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Old Testament · History · Book 13 of 66

1 Chronicles

Genealogies from Adam to the return from Babylon, then the reign of David: the ark brought to Jerusalem, God’s promise of a house, and the temple prepared.

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First Chronicles begins with Adam and spends nine chapters on names: the nations from Noah’s sons, the line of Abraham, the twelve tribes with Judah first and Levi at the centre, and those who dwelt again in Jerusalem after the captivity. One sentence explains the lists: “So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression” (1 Chronicles 9:1).

From chapter 10 the book follows one reign. Saul dies because he “enquired not of the LORD” (10:14), and David is made king, brings up the ark, receives the promise of a house, and prepares a temple he will not build. Much of this retells Samuel, and much is found only here: the singers and their psalm, the courses of priests and Levites, the pattern of the house and the gifts for it. David’s last prayer gives the sum: “thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all” (29:11).

Key verse
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV

The trumpets and cymbals 1 Chronicles 16:42
The curtains 1 Chronicles 17:1
The precious stones 1 Chronicles 29:8

Before you read

Who wrote it
Not named in the book; traditionally Ezra. Chronicles closes with the decree of Cyrus in nearly the words that open Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1:1). For David’s reign the writer names his sources: the books of Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer (29:29).
When it was written
After the return from Babylon. The genealogies are those of a people “carried away to Babylon for their transgression” (9:1), and they name the first who dwelt again in their cities (9:2). David’s line is carried down past Zerubbabel (3:19–24).
When it happens
The genealogies reach from Adam to the return. The history is David’s reign of forty years, “seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem” (29:27), from Saul’s death to Solomon’s accession.

How 1 Chronicles is laid out

8 movements · 123 passages · 942 verses

4:109:110:1416:3417:1422:128:929:11
11:1–5422–9310–12413–16517–20621–22723–27828–29

From Adam to Israel

Chapter 1 · 54 verses

Names alone carry the line from Adam to Noah and his three sons. The sons of Japheth, Ham and Shem follow, the families from whom the nations came; then Shem’s line to Abram, and the sons of Ishmael and of Keturah. Isaac’s sons are “Esau and Israel.” Esau’s line comes first: his sons, the kings who reigned in Edom before Israel had a king, and the dukes of Edom.

9 passages

  1. 1:1–4 From Adam to Noah
  2. 1:5–7 The Descendants of Japheth
  3. 1:8–16 The Descendants of Ham
  4. 1:17–23 The Descendants of Shem
  5. 1:24–27 From Shem to Abraham
  6. 1:28–34 The Family of Abraham
  7. 1:35–42 The Descendants of Esau (Edom)
  8. 1:43–50 The Kings of Edom
  9. 1:51–54 The Dukes of Edom

The tribes of Israel

Chapters 2–9 · 353 verses

Judah comes first and at greatest length: the line of Pharez to David, David’s sons, and his line down past the captivity. Simeon and the tribes beyond Jordan follow, until Assyria carries them away. Levi stands at the centre, with the high priests, the singers and the Levites’ cities, and the other tribes close with Benjamin and Saul’s house. Chapter 9 names those who dwelt again in Jerusalem.

8 chapters

  1. 2 The Twelve Sons of Israel
  2. 3 Sons of David Born in Hebron
  3. 4 The Descendants of Judah
  4. 5 Reuben's Genealogy and Birthright Loss
  5. 6 The Sons of Levi and the Priestly Line
  6. 7 The Descendants of Issachar
  7. 8 The Immediate Sons of Benjamin
  8. 9 Genealogies and Post-Exilic Settlement

King over all Israel

Chapters 10–12 · 101 verses

Saul and his sons fall on mount Gilboa. The book gives the cause: he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit and not of the LORD, who “turned the kingdom unto David.” All Israel anoints David at Hebron, and he takes the castle of Zion from the Jebusites. His mighty men are named, and the men of every tribe who came to make him king.

13 passages

  1. 10:1–7 The Death of King Saul
  2. 10:8–10 The Philistines Desecrate Saul's Body
  3. 10:11–12 Jabesh-gilead Buries the Bodies
  4. 10:13–14 The Chronicler's Theological Summary
  5. 11:1–3 David Anointed King Over All Israel
  6. 11:4–9 The Conquest of Jerusalem
  7. 11:10–14 The List of David's Mighty Men
  8. 11:15–25 The Exploit of the Three
  9. 11:26–47 The Thirty Captains
  10. 12:1–7 Men Join David at Ziklag
  11. 12:8–15 The Mighty Gadite Warriors
  12. 12:16–22 David Receives Allies and Amasai's Prophecy
  13. 12:23–40 The Great Assembly at Hebron to Crown David

The ark comes to Jerusalem

Chapters 13–16 · 103 verses

David’s first counsel is to bring up the ark. It goes on a new cart; at the threshing floor of Chidon Uzza puts out his hand to hold it, and the LORD smites him. After three months with Obed-edom, the Levites bear it on their shoulders “as Moses commanded.” David sets it in a tent, gives Asaph a psalm of thanks, and appoints ministers before it continually.

15 passages

  1. 13:1–4 David Plans to Retrieve the Ark
  2. 13:5–8 The Procession Begins
  3. 13:9–11 Uzza is Struck Down
  4. 13:12–14 The Ark Rests with Obed-Edom
  5. 14:1–7 David's Kingdom Established in Jerusalem
  6. 14:8–12 Victory over the Philistines at Baal-perazim
  7. 14:13–17 The Second Defeat of the Philistines
  8. 15:1–2 David Prepares a Place for the Ark
  9. 15:3–15 The Assembly and the Priests
  10. 15:16–24 Organizing the Temple Musicians
  11. 15:25–29 The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
  12. 16:1–3 The Ark Placed and Sacrifices Offered
  13. 16:4–6 Appointment of Levitical Ministers
  14. 16:7–36 David's Psalm of Thanksgiving
  15. 16:37–43 Organization of Continuous Worship

A house for David

Chapters 17–20 · 71 verses

David would build a house for the ark, but by Nathan the LORD answers that he will build David a house: David’s son will build the temple, and his throne will be established for ever. David sits before the LORD and gives thanks. Then the LORD subdues David’s enemies as he promised: the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, Syria, Edom and Ammon, and the sons of the giant in Gath.

12 passages

  1. 17:1–2 David Desires to Build the Temple
  2. 17:3–6 God Rejects David's Offer
  3. 17:7–15 God Promises David an Eternal Dynasty
  4. 17:16–27 David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
  5. 18:1–8 David's Victories Over Neighboring Nations
  6. 18:9–13 Tribute from Hamath and Dedication of Spoils
  7. 18:14–17 David's Administration and Officials
  8. 19:1–5 David's Kindness Rejected by Ammon
  9. 19:6–15 The Ammonites Prepare for War
  10. 19:16–19 David Defeats the Renewed Syrian Threat
  11. 20:1–3 David Captures Rabbah and Conquers Ammon
  12. 20:4–8 Battles Against the Philistine Giants

The threshing floor of Ornan

Chapters 21–22 · 49 verses

Satan provokes David to number Israel, and the LORD sends pestilence. David confesses, “I have sinned greatly,” and chooses to fall into the hand of the LORD. At the angel’s word he buys Ornan’s threshing floor, builds an altar, and is answered by fire from heaven. He names the place for the house of the LORD, gathers materials, and charges Solomon and the princes to build.

7 passages

  1. 21:1–6 David Orders a Census
  2. 21:7–17 Judgment and David's Choice
  3. 21:18–27 The Altar on Ornan's Threshing Floor
  4. 21:28–30 The Significance of the New Altar
  5. 22:1–5 David Prepares Materials for the Temple
  6. 22:6–16 David Charges Solomon to Build the Temple
  7. 22:17–19 David Commands the Princes to Help

The courses of service

Chapters 23–27 · 160 verses

Old and full of days, David makes Solomon king and orders those who will serve. The Levites are numbered from twenty years old; the priests of Eleazar and Ithamar are divided by lot into twenty-four courses, and so are the singers of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. Porters, treasurers and judges follow, then the army’s twelve monthly courses and the officers of the tribes and the king.

5 chapters

  1. 23 David Appoints Solomon and Gathers Leaders
  2. 24 Organization of the Priestly Divisions
  3. 25 Organization of Temple Musicians
  4. 26 The Divisions of the Gatekeepers
  5. 27 David’s Monthly Military Courses

David’s last assembly

Chapters 28–29 · 51 verses

David gathers the leaders of Israel and gives Solomon the pattern of the house, which he had “by the spirit” and in writing from the LORD’s hand. He gives his own gold and silver; the princes and people offer willingly, and David blesses the LORD before the congregation. Solomon is made king the second time, and David dies “in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour.”

8 passages

  1. 28:1–10 David Assembles the Leaders
  2. 28:11–19 The Divine Pattern for the Temple
  3. 28:20–21 Final Charge and Assurance
  4. 29:1–5 David Prepares for the Temple
  5. 29:6–9 The People Offer Willingly
  6. 29:10–19 David’s Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving
  7. 29:20–25 Worship, Sacrifice, and Solomon Anointed
  8. 29:26–30 Summary of David’s Reign and Death

The words 1 Chronicles turns on

Begat carries chapters 1–9, ark chapters 13–16, and course chapters 23–28; offer willingly belongs to chapter 29, and seek runs from Saul’s death to David’s charge.

See these words across the whole Bible

What 1 Chronicles teaches

dârash · seek

Seek the LORD

The book sums up Saul’s fall with this word, rendered enquire and seek. He died “for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it,” and because he “enquired not of the LORD” (10:13–14). David’s first proposal as king answers it: “let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul” (13:3). When the first attempt fails, he names the fault with the same word: “we sought him not after the due order” (15:13). The psalm of the ark calls, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually” (16:11), and David’s charge to Solomon turns on it: “if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever” (28:9).

bayith · house

A house for his name

David, who dwells in “an house of cedars,” would build for the ark, which “remaineth under curtains” (17:1). The LORD turns the word around: “Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in” (17:4), but “the LORD will build thee an house” (17:10), and David’s son “shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever” (17:12). David later gives the reason he was held back: “Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars” (22:8), while Solomon would be “a man of rest” (22:9). Origen set David’s wars against Solomon’s peace: Solomon because of this peace has time to construct the famous temple for God. Jerome held that the reference is not, as some think, to his wars, but to the murder of Uriah.

machălôqeth · course

In the due order

On its first journey the ark rode on a new cart, as the Philistines had sent it back (1 Samuel 6:7). When the oxen stumbled, Uzza “put forth his hand to hold the ark,” and died there (13:9–10). The law had given the holy things to the sons of Kohath to bear, and said, “they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die” (Numbers 4:15). The second time the Levites carried it on their shoulders “as Moses commanded” (15:15). The same care orders chapters 23 to 26: priests, singers and porters are divided into courses by lot, “as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar” (25:8). Luke’s Gospel opens inside that order, with Zacharias, “of the course of Abia” (Luke 1:5; 1 Chronicles 24:10).

nâdab · offer willingly

Of thine own

David gives of his own gold and silver “over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house” (29:3), then asks, “who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?” (29:5). The leaders offer willingly, and “the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD” (29:9). David’s prayer gives the gift back to its source: “all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” (29:14). He asks God to keep that willingness in his people and “prepare their heart unto thee” (29:18). Augustine saw the same in Amasai, who came over to David when the spirit came upon him: God wrought in his heart that he should so will and speak and act.

Christ in 1 Chronicles

The book’s genealogy begins at Adam and narrows to the house of David, and both genealogies of Jesus run through names it keeps. Matthew follows the kings from Solomon (Matthew 1:6–7; 1 Chronicles 3:10). Luke follows Solomon’s brother Nathan (Luke 3:31; 1 Chronicles 3:5) back to “Adam, which was the son of God” (Luke 3:38).

The promise of chapter 17 reaches past Solomon. Of David’s son the LORD says, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son” (17:13), and Hebrews hears it as the Father’s word to the Son, who is above the angels (Hebrews 1:5). Chronicles calls David’s throne “the throne of the kingdom of the LORD” (28:5), and the LORD says of the son, “I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever” (17:14). Gabriel gives that throne to Mary’s son: “he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33).

The chief names from Adam to David’s son · 1 Chronicles 2:1–15
  1. Adam the book’s first name
  2. Noah
  3. Abraham
  4. Israel
  5. Judah first of the tribes
  6. Pharez
  7. … 1 Chronicles 2:5–12
  8. Jesse
  9. David the king
  10. Solomon builder of the house
  11. … Matthew 1:7–16
  12. Jesus, who is called Christ

People

By how many verses name them

1317 more are named.

Places

166 named

Map: The Ark Recovered
The Ark Recovered · 10 more · Map © Biblica Open Bible Maps · CC BY-SA 4.0

The passages it leans on, and the ones that lean on it

Books 1 Chronicles links to most

  1. Psalms661
  2. 2 Samuel535
  3. Numbers333
  4. 1 Samuel329
  5. Genesis322
  6. 2 Chronicles313

Cross-references from 1 Chronicles into each book · 64 books in all

See every thread

The Church Fathers on 1 Chronicles

38 quotations from 13 writers before AD 800 · the ten most quoted, in date order

  1. Justin Martyr165
  2. Origen253
  3. Eusebius339
  4. Basil379
  5. Jerome420
  6. Augustine430
  7. Theodoret458
  8. Cassiodorus585
  9. Gregory604
  10. Bede735

Theodoret on what the opening genealogy shows, and on the son of David from whom Luke counts.

The first book begins with a genealogy that sets out to demonstrate how the human race came from a single man. … Here we come to know Nathan, from whom the blessed Luke constructed the beginning of his genealogy of our Lord and Savior …
Theodoret of Cyrus 458 · Questions On 1 Chronicles, Prologue · on 1 Chronicles 1:1–10:14

Origen traced David’s psalm in chapter 16 to its places in the Psalter.

The sixth song is in 1 Chronicles, where David first established Asaph and his brothers for praising the Lord. … the first part of the text in 1 Chronicles, up to the place where it says “and do my prophets no harm,” is like Psalm 105, and the latter part of it, following the verse just mentioned, bears a likeness to the first part of Psalm 96 …
Origen of Alexandria 253 · Commentary On The Song Of Songs, Prologue 4 · on 1 Chronicles 16:8

Eusebius asked how a throne promised for ever could be Solomon’s.

For if the years of the reign of Solomon are reckoned, they will be found to be forty and no more. Even if the reigns of all his successors are added up, they do not altogether come to 500 years.
Eusebius of Caesarea 339 · Proof Of The Gospel 7.3 · on 1 Chronicles 17:11–13

Bede read Ornan’s threshing floor, where the temple would stand, as a figure of the church.

It is appropriate that this place should be on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite because the church is customarily designated by the term “threshing floor,” as John says of the Lord: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor.”
Bede 735 · Of the Temple of Solomon 1. 5.4-5 · on 1 Chronicles 21:25–26
Matthew Henry · 66 sections on 1 Chronicles“This paragraph has Adam for its first word and Abraham for its last.”

Keep studying

Articles

Book introductionAn Introduction to 1 Chronicles: A Priestly History of DavidDevotional · 1 Chronicles 6:33The Man Between Samuel and HemanMeaning mapWhere 1 Chronicles’s verses sit among the whole Bible’sAsk AIAsk a question about 1 Chronicles