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The Book
of 1 Chronicles

summaries and outlines

Book Summary

First Chronicles retells the story of King David, from 2 Samuel, from a more uplifting point of view. This is done by linking David to the ark of the covenant, worship in Jerusalem and the preparations for the building of the temple.

While retelling the story in this way is to show his strengths rather than his human weaknesses and to present his faith and devotion to God as a model for other Israel's leaders. Source: NIV Learner's Bible, Copyright © 2003 by American Bible Society

The Bible - Numbers

Title

The Hebrew title (dibre hayyamim) of Chronicles can be translated “the events [or annals] of the days [or years].” The same phrase occurs in references to sources used by the author or compiler of Kings (translated “chronicles.
The Septuagint translators (who translated the Old Testament into Greek) called the book “the things omitted,” indicating that they regarded it as a supplement to Samuel and Kings.
[Source: Zondervan KJV Commentary, Copyright © 2010 by Zondervan.]

Author and Date of Writing

According to ancient Jewish tradition, Ezra wrote Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah (see to Ezra, Introduction: “Author and Date”), but this cannot be established with certainty.
The book is believed to be written in the 5th Century BC (450 and 425 B.C.), possibly in Ezra's lifetime.
[Source: Zondervan KJV Commentary, Copyright © 2010 by Zondervan.]

1 Chronicles Outline

I. Genealogies: Creation to Restoration (chaps. 1-9)

  1. The Patriarchs (1 Chronicles 1:1-54)
  2. The Twelve Sons of Jacob/Israel (1 Chronicles 2:1-2)
  3. The Family of Judah (Chap. 2:3- Ch. 4)
    1. A Genealogy of David, 1 Chronicles 2:3-55
    2. Descendants of David, 1 Chronicles 3:1-24
    3. Descendants of Judah, 1 Chronicles 4:1-23
  4. The Sons of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:24-43)
  5. Reuben, Gad, and the Half Tribe of Manasseh (1 Chronicles  5:1-26)
  6. Levi (1 Chronicles 6:1-81)
  7. Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (chaps. 7-9)
    1. Descendants of Issachar, 1 Chronicles 7:1-5
    2. Descendants of Benjamin, 1 Chronicles 7:6-12
    3. Descendants of Naphtali, 1 Chronicles 7:13
    4. Descendants of Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 7:14-19
    5. Descendants of Ephraim, 1 Chronicles 7:20-29
    6. Descendants of Asher. 1 Chronicles 7:30-40
    7. A Genealogy of Saul, 1 Chronicles 8:1-40
    8. A Genealogy of the Returned Exiles, 1 Chronicles 9:1-34
    9. Saul’s Genealogy Repeated, 1 Chronicles 9:35-44

II. The Reign of David (chaps. 10-29)

  1. Death of Saul and his sons (1 Chronicles 10:1-14)
  2. Capture of Jerusalem; David’s Power Base (chaps. 11-12)
    1. David Anointed King, 1 Chronicles 11:1-3
    2. David Takes Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 11:4-9
    3. David’s Mighty Men, 1 Chronicles 11:10-47
    4. The Mighty Men Join David, 1 Chronicles 2:1-40
  3. Return of the Ark; Establishment of David’s Kingdom (chaps. 13-16)
    1. The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim, 1 Chronicles 13:1-4
    2. Uzzah and the Ark, 1 Chronicles 13:5-14
    3. David’s Wives and Children, 1 Chronicles 14:1-7
    4. Philistines Defeated, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17
    5. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 15:1-29
    6. The Ark Placed in a Tent, 1 Chronicles 16:1-7
    7. David’s Song of Thanks, 1 Chronicles 16:8-36
    8. Worship Before the Ark, 1 Chronicles 16:37-43
  4. Dynastic Promise (chap. 17)
    1. The Lord’s Covenant with David, 1 Chronicles 17:1-15
    2. David’s Prayer, 1 Chronicles 17:16-27
  5. David’s Conquests (chaps. 18-20)
    1. David Defeats His Enemies, 1 Chronicles 18:1-13
    2. David’s Administration, 1 Chronicles 18:14-17
    3. The Ammonites Disgrace David’s Men, 1 Chronicles 19:1-9
    4. Ammonites and Syrians Defeated, 1 Chronicles 10-19
    5. The Capture of Rabbah, 1 Chronicles  20:1-3
    6. Philistine Giants Killed, 1 Chronicles 20:4-8
  6. The Census (chap. 21)
    1. David’s Census Brings Pestilence, 1 Chronicles 21:1-17
    2. David Builds an Altar, 1 Chronicles 21:18-30
  7. Preparations for the Temple (chap. 22)
    1. David Prepares for Temple Building, 1 Chronicles 22:1-5
    2. Solomon Charged to Build the Temple, 1 Chronicles 22:6-19
  8. Organization of the Temple Service (chaps. 23-26)
    1. David Organizes the Levites, 1 Chronicles 23:1-32
    2. David Organizes the Priests, 1 Chronicles 24:1-31
    3. David Organizes the Musicians, 1 Chronicles 25:1-31
    4. Divisions of the Gatekeepers, 1 Chronicles 26;1-19
    5. Treasurers and Other Officials, 1 Chronicles 26:20-32
  9. Administrative Structures of the Kingdom (chap. 27)
    1. Military Divisions, 1 Chronicles 27: 1-15 
    2. Leaders of Tribes, 1 Chronicles 27:16-34
  10. David’s Final Preparations for Succession and the Temple (28:1-29:20)
    1. David’s Charge to Israel, 1 Chronicles 28:1-8
    2. David’s Charge to Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:9-21
  11. Succession of Solomon; Death of David (chap. 29)
    1. Offerings for the Temple, 1 Chronicles: 29:1-9 
    2. David Prays in the Assembly, 1 Chronicles 29:10-22
    3. Solomon Anointed King, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25
    4. The Death of David, 1 Chronicles 29:26-30
Adapted from: Zondervan KJV Commentary, Copyright © 2010 by Zondervan.

References and Sources:

The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David, Painting  

By Eugène Siberdt – http://mayfairgallery.com/index.php?location=item&item=19480&section=recent, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44786866