§ 4. Contents
The books of Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah give a history of Israel and its ancestors from Adam down to the conclusion of Nehemiah's activity on behalf of the post-exilic community in Jerusalem, c. 432 B.C. Of this history the two books of Chronicles cover the period from Adam to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.[1] Before giving a detailed analysis, it may be of advantage to call attention to certain outstanding features. Remark that (1) the traditions of the period from Adam to Saul's death have been compressed into a series of genealogical lists which occupy chs. i.-ix.; (2) the rest of the two books gives an account of the history of Judah from the death of Saul down to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586, the fortunes of North Israel being ignored, except for some scornful allusions to its degeneracy in comparison with Judah and Jerusalem; (3) the keenest interest is displayed by the writer in all matters connected with the Levites, the Temple, and its worship, so that an extraordinary amount of space is allotted to those subjects—note esp. 1 Chr. vi., xxii.—xxix.; 2 Chr. iii.—vii., xxix.—xxxi., xxxiv. 8—xxxv. 19.
The following Table gives a general survey of the contents of 1 and 2 Chronicles[2].
(A) 1 Chr. i.—ix. Introductory Genealogies.
- ↑ Actually Chron. concludes with the first three verses of Ezra i., which relate the famous edict of Cyrus, permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem: see § 2 (1).
- ↑ The sign "=" in the Table means that the passage in Chron. is a transcription, with little or no change, of the passage given in brackets; the sign "cp." is used where the account in Chron. differs considerably from or has only a faint connection with that of the passage in brackets.
