Journey through
1 & 2 Chronicles
Theme
The Kings of Judah
Time of Writing
450-430 B.C.
Here we encounter the same period of time as 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. This is similar to how the four Gospels were written by four different men of the same time period but with different perspectives. In the original Hebrew Bible, Chronicles was the final book of the Old Testament, not Malachi. The perspective of the book is that the exile is over. God’s people have returned to the land. However, their enthusiasm is flagging. They have fallen into the old patterns as Ezra, Nehemiah and Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi show. God is proving that He did indeed fulfill the prophesies and the threats of Deuteronomy 28.
In 1 and 2 Chronicles, God is glorifying Himself through the kings of Judah, so that He might demonstrate His superior goodness in the salvation sinners, the damnation of the wicked, and for the preservation of His people for His eternal glory, and their eternal joy.
The Scriptures are silent on the authorship of 1 & 2 Chronicles, though Jewish tradition attributes the book to Ezra.
King Jehoiachin (also refered to as Jeconiah) began his reign over Judah in 598 B.C., and reigned until Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon in 597 B.C. 1 Chronicles 3:17-24 records eight generations of Jehoiachin’s descendants, suggesting a time of writing during Jehoiachin’s eighth generation, or between 450 and 430 B.C.
“And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’ ”
1 Chronicles 21:13
“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. 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.”
2 Chronicles 36:14–16
The focus of 1 & 2 Chronicles is the kings of Judah—Christs’ genealogical line (Matt. 1:1–17). The kings of Judah also serve as types of Jesus Christ. Many of Judah’s kings despised the ways of the Lord, and the few who walked in His ways did so with many imperfections; yet Christ is our perfectly-righteous King, whose kingdom will never come to an end.
Chronicles
Who is the author of 1 & 2 Chronicles?
Probably Ezra.
What is the focus of 1 & 2 Chronicles?
The kings of Judah and their relationship to God.
Why did God kill Uzzah?
Because he touched the ark (1 Chron. 13:9–10).
What did David do with the ark after the death of Uzzah?
He placed it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite (1 Chron. 13:12–13).
What happened while the ark was in the house of Obed-Edom?
God blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had (1 Chron. 13:14).
What was Michal’s response when she saw David whirling and playing music?
She despised him in her heart (1 Chron. 15:29).
Who moved David to number Israel?
Satan (1 Chron. 21:1).
When David sinned by numbering Israel, God gave him the choice of 3 punishments. What were they?
What was David’s response when Ornan offered to give him his threshing floor?
He refused to take it without paying the full price (1 Chron. 21:22–25).
2 Chronicles
What did Solomon ask God for?
Wisdom and knowledge (2 Chron. 1:7–12).
Why did the Queen of Sheba visit Solomon?
To test him with hard questions (2 Chron. 9:1).
What was the Queen of Sheba’s response when she saw Solomon’s wisdom?
There was no more spirit in her (2 Chron. 9:3–4).
How long did Solomon reign over Israel?
Forty years (2 Chron. 9:30).
Who succeeded Solomon as king over Israel?
Rehoboam his son (2 Chron. 9:31).
What did Asa pray when he went out to fight with the Ethiopians?
He acknowledged God’s great power, and petitioned Him for help
(2 Chron. 14:9–11).
What sins did Asa commit near the end of his reign?
He put Hanani the seer in prison, oppressed some of the people, and did not seek the Lord in his disease (2 Chron. 16:7–14).
What did Jehoshaphat do in the third year of his reign?
He sent leaders to teach the Book of the Law in the cities of Judah
(2 Chron. 17:7–9).
How many prophets could Ahab find who would tell him what he wanted to hear?
Four hundred (2 Chron. 18:5).
Why did king Ahab hate the prophet Micaiah?
Because he always prophesied bad things concerning him (2 Chron. 18:7).
Did Ahab and Jehoshaphat go to battle against Ramoth Gilead?
Yes (2 Chron. 18:28).
Why did the Lord bring Judah low?
Because Ahaz king of Israel had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the Lord. (2 Chron. 28:19).
What kind of relationship did Hezekiah have with God?
He did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God (2 Chron. 31:20).
Who invaded Judah during Hezekiah’s reign?
Sennacherib king of Assyria (2 Chron. 32:1).
What did Hezekiah say that strengthened the people?
“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chron. 32:7–8).
What did the angel of the Lord do to the Assyrian army after Isaiah and Hezekiah prayed?
He cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain (2 Chron. 32:20–21).
What was found in the temple during Josiah’s reign?
The Book of the Law (2 Chron. 34:14–18).
What was Josiah’s response when he heard the words of the Law?
He tore his clothes, and sent men to inquire of the Lord (2 Chron. 34:19–21).
Since when had the Passover been kept in Israel the way Josiah kept it?
Not since the days of Samuel the prophet (2 Chron. 35:18).
How did Josiah die?
He was mortally wounded in a battle with Necho king of Egypt (2 Chron. 35:20–24).