These books are placed at the end of the Jewish Sacred Books (Hagiocrapha). In them we have a record of David, Solomon, and the kings of Judah. They unfold many wonderful features that typify the Lord Jesus Christ and we can learn much of Him through what is recorded of some of the kings of Judah.
The first book has 29 chapters and the second 36 chapters. They have a genealogical section and a historical section. The genealogical section is in the first book (1Chro 1:1-9:44). The historical section is from chapter 10 to the end of the second book. The events recorded in the first book cover a period of around 40 years while the events in the second book cover a period of around 450 years.
1 Chronicles: After the genealogy section the historical section commences with the overthrow of the house of Saul through the Philistines’ triumph over Israel (10:1-14) followed by the establishment of the house of David (1Chro 11:1; 2Chro 36:21). In the first nine verses of chapter 11 we have the anointing of David as king and his triumph over the Jebusites. In verses 10-47 we have his mighty men and in chapter 12:1-37 those who were with King David in Ziklag (vv1-22) and in Hebron (vv23-37).
Chapter 13 deals with the bringing up of the Ark. In chapter 15 David made himself houses in Jerusalem and pitched a tent for the Ark. In the first six verses of chapter 16 the Ark was placed in the tent that David had pitched. In the closing verses we have David’s Psalm of thanksgiving and the offerings to the Lord.
In chapter 17:1-15 David desired to build a house for the Lord, but through the prophet Nathan he was forbidden to do so and was told that his son would build it (2 Sam 7:1-17). Then David sat before the Lord (17:16-27). In chapters 18-29 we have David’s conquests, his sin in numbering Israel, and the Lord’s punishment (1Chro 21). In the closing chapters 22-29, we have the site and pattern of the Temple, Solomon made king, and the death of David.
2 Chronicles: This second book opens where the first book closes during King Solomon’s reign. It contains the records of successive kings of the southern kingdom of Judah from the division of the united kingdom to the Babylonian captivity. In chapters 1:1-9:31 we have Solomon’s reign. During that time we have Solomon’s request for wisdom and knowledge, the building and dedication of the Temple, his prayer for the people, the visit of the Queen of Sheba because of his fame and riches, and Solomon’s death.
Chapters 10:1-12:16 cover Rehoboam’s reign during which there was the revolt of Jeroboam and the invasion of Shishak king of Egypt. In chapters 13:1-14:1, we have Abijah’s reign when there was war between him and Jeroboam and between Israel and Judah.
In chapters 14:1-16:14 we have Asa’s reign when there was the removal of idolatry (14:1-7); the invasion of Zerah the Ethiopian, and Judah’s triumph through the Lord (14:9-15:19); the invasion of Baasha king of Israel and Asa’s foolish dependence upon Syria and his death (16:1-14).
In chapters 17:1-21:1 there is Jehoshaphat’s reign, with the establishing of his kingdom (v17); his alliance with Ahab king of Israel (v18); the invasion of Moab and Ammon and their destruction (20:1-25); then the return to Jerusalem; the closing days of Jehoshaphat’s reign and his death (20:26-21:2).
In chapter 21:1-20 we have Jehoram’s reign of eight years after the slaughter of his brethren (vv1-7). During his reign the Edomites and Libnah revolted (vv8-10). Jehoram’s evil ways and God’s judgments are recorded in verses 11-15, followed by the invasion of the Philistines and Arabians (vv16-17); the Lord smote Jehoram, and he suffered sickness and died (vv18-20).
In chapter 22:1-9 we have Ahaziah’s shameful reign of one year due to the counsel of the house of Ahab and of Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother (vv1-5). Prior to Athaliah’s reign of three years she destroyed all the seed royal except Joash, the young son of Ahaziah who was stolen away by the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, and hid from Athaliah for six years in the House of the Lord (22:10-12).
In chapter 24, Joash, at the age of seven, began to reign. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord during the life of Jehoiada the priest (vv1-3). He had the House of the Lord repaired (vv4-14). When Jehoiada the priest died at the age of 130 (vv15-16), the princes of Judah persuaded king Joash to renew idolatry (vv17-19). Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, spoke against it and was stoned at the king’s command. During the close of his reign there was the invasion of the Syrians, the destruction of the princes, and Joash’s servants slew him (vv23-27).
