the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible Kretzmann's Commentary
Genealogies From Adam to Abraham and His Descendants.Chapter 2
Genealogies of Israel, Judah, and David's Line.Chapter 3
David's Sons and Royal Line to the Exile.Chapter 4
Tribes of Judah and Simeon; Jabez's Prayer.Chapter 5
Reuben, Gad, Half-Manasseh's Descendants; Captivity.Chapter 6
Levi's Descendants; Priesthood, Temple Musicians.Chapter 7
Tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Others Listed.Chapter 8
Tribe of Benjamin's Genealogy; Saul's Family.Chapter 9
Genealogies of Jerusalem's Inhabitants; Priestly Duties.Chapter 10
Saul's Death at Mount Gilboa.Chapter 11
David Anointed King; Jerusalem Captured.Chapter 12
David's Mighty Men and Supporters Listed.Chapter 13
Ark Brought From Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem.Chapter 14
David's Family Grows; Victory Over Philistines.Chapter 15
Ark Brought to Jerusalem; Rejoicing and Sacrifices.Chapter 16
David's Song of Thanksgiving; Appoints Levites.Chapter 17
God's Covenant With David and His Dynasty.Chapter 18
David's Military Victories and Officials.Chapter 19
David Defeats Ammonites and Arameans.Chapter 20
More Battles With Philistines; Goliath's Relatives.Chapter 21
David's Census; Plague Strikes Israel.Chapter 22
David Prepares for Temple Construction.Chapter 23
David Organizes the Levites for Temple Service.Chapter 24
Priestly Divisions Assigned by David.Chapter 25
Musicians and Singers for Temple Worship.Chapter 26
Gatekeepers, Treasurers, and Officials Listed.Chapter 27
David's Army Divisions and Officials Listed.Chapter 28
David's Instructions for Solomon; Temple Plans.Chapter 29
Contributions for the Temple; David's Prayer.
- 1 Chronicles
by Paul E. Kretzmann
The First Book of Chronicles
Introduction
Like the Books of Samuel and the Books of the Kings, the Books of the Chronicles were originally written as one volume, bearing a name in the Hebrew which signifies "Words of Days," a name which may be freely translated as "History. " The English title is taken from the name suggested by Jerome, who prepared the first Latin translation of the Bible which came into general use in the Church.
The Books of the Chronicles contain a section of Jewish history, selected for a certain purpose and written from a definite point of view. By choosing certain phases and emphasizing certain traits in the general history and in particular biographies, especially all such factors as pertained to the establishment and maintenance of the true worship, the author intended to inspire the Jews who had just returned from the Babylonian exile with zeal for the will of Jehovah. He pictures the blessings which followed a loyal adherence to the covenant and the punishment of its rejection. This purpose explains the choice of material, the rhetorical form, which is observable in various sections, and the continual emphasis upon the religious side in the life of the kings.
The Books of the Chronicles may be divided into the following parts: 1. Genealogical tables from the earliest times to the end of the exile, together with historical notes and geographical lists, 1 Chronicles 1-10; 1 Chronicles 2. the history of David, 1 Chronicles 11-29; 1 Chronicles 3. the history of Solomon, 2 Chronicles 1-9. the history of the kingdom of Judah down to the Babylonian captivity, 2 Chronicles 10-36.
The Second Book of the Chronicles closes with the statement that King Cyrus of Persia issued a written proclamation throughout all his kingdom, permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. He made this proclamation in the first year of his reign, which was about 536 B. C. Accordingly, these books must have been written after this date, after the return of the Jews. On the other hand, the work must not be dated much later, for the author speaks of darics, Persian gold coins bearing on one side the image of Darius, and the Jews used these Persian coins only while under Persian rule. From the similarity of the last two verses in Chronicles and of the first two in Ezra, it has been concluded that the pious and learned scribe Ezra himself, who was endowed with the spirit of prophecy, is the author, and this must be assumed as having every show of probability.
