you obey … take courage! your work will be rewarded’. Asa starts removing idols in his entire domain, repairs the altar of the house of God, gathers people from Judah, Benjamin, Simeon and even from Ephraim and Manasseh and leads them in a covenant renewal with God, creating joy.
King Jehoshaphat 870-848 BC, 2 Chr 17-19
King Jehoshaphat is committed to obedience, exterminates male temple prostitutes, removes high places and sacred poles and sends out officials and Levites to teach the law of God to the people. He goes out among the people himself, trying to bring them back to God. This teacher’s heart and closeness to the normal people is his greatest strength. When he is attacked by an alliance of three nations, he doesn’t try to give pep talks, but rather in vulnerability calls a nationwide fasting and prayer. By a prophet God grants him a prediction of sure victory without even fighting, which fulfills to the letter. Though Jehoshaphat is unwise concerning his political alliance with evil King Ahab of Israel, he still is a powerful reformer and a wholehearted and exemplary king.
King Hezekiah 715-686 BC, 2 Chr 29-32
Upon rising to power, King Hezekiah declares his allegiance openly from the first day: He opens the doors of the temple, repairs it, leads out in substantial personal sacrificing, repenting publicly and participating in worship. He removes the high places and pillars, trusts God and keeps the Law. He encourages the Levites and priests, re-organizes them and provides for them by giving his tithe and by encouraging Judah to tithe. He celebrates the Passover in Jerusalem, inviting all Judah and even people in the lands that used to belong to Israel. Some mock him, but many come. He then faces his biggest challenge when Assyria overs Judah; Jerusalem is the only unconquered city left. Assyria sends defiance, but Hezekiah turns to God in desperation and prayer. The prophet Isaiah gives him the word of promise that Assyria won’t besiege Jerusalem but suffer defeat otherwise. And so it happens. This is a beautiful example of a political leader and a spiritual leader supporting each other in their trust in God and by God’s grace together achieving a great victory.
King Josiah 640-609 BC, 2 Chr 34-35
King Josiah takes over from his very evil grandfather (Manasseh) and father (Amon) when he is only eight years old. When he is sixteen be begins to seek God. When he is twenty he starts to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from every kind of idol, picture, sacred pillar, idolatrous temple, temple prostitute and priest, child sacrifice shrine, teraphim, medium and wizard. He does so with unparalleled devotion, eventually destroying idolatrous high places as far as Ephraim and Naphtali. He also destroys the calf-shrine in Bethel, as a prophet had predicted some three hundred years earlier (1 Kin 13:2). When he is twenty-four years old, he collects money for the repairs of the temple, has it cleansed and upon doing so a scroll with the Law is found (which obviously had gone into oblivion during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon). Josiah has it read to him. He is struck to the heart and repents in tears. The prophetess Hulda gives him a message of personal hope, though not a prediction of God sparing the country. Josiah dies relatively young and after his death Judah very quickly reverts to idolatry. Yet of all the kings of Judah Josiah is the only one who is called ‘like David’ without limitations. He truly is exceptional in his unwavering courage and wholeheartedness.

The society of the willing

One theme that is not found in Kings but that Ezra includes carefully in Chronicles is the following: Even though a nation as a whole might go one way, those who are part of that nation may still seek and obey God and choose a different path.
When Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Israel founds the nation on a syncretistic calf-cult, many faithful priests and Levites leave their assigned cities in the North and join Judah in the South: ‘Those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah’ (around 931-928 BC, 2 Chr 11:13). Though they lose their possessions and land rights, they choose to do this and so escape a nation that is doomed and is eventually exiled with no return.
A similar thing happens again during King Asa (2 Chr 15:8, around 911-870 BC) and also King Hezekiah reaches out to remaining peoples in the northern area (2 Chr 30:10-12, 715-701 BC).
In all three cases these willing people have joined the nation that lasts, Judah, to which God grants a new start after the exile. Actually Ezra’s readers are precisely such willing people, those who have given up what they had gained in Babylon to go back to Judah according to God’s word. Ezra encourages them and shows them that God’s promise is on them and that their sacrifice will not go unheeded.

Kings & Chronicles

• Chronicles has much overlap with the book of Kings (on King Solomon and the Kings of Judah) and the book of Samuel (on King David). So why another book? just leftovers? … actually up to 50% of the material in Chronicles is new.
• Watch carefully the differences between the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. > Understand the unique perspective of Ezra, which was a needed perspective, speaking volumes to its readers at its time.

Background Information

Who wrote?

• The Author doesn’t state his name.
• The passages 2 Chr 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1 ff are virtually the same, making it a very obvious bridge between the two books.
• In the Hebrew text collection, the books of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah form a series of works.
• Jewish tradition states the Chronicles and Ezra have both been written by Ezra, the scribe (Ezr 7:6), which fits the above findings.
• Also Chronicles and Ezra are similar in focus: the details on the history of the temple, the focus on Levites and priesthood, faithfulness to the covenant, contain lists, genealogies.
• Ezra mentions his use of many OFFICIAL RECORDS when composing Chronicles:
  • a. The record of the Chronicles of King David      1 Chr 27:24
  • b. The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah       2 Chr 27:7; 35:27; 36:8
  • c. The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel       2 Chr 16: 11; 25:26, …
  • d. The Book of the Kings of Israel                           1 Chr 9:1; 2 Chr 20:34
  • e. The words (affairs or records) of the kings of Israel 2 Chr 23:18
  • f. The Commentary on the Book of the Kings       2 Chr 23:18
  • g. The decree of David and of Solomon his son   2 Chr 35:4
• Ezra mentions his use of PROPHETIC WRITINGS AND RECORDS when composing Chronicles:
  • a. Samuel the seer                            1 Chr 29:29
  • b. Nathan the prophet                      1 Chr 29:29; 2 Ch 9:29
  • c. Gad the seer                                  1 Chr 9:29; 12:15; 13:22
  • d. Ahijah the Shilonite                      2 Chr 9:29
  • e. Iddo the seer                                 2 Chr 9:29; 12:15; 13:22
  • f. Shemaiah the prophet                  2 Chr 12:15
  • g. Jehu, the son ofHanani               2 Chr 20:34
  • h. Isaiah the prophet                        2 Chr 25:22; 32:32
  • i. “The Chronicles of the Seers”      2 Chr 33:19
• Ezra mentions his use of OTHER SOURCES when composing Chronicles:
  • a. Genealogical lists
  • b. Official documents                        2 Chr 32:10-15
  • c. Letters of Sennacherib                 2 Chr 32:17
  • d. Words of Asaph and David          2 Chr 29:30
  • e. Document with plans for the Temple 1 Chr 28:19

When written?

• The basic Timeline of the event before and during Ezra is the following:
  • 539 BC    Cyrus’ decree
  • 538 BC    First return under Zerubbabel
  • 536 BC    temple foundation laid
  • 516 BC    temple finished
  • 458 BC    2nd return under Ezra
  • 444 BC    3rd return under Nehemiah
• 1 Chr 9:1-34     list of names of returned exiles > the book Ezra was written after 538 BC
• 1 Chr 3:16-23  Listing 8 generations of Jehoiachin’s descendants (600 BC – 8×20 => 440 BC), maybe a post-script?
• 1 Chr 29:7       mentions currency of “Persian darics”, Darius 582-486 BC, but not widely used till after 500 BC
• Ezra’s emphasis of rebuilding the people, their identity, spiritual lives, temple worship, feasts fits. WE can conclude that he wrote the book of Ezra after 458 BC.

Written to whom?

• Ezra is writing to his contemporary returned exile Jews in Jerusalem, who are facing relative poverty, opposition from neighbors, foreign domination and feel at their mercy, no Davidic king, much smaller temple, empty – no ark, no visible glory of God on it.
• Ezra’s life work is bringing the 2nd wave of returnees, teaching and discipling the returnees.
• What would their questions, struggles or concerns of the returnees have been?
  • Is God still with us? Is he still involved in our history? Who are we? What are our roots?
  • Are we still the covenant people? Are the promises on us?
  • Why is God not restoring his nation more fully? Fading spirituality (mixed marriages)? How do we keep our identity in such a setting?
  • Who is a true Jew? How do I fight disillusionment? Discouragement?
  • How do we restore our core? How do we restore national worship? How do we restore personal devotion?
• Neh 9:36-37 Nehemiah’s intercession reveals how the returnees felt: “Here we are, slaves to this day – slaves in the land that you gave to our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts. Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.”

Written from where?

• If the above is correct, Jerusalem most likely

Surrounding nations

• See the Detailed Study on the book of Kings.
• The spiritual life of Israel was good at the start, but then deteriorating quickly – Israel more quickly than Judah.

Main characters

• David, Solomon (60 % of the book), kings of Judah

Literary kind

• prose > literal interpretation

Structure

• historical narrative, chronological, biographical
• Composition
• repetition (formulas) … principality (David and Solomon!)

Main ideas

• The building of the temple, worship and a godly nation by godly king David and Solomon… and its destruction through not seeking God, not obeying the covenant and idolatry
• The history of the Davidic Kings, showing God’s faithfulness as well as the reasons for the temple destruction & exile
• What God wanted: good, reforming kings like David … who seek him, do worship, respect temple as spiritual center, celebrate feasts affirming covenant, are faithful Levites and priests.

Main reasons

• to rebuild the spiritual foundations of the returnees: their descent (genealogies), their identity / calling as God’s people
• to encourage the returnees that God is with them, the promises rest on them, God will bless them
• to teach them the covenant blessings & curses by their history and God’s faithfulness to the Davidic line
• to challenge them to personally seek God, obey the covenant and to stay faithful to the temple worship … and hope for a greater fulfillment

Differences between Kings & Chronicles

Chronicles Horizontal

• Strong principality on David and Solomon
• Progression > > > no kingdom, not king, no temple, no people, no land

CHRONICLES – TEXT

1 Chronicles Chapter 1-10                     Genealogies and Saul

Emphasized are:

• Tribe of Judah – 2½ chapters (Ezr ch 2-4:23)
• Levites – ch 6 details of the different worship leaders.
• Those returned (chapter 9)
  • Ezr 9:1-9        General
  • Ezr 9:10-13    Priests
  • Ezr 9:14-16    Levites
  • Ezr 9:17-27    Gatekeepers
  • Ezr 9:28-32    Those over holy things
  • Ezr 9:33-34    Singers
• Also notice contrast
  • 2 Chr 5:18-20  2½ East tribes seek God, cry to him in battle     2 Chr 5:25-26   then forsake God
  • 2 Ch 9:1            Judah exiled to Babylon bc of unfaithfulness   2 Chr 9:2           first to live there again: priests, Levites,
  • 2 Ch 10:13       Saul died because of unfaithfulness                  1 Samuel          has much more detail

1 Chronicles Chapter 11-29                David

• Emphasized are
  • the temple                              ch 13-17, ch 21-26, ch 28-29        total 13 chapters
  • David’s army and victories   ch 11-12, ch 18-20, ch 27             total 6 chapters
• What is missing when compared with 1 & 2 Samuel:
  • 2 Sam 11:1         David’s adultery & murder
  • 1 Chr 20:1           totally ommitted! David = perfect, ideal, political, military & religious leader
  • 2 Sam 24:1         Only sin David’s mentioned is the one needed to explain temple site
  • 1 Chr 21:1           Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel … Satan blamed!
  • David’s time of difficulty, struggle and dishonor when pursued by Saul omitted – only victories and the mighty army
• David in gratefulness for his house (family, prosperity, throne, kingship) wants to build God a house
  • God responds by the promise to build David a house (eternal kingdom, lasting dynasty), 1 Chr 17 = 2 Sam 7

David in the wilderness

• 1 Chr 12:16-18  David riskily and vulnerably goes out to warriors wanting to join
• 1 Chr 12             David has followers joining him not only from Judah, but from many other tribes of Israel, from Benjamin (Saul’s tribe!), even from Saul’s family (1 Chr 12:1), from other nations (1 Chr 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, 1 Chr 11:46 Ithmah the Moabite, Uriah the Hittite from among the thirty), even his special Cherethites & Peletithes seem to be a foreign troop loyal to David. Even at his most compromised point, when fighting on the side of the Philistines, some Manassites go over to him (1 Chr 12:19).
• This is true leadership, people seeking out a person’s leadership across all boundaries, against obvious relations, interests or overall situation. David’s army is a free will federation, a collection of the willing, who will rather share suffering and shame and huntedness with him than remain where they are in relative respect & situation. It’s a grassroot movement.
• True leadership still today attracts willing followers.
• 1 Chr 12:32 For many a favorite verses, and truly a verse that grabs our attention: ‘men of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs , and all their kindred under their command’ … those willing, those in tune with God, those with understanding. Not only high leaders but a grass-root response.

Glory of the temple

1 Chr 22:14                1 Talent – 75.5 lb = 1208 oz

• 100,000 talents of gold @ 1 oz = $451.79 = $54,576,200,000
• 1000,000 talents of silver @ 1 oz = $6.574 = $7,941,392,000
• Bronze and Iron without weight (1 Chr 18:8)

1 Chonicles Chapter 23-26             David’s organization of temple worship

1 Chr 29 David’s personal offering  Gold – 3000 talents = $ 1,637,286,900
                                                                Silver 7000 talents = $ 55,589,744

2 Chronicles Chapters 1-9              Temple building

Comparison with Kings

• Similar
  • Asking for wisdom       Kings 3-4         Chr 1
  • Build temple                  Kings 5-7         Chr 3-4
  • Dedication                     Kings 8             Chr 5-7
  • Glory of Kingdom         Kings 9             Chr 8-9
• Different – More in Chronicles on temple dedication.
  • Apostasy of Solomon omitted (1 Kings 11), note why … horses, wives, riches (all mentioned in Kings)
  • 2 Chr 7:16-18                I have chosen this house – and your house v18 if you keep obeying
  • 2 Chr 7:19-20                if idolatry > end of your temple … and this house … I will cast out of my sight

2 Chronicles Chapters 10-36              Kings of Judah

Contrast between Kings and Chronicles

• No mention of Elijah and Elisha Elijah mentioned only once in 2 Chr 21:11, writing a letter to Jehoram of Judah
• Fewer prophets mentioned Kings = 40 prophets, Chronicles = 24 prophets
• Much more on the temple during Hezekiah’s reign: 2 Chr 29 Clean temple. 2 Chr 30 Passover. 2 Chr 31 Organising of the Levites.
• Summary of Kings Judged by the faithfulness of seeking God.

Important Themes in Chronicles

Temple

• The temple is crucial as the central place for worship, sacrifices, feasts, teaching > center of spiritual life
• This is even more essential now that the political cohesion is less
• Warning: God does not show favor to buildings (temples) when the people’s hearts are unfaithful.
• But, the exiles have just rebuilt the temple > visual symbol that God has restored his presence & favor

Priests and Levites

• They are essential to worship and the author shows David’s organization of worship > set up of restored community
• Chronicles teaches both the importance of corporate worship but also that true worship is a matter of the heart and adherence to covenant by restored people
• They had no king but they did have all the elements needed for worship; they had a temple, the priests and Levites and the covenant. Thus religious devotion is encouraged.

Covenant Renewal

• The people are at a time of beginning again and Ezra as well as Nehemiah lead the people in a Covenant Renewal
• Strengthen what remains … re-establish the essentials
• What pleases God? … heeding the prophets … keeping the covenant … honoring the temple, priests, Levites.
• Learn from history! … good or bad history
• Three parts are stressed: tithes for the priesthood and upkeep of the temple, keeping the sabbath, and restraining from mixed marriages which leads to idolatry.
• Chronicles: kings who were faithful > blessed … if returnees are faithful to temple / priests / Levites > also blessed

Genealogies

• Important message: The returnees are the faithful remnant, they are chosen by God, history will continue with them, the calling of God is on them, the promises apply to them, they are not abandoned.
• They begin with Adam and continue up until the returned exiles day, showing the whole scope, the red thread, the big lines.
• Most everybody is Judah (also Benjamin, Simeon?) but there some from the north in the three movements to the South (during Rehoboam, Asa, the Fall of Samaria) who had moved down to Judah

Encouragement and Warning

• Encouragement: This is your heritage, your identity … continue in this!
• Warning: This is how Israel failed before … do not make the same mistake!
• Chronicles doesn’t deal with the apostate Israel, they broke the covenant and so disqualified themselves and lost their calling.
• In Ezra, the returnees are again threatened by their northern Samaritan neighbors with their syncretistic priesthood, and place of worship … > again the message is: do not ally oneself with evil
• Reforming kings are emphasized: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah … as again now a reformation is going on under Ezra.
• Chronicles portrays a true king (one that points to the Messiah) as the king who is faithful to the covenant, seeks God, and honors and upholds the temple.
• Chronicles > focus on the individual and corporate faithfulness … No longer centered around king, but each individual

Reforming Kings How can a nation be reformed?

Asa                   1 Kings 15:9-24      2 Chr 14-15

• 1 Kin 15:12     Removes male temple prostitutes, idols, but not high places. Remove mother Maacah as queen mother for making an Asherah … true all of his days. votive gifts of him and his father into the house
• 2 Chr 14:4      commanded Judah to seek the Lord, to keep law
• 2 Chr 14:6-8  fortifies & equips cities in reliance on God
• 2 Chr 14:9-15 Ethiopia attacks with 1 mio men … cries to God “No difference for you between helping the mighty and the weak. Help us for we rely on you. You are our God” … > great victory, much loot
• 2 Chr 15:1-7   Prophet Azariah affirms him: “The Lord is with you … if you obey … take courage! your work rewarded.”
• 2 Chr 15:8      Took courage, removed idols in all the land of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim (as far as he conquered)
• 2 Chr 15:8      He repaired altar …
• 2 Chr 15:9-15 He gathered all Judah, Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, Simeon who were with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord was with him. Makes covenant to seek the Lord with people with shouting … joy for they had sworn with all their heart … death penalty on not seeking the Lord.
• 1 Kin 15:16-24 alliance with Aram against Israel … Aram then conquers Israel cities … diseased in feet.
• Reformation must include own family, nepotism will thwart a reformation
• God sends good, supportive people … reformers attract good, supportive people
• Courage to take / act on the word of God
• Fortifications ca be done with a right or wrong attitude
• Doing well in the beginning is good … cooling off towards the end?

Jehoshaphat          1 Kings 22          2 Chr 17-19

• 1 Kin 22:43-46  doing right, yet high places remained, exterminated male temple prostitutes that his father had not caught
• 2 Chr 17:3-6       doing right, sought God, obeys law, people’s tribute > riches & honor, removed high places, sacred poles.
• 2 Chr 17:6-9       in 3rd year sent officials and Levites to teach the book of the law in the cities to the peoples.
• 2 Chr 17:10-19   fear of the Lord fell on kingdoms around Judah > no attacks, builds fortresses, storage cities, works, army
• 2 Chr 18             foolish war with Ahab agains Aram, against the warning of the prophet Micaiah, survives, but defeat
• 2 Chr 19:1-3      Seer Hanani: “Do not help the wicked, do not love those who hate the Lord > wrath, some good is found in you: destroyed poles, set your heart to seek God”
• 2 Chr 19:4-7     Jehoshaphat went out again among the people, brings them back to the Lord
• 2 Chr 19:5-11    instructs judges, appoints Levites & priests & heads of families for diputed cases, commands fear of God, to instuct
  people in law, encouragement to be courageous
• 2 Chr 20:1-34  Moab, Ammon & Meunites attack, Levite Jahaziel prophesies: no fear, see victory, enemies defeat each other > loot,
  worship, > fear of God on surrounding nations
• 2 Chr 20:35-37 joins with Ahaziah of Israel to build ships in Ezion-geber > wrecked, as prophet Eliezer predicted. 1 Kin 22:49 says Jehoshaphat was unwilling to let King Ahaziah of Israel’s servants go with his in the ships (some refusal at least).
• 2 Chr 19:4,9  Jehoshaphat is a teacher of has a heart for teaching.
• Importance of nearness to people, no fear, mixing, understanding > he is truly representing them.
• Personal strengths brought out in Jehoshaphat: teaching, instructing, ensuring education. Teaching by demonstration
• Somebody can be wise in one area and foolish in another.
• Unity and cooperation not at any price … remain principled.
• Moment of crisis … he doesn’t ‘play the strong and fearless man’ … he is honest, scared, sharing, calling people in to fast and pray, but trusting God … no fear of embarrassment, shame, the public eye

Hezekiah               2 Kin 18-20             2 Chr 29-32

• 2 Kin 18:5-6     He did what is right, removed high places & pillar, trusted God, kept the law
• 2 Chr 29:3         1m of 1y opens the doors of the house and repairs them … (declares his priorities, foundations, dependence)
• 2 Chr 29:5-19    encourages / challenges spiritual leadership (priests and Levites) to cleanse temple, they report back
• 2 Chr 29:20-36 Hezekiah immediately & personally leads out in sin offerings, burnt offerings …repenting, committing, worship
• 2 Chr 29:31-36  the assembly follows with their sacrifices
• 2 Chr 29:36      joy because of what God has done for the people, came about suddenly
• 2 Chr 30:1-12   invitation to the nation (Judah & Israel) to return to the Lord, come to Jerusalem, celebrate passover
• 2 Chr 30:13-14  though scorn, a very large assembly comes together, remove altars in Jerusalem, celebrate passover
• 2 Chr 30:15-22  priests & Levites ashamed by how many come, sanctify themselves …
• 2 Chr 30:22       Hezekiah encourages Levites who show good skill in the service of the Lord
• 2 Chr 30:23-27 celebrate the passover a second time
• 2 Chr 31:1           assembly go to the cities of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh > destroy pillars / poles / high places
• 2 Chr 31:2-10    Hezekiah appoints regular service, gives tithe / tax himself, commands Judah to give it > people give > abundance
• 2 Chr 31:11-21   Hezekiah reorganizes the Levites / priests
• 2 Chr 32              test for Hezekiah and for the nation … Assyria invades, conquers most cities, threatens Jerusalem
• 2 Chr 32:1-6      military preparations, stopping of springs, arming, fortifying, appointing combat commanders
• 2 Chr 32:6-8     mental preparations, encourages / inspires people to trust God
• 2 Chr 32:20 / 2 Kin 18-19 Hezekiah & Isaiah, king & prophet together pray and cry out to God > God intervenes
• 2 Chr 32:27-29  prospers, great possessions
• 2 Chr 32:30       waterworks, brings Gihon spring into Jerusalem
• 2 Chr 20:1-11    Hezekiah’s sickness, crying bitterly, promise of healing and of sign
• 2 Chr 32:31 / 2 Kin 10:19 God tests him (Babylonian envoys) to know all that is in his heart, accepts, rather than repenting
• Hezekiah plays with open cards, declares his allegiance right away … wise? Unwise? … collects / encourages good people … keeps vultures away
• Experiences God’s help and the cooperation of people … ‘come about suddenly’
• ‘after these acts of faithfulness’ comes the grand crisis. Crisis is not a punishment, rather by this God – and Hezekiah – are proven in a powerful way

Josiah               2 Kin 22-23            2 Chr 34-35

• 2 Kin 22:1-2, 2 Ch 34:1-2         did right, walked int he way of David, did not turn aside
• 2 Chr 34:3-4                               in 8th year (age 16), he began to seek the God of his ancestor David
• 2 Chr 34:4-7                                in 12th year (age 20), he began to purge Judah & Jerusalem (> Naphtali) of images, poles, shrines
• 2 Kin 22:3-10, 2 Chr 34:8-21     in 18th y (age 24), collected money given for temple repairs > book of the law found > Josiah repents / cries
• 2 Kin 22:11-20, 2 Chr 34:22-28 Prophetess Huldah consulted > exile will come, but not in Josiah’s time
• 2 Kin 23:1-3, 2 Chr 34:29-33     Josiah gathers elders, goes with everybody to temple, reads book of the law, makes covenant with God to follow him, obey commands, all the people join
• 2 Kin 23:4-20                             cleanses temple of Baal vessels, Ashera, deposes idolatrous priests (Baal, sun, moon, host of heaven), breaks houses of male temple prostitutes in the temple, women weaving for Asherah, defiles & breaks down high places, Topheth (children through fire for Molech), removes horses dedicated to sun, burns chariots (entrance of temple), altars, on the roof, altars of Ahaz, Manasseh, Solomon for Astarte, Chemosh, Milcom, breaks pillars, cut down sacred poles, covered with human bones, pulls down altar of Jeroboam at Bethel, removed Shrines in towns of Samaria, slaughters priests on the altars
• 2 Kin 23:21-23, 2 Chr 35:1-19  great passover celebrated in Jerusalem
• 2 Kin 23:24-25                            removes mediums, wizards, teraphim, idols, abominations, established book of law
• 2 Kin 23:26-27                           still God does not change his long-term prediction of destruction
• 2 Kin 23:28-31, 2 Chr 35:20-27 Dies in his 31st year (age 39y), at Megiddo, Pharaoh Neco warning him, killing him.
• He is more wholehearted than any, alone is ‘like David’ … yet lapsing back again quickly, but that is not his problem … > I need to give my best … other people’s choices are theirs
• Gradual starting … different from Hezekiah (Hezekiah’s age at starting to reign is 25y 2 Chr 29:1)
• Consistent, growing, wise … maybe first consolidating power? Growing conviction? Slowly building himself up to be able to act independent of entrenched interests? God’s instruction to hold off?
• List shows just how steeped in idolatry Judah is by this time.
• They all work in different areas … broadly, Church, Government, some Education … or just do ‘the deed at hand’?

Meditation on more Kings

• Joash
  2 Chr 24:1-14 wise counsellor and good descisions
  2 Chr 24:15-24 unwise counsellors
• Uzziah
  2 Chr 26:1-15 love of science and the soil
  2 Chr 26:16-21 proud when strong
• Jotham
  2 Ch 27:1-6 “ordered his ways before the LORD”
• Oded no king!
  2 Chr 28:8-15 courageous intervention

Repeated Theme: Seeking God 21x ‘seek’ in Chronicles, ‘set heart’

Comparison of Saul and David

• 1 Chronicles compares David and Saul. It concludes, in a very definite analysis that:
  • Saul died because of his unfaithfulness, his disobedience to the Law, his not seeking God (1 Chr 10:12-14).
  • David on the other hand is introduced as seeking God and who is obeying specific commands in warfare (like 1 Chr 14:11, 14:16), unlike Saul with Amalek (1 Sam 15).
  • David also learns to respect the priesthood functions (though also the hard way) and finally brings the ark with honor into Jerusalem. David affirms the role of the priests to sacrifice in 1 Chr 23:13. This contrasts with Saul’s usurpation of the priestly role of sacrifice in 1 Sam 13.
• The high point of the contrast between the two kings is in the way they ended their reign and died:
  • 1 Chr 10:12ff Saul seeking a medium, war, hopelessness, desperation, suicide
  • 1 Chr 29:3, 4,5, 9-13, 16-18, 20-22, 26-28 David in peace, gratefulness, leaving everything ordered behind

Other points

• 1 Chr 16:10ff                      Song of Asaph: observe the importance of seeking God as the ark is moved toward Jerusalem
• 1 Chr 12:14, 15:13, 16:12 Not to seek God is a definite evil. No seek him is not optional, it’s essential. David Hamilton: real insights do not come to the casual inquirer.
• 1 Chr 22:19,28:9                David’s instruction to Solomon: ‘Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.’… ‘Know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing gheart; for the LORD seearches every mind, and understands every plan and though. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.’
• State of mind Seeking God appears to be from Chronicles a determined state of mind. This is therefore a balancing aspect in our study concerning the sovereignty of God and the place of man’s responsibility in our lives before God. The passages in Chronicles are:
• 2 Chr 11:16                      the Levites moving into Judah during Rehoboam’s good three years
• 2 Chr 12:14                      Rehoboam falling away from seeking God.
• 2 Chr 15:12-15                people covenant to seek God during Asa’s reign
• 2 Chr 19:3                        Jehosphaphat is seeking God > grace after Ahab disaster
• 2 Chr 20:3                        Jehoshaphat when fearful of invasion sets his heart to seek God
• 2 Chr 26:5                        Uzziah at the beginning sets his heart to seek God in the days of Zechariah
• 2 Chr 30:18, 19               During Hezekiah’s reform, those who set their heart to seek God
• People seeking God in Chronicles became: strong, mighty, victorious, peaceful, prosperous, helped, finders of God, were given rest by God, God was “with” them, were described as good, and pardoned.
• It is apparently possible from Chronicles to be a seeker for a while and then turn and cease to be a seeker:
  • Solomon               2 Chr 1:5, 6:13      1 Kin 11:4     fell
  • Rehoboam            2 Chr 11:16           2 Chr 12:14  fell
  • Asa                         2 Chr 14:4             2 Chr 16:6    fell
  • Joash                     2 Chr 24;2             2 Chr 24:24  fell
  • Uzziah                    2 Chr 26:5             2 Chr 26:16  fell
• It is also possible to persevere:
  • Hezekiah               2 Chr 29 ff
  • Jotham                  2 Chr 27
  • Josiah                    2 Chr 34:1-35:27
  • Jehoshaphat        2 Chr 17:1 ff.
• It also appears that repentance from great sin to seek God brings blessing
  • Manasseh  2 Chr 33:12-13

Special Topic in Chronicles:                Ethnic Israel & Judah’s remnant of the willing

Those of Israel who seek and obey God, joined Judah:

• 2 Chr 11:13 during Rehoboam’s good 3 years … “The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all their territories. 14 The Levites had left their common lands and their holding and had come to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had prevented them from serving as priests of the LORD, 15 and had appointed his own priests for the high places, and for the goat-demons, and for the calves that he had made. 16 Those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. 17 The strengthened the kingdom of Judah” … 931-928 BC
• 2 Chr 15:8 Asa repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. 9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing as aliens with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD was with him. … 911-870 BC
• 2 Ch 30:11 Hezekiah sends letters: “come to Passover in Jerusalem … 10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11 Only a few from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the officials commanded by the word of the LORD” … 715-701 BC
• But: Most of the 10 tribes (minus Judah, partly (?) Benjamin 1 Kin 12:21, Simeon?, some seekers) are exiled, mixed with Assyrian peoples etc. and never return.
• Also most of the remaining ‘Jews’ (mixture as mentioned) are exiled, mixed with Babylon etc. and never return. Judah, after deportation, who seek and obey God, return with Zerubabbel, Ezrah, Nehemiah, though only some 42’000
• Only a remnant, a remaining group of seekers, returns (mostly Judah, some Benjamin, Simeon and those moved in)
• By New Testament time most of the original Jews dissolved into other nations, only a new small concentration in Galilee & Judeah
• The willing always end up with God. God knows and saves his own … whatever the circumstance

Prophets mentioned in Chronicles

Also occurring in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings

• Samuel the seer                              1 Chr 26:28; 29:29; 2 Chr 35:18
• Gad the seer                                    1 Chr 21:10‑21:1; 29:29; 2 Chr 29:25
• Nathan the prophet                        1 Chr 17:1‑15; 29:29; 2 Chr 9:29; 29:25
• Ahijah the Shilonite                        2 Chr 9:29; 10:15
• Shemaiah the man of God            2 Chr 11:1‑14; 12:2‑9,15
• Jehu the Son of Hanani the seer 2 Chr 19:1‑3; 20:34
• Elijah the Tishbite                           2 Chr 21:12‑15
• Zedekiah, son of Chenaanch & 700 prophets 2 Chr 18:4‑27
• Micaiah the son of Imlah              2 Chr 18:7‑27
• Isaiah the son of Amoz                 2 Chr 26:22; 32:20,32
• Huldah the wife of Shallum          2 Chr 36:15‑16

Not occurring in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings

• Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan (Ethan) and their sons, the levitical singers 1 Chr 6:31‑48; 9:15‑16; 15:16‑22; 16:4‑7,37‑38,41‑42; 25:1‑31; 2 Chr 5:11‑14; 20:14‑17;29:12‑19, 25‑30;35:15
• Iddo the seer                                   2 Chr 9:29; 12:15; 13:22
• Azariah the son of Obed               2 Chr 15:1‑9
• Hanani the son of Obed                2 Chr 16:7‑10
• Jahaziel the son of Zechariah .. a Levite of the Sons of Asaph 2 Chr 20:14‑17
• The prophets during Jehoshaphat’s reign 2 Chr 20:20
• The prophets during Jehoash’s reign   2 Chr 4 24:19
• Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the Priest 2 Chr 24:20‑22
• A man of God                                  2 Chr 25:6‑9
• A prophet                                         2 Chr 25:14‑16
• Oded                                                 2 Chr 28:8‑15
• seers during Manasseh’s reign    2 Chr 33:10,18,19
• Jeremiah                                          2 Chr 35:25; 36:12, 21‑22

Repeated Theme ‘joy’ in Chronicles

• 1 Chr 12:40     Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali bring abundant provisions (meat, meal, oil, figs)… for there way joy in Israel.
• 1 Chr 15:16      David apointing singers from among the Levites > singers with instruments, lifting up the voice with joy
• 1 Chr 15:25      David collecting the ark from the house of Obed-Edom with joy
• 1 Chr 29:9, 17  Offerings for the temple > people rejoiced, for they offered willingly with perfect heart. David’s great joy
• 2 Chr 20:27     Jehoshaphat & Judah returning with joy from the war, for the Lord had made them rejoice over enemies
• 2 Chr 30:26     Hezekiah’s great passover, assembly from far away places, celebrate together > there was great joy.