the canon of Scripture For example, the books of Kings narrate the political and royal fortunes of God’s elect people, and and Chronicles look at these in the light of the sacred and ecclesiastical This is something like one’s study of John’s gospel, where it is found that John repeats much of the narrative of the other three gospels, but he emphasizes interpretation and reflection II BACKGROUNDOF AND CHRONICLES A TITLE In the Hebrew Bible the books of Chronicles are one, carrying the title “The accounts of the days.” Jerome viewed the text as a chronicle of the entire divine history, and his Latin titles were translated for the later English Bibles as and Chronicles.3 B DATE AND AUTHOR Chronicles was written in the latter half of the fth century B.C., probably between 450 and 425 Some Bible students suggest that Chronicles and Ezra were originally one consecutive history (e.g., compare Chron 36:22-23 and Ezra 1: 1-3a) It is very likely that Ezra was the author C PLACE IN THE CANON Observe on Chart that Chronicles is the last book listed in the Hebrew Bible (See Chart 46.) Note that it appears in the list long after Kings This suggests that the early Jews looked upon it as very distinct from Kings, despite the similar historical reporting In our English Bible, and Chronicles appear immediately after the books of Kings (just as the four gospels appear together) D CHRONICLES COMPARED WITH KINGS As noted earlier, Chronicles and Kings have much in common, as to content But the di erences are very clear and consistent The following tabulation shows various contrasts: KINGS CHRONICLES prophetic perspective (e.g., judgments) priestly perspective (e.g., hopes) wars very prominent Temple very prominent the fortunes of the thrones continuity of the Davidic line record of both Israel and Judah record primarily of Judah morality redemption On the di erent perspectives noted above, see Chart 47 The books of Chronicles are more selective than Kings, illustrated in the fact that the Northern Kingdom of Israel is hardly mentioned The author makes prominent the unbroken (though at times slender) thread of the covenant promise from the earliest days and through the Davidic dynasty, represented by the house of Judah (cf Chron 28:4) Hence the inclusion of: a) The genealogies (1 Chron 1-9), where the Davidic line, the descendants of Levi and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin are of chief interest b) The high points of Judah’s history up to the captivity c) The prominent place given to the Temple, priesthood, and other worship items III SURVEYOF CHRONICLES Follow the procedures of survey study suggested in the preceding chapters What strikes you about the rst nine chapters? Who is the main character of chapters 10-29? What chapters have much to say about the Temple? (Note: The phrase “house of ... 1-9), where the Davidic line, the descendants of Levi and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin are of chief interest b) The high points of Judah’s history up to the captivity c) The prominent... times slender) thread of the covenant promise from the earliest days and through the Davidic dynasty, represented by the house of Judah (cf Chron 28:4) Hence the inclusion of: a) The genealogies (1... place given to the Temple, priesthood, and other worship items III SURVEYOF CHRONICLES Follow the procedures of survey study suggested in the preceding chapters What strikes you about the rst nine