1 & 2 Chronicles are two of the last Old Testament books to be written. They presuppose knowledge of earlier biblical texts. Comparing Chronicles with these earlier texts helps us to see what is distinctive about the Chronicler’s account.

1 Chronicles describes: God’s choice of Israel as His people; of David as king; of Jerusalem; and of the arrangements which David makes for the people’s worship there.

2 Chronicles 1–9 begins with Solomon’s reign. God grants Solomon prosperity and peace, but after him, a decline sets in. The 10 northern tribes revolt against Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, and the single kingdom divides into two: Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom). 2 Chronicles focuses on the kings of Judah.

After Jerusalem is captured, the people go into exile in Babylon. But God moves the heart of Cyrus, King of Persia, to allow the exiles to return and rebuild the Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 36:22–23). With God, restoration is always a possibility.

The themes of Chronicles, then, are: the importance of worship; the unity of God’s people; faithfulness and unfaithfulness; and God’s readiness to restore when His people repent and seek Him.

The Structure of 1 and 2 Chronicles