1 Chronicles

Author: Unknown
Date of Writing: 5th Century BC
Type of Book: Historical
Theme: The history of Israel

Jewish tradition teaches that the compiler of the two books of Chronicles was Ezra. These books were compiled by someone who had access to official government historical documents, and Ezra would certainly qualify. They bear a strong stylistic resemblance to the book of Ezra and were apparently compiled during the Babylonian captivity and shortly thereafter, in the fifth century BC.

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were originally one book. They cover the same historical period as the books of Samuel and Kings combined. While Samuel and Kings tell the history of Israel from a political perspective, Chronicles tells it from a more spiritual perspective. In a sense, these books are a spiritual commentary on the books of Samuel and Kings, much as Deuteronomy was a spiritual commentary on Exodus, Leviticus , and Numbers for the next generation entering the Promised Land.

The kings of the northern tribes of Israel are hardly mentioned, as the emphasis here is on Judah and the messianic line of Christ. There are several lengthy genealogies that trace the lineage of Jesus back to David and to Adam.

First Chronicles tells the life of David and the growth of his kingdom. It was crucial for a people who were starting over to have a historical perspective on what made David great and to see why obedience to God affects the well-being of a nation. In the same way, these books provide great lessons for us as we make the same decisions daily. These stories were recorded as examples to us for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:11).

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible