Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The chapter enumerates the people who resettled Jerusalem, the Levites who guarded and served in the Temple, and the lineage of king Saul.

II. Photo
The gatekeepers are listed along with their logistical positions: “The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south.” (v. 24)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-3. All Israel was registered by genealogies; and these are in the book of the kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their trespass. The first to settle in their towns, on their property, were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants, while some of the Judahites and some of the Benjaminites and some of the Ephraimites and Manassehites settled in Jerusalem.
v. 19: Shallum son of Kore son of Ebiasaph son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his clan, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, guards of the threshold of the Tent; their fathers had been guards of the entrance to the camp of the LORD.
v. 22: All these, who were selected as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were selected by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust.
vv. 26-27: The four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasuries of the House of God. They spent the night near the House of God; for they had to do guard duty, and they were in charge of opening it every morning.

IV. Outline
1a. Summary statement
1b-2. Introduction to the postexilic returnees
3-9. Those who settled Jerusalem
10-13. Priests
14-34. The Levites
14-16. By family
17-27. The gatekeepers
28-32. The Temple keepers
33. Summary statement: singers
34. Summary statement: Levites
35-44. The family of Saul

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.stealthsettings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/WindowsLiveWriter/Compass_5642/Compass%20on%20a%20Nautical%20Chart%5B4%5D.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
A detailed genealogy of the Benjaminites is given. Particular attention is paid to the militias in Jerusalem and Gibeon.

II. Photo
The Benjaminites were proficient in warfare: “The descendants of Ulam — men of substance, who drew the bow, had many children and grandchildren — one hundred and fifty; all these were Benjaminites.” (v. 40)

III. Important Verses
v. 28: These were the chiefs of the clans, according to their lines. These chiefs dwelt in Jerusalem.
v. 40: The descendants of Ulam — men of substance, who drew the bow, had many children and grandchildren — one hundred and fifty; all these were Benjaminites.

IV. Outline
1-5. The children of Benjamin
6-28. Geneaology of Jerusalem’s chieftains
29-40. Geneaology of the warriors at Gibeon

V. Comment
Like the chapters before it, chapter 8 is a list of genealogies. Scholars categorize genealogies with the following four terms: linear, segmented, ascending, and descending. Braun explains them as follows: “Genealogies may display breadth (“These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, . . .” 1 Chr 2:1) and depth (“The sons of Solomon: Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, . . .” 1 Chr 3:10). If a genealogy displays depth alone, it is termed linear. It must by definition have a depth of at least two generations… If a genealogy displays breadth as well as depth, it is termed segmented. Due to their more complex nature, segmented genealogies are normally more restricted in depth than are linear genealogies… Genealogies may proceed from parent to child, in which case they are termed descending (cf. 1 Chr 9:39–44), or from child to parent, termed ascending (cf. 1 Chr 9:14–16).” (2-3)

Braun describes two different purposes for genealogies: “Linear and segmented genealogies differ substantially in their function. The linear genealogy commonly seeks to legitimize the position of the lastnamed person by relating him or her to an ancestor whose position is accepted as established; hence the various king lists of the ANE and the OT are uniformly linear in form. The segmented genealogy, on the other hand, has as its primary function the expression of the relationships existing between the various branches of individuals named. As such it points both to a commonality, in that those named are descended from a single individual, and to a divergency, in that respective branches are derived through different intermediate ancestors.” (ibid.)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Braun, Roddy. “1 Chronicles,” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 14 (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1986).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/images/archery-bow-ancient-archer-arrow1.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher are set forth.

II. Photo
A brief narrative interrupts the genealogy of Ephraim: “… The men of Gath, born in the land, killed them because they had gone down to take their cattle.” (v. 21)

III. Important Verses
vv. 14-15: The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead. And Machir took wives for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters.
vv. 20-23: The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath, his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah, also Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath, born in the land, killed them because they had gone down to take their cattle. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. He cohabited with his wife, who conceived and bore a son; and she named him Beriah, because it occurred when there was misfortune in his house.

IV. Outline
1-5. The families of Issachar
6-12. The families of Benjamin
13. The families of Naphtali
14-19. The families of Manasseh
20-29. The families of Ephraim
30-40. The families of Asher

V. Comment
Chapter 7 introduces the genealogies of six tribes, and chapter 8 will grant the tribe of Benjamin greater attention. As opposed to the lengthy and detailed genealogical lists of the previous chapters, scholars categorize the brief lists of our chapter as “muster calls.” De Vries writes in regards to vv. 1-5: “This is another muster roll – apparently the only sort of tribal record available to our genealogist… The muster roll has lost its original function. In [the chronicler’s] era Issachar probably no longer existed as a separate tribe, and certainly no longer maintained either a muster roll or a body of men to fill it. For [the chronicler] it does two important things: (1) maintains a place for Issachar as an ethnic unit within ‘ideal israel,’ and (2) presents the ideal of a skeleton force as part of the organization needed to maintain its claim to Israel’s land.” (73-74)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.obebeef.com.au/content/gallery-cattle-crosswater.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
A lineage of the Levitical family is given. The cities of refuge that they dwelled in are also listed.

II. Photo
The Levites were given cities with accompanying pasturelands: “These are their dwelling-places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Kohathites, for theirs was the [first] lot; they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands…” (vv. 39-40)

III. Important Verses
vv. 16-17: These were appointed by David to be in charge of song in the House of the LORD, from the time the Ark came to rest. They served at the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting with song until Solomon built the House of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they carried out their duties as prescribed for them.
v. 34: But Aaron and his sons made offerings upon the altar of burnt offering and upon the altar of incense, performing all the tasks of the most holy place, to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
vv. 39-41: These are their dwelling-places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Kohathites, for theirs was the [first] lot; they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands, but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

IV. Outline
1-4. The sons of Levi
5-6. Lineage of Gershom
7-13. Lineage of Kohath
14-15. Lineage of Merari
16-17. Introduction of the Temple’s workers
18-32. The guild of singers
33. The other Levites
34-38. The priests
39-45. Cities for the priests; Cities of refuge
46-66. Cities for the remaining Levites; Cities of refuge

V. Comment
After focusing on the tribe of Judah, the Chronicler turns his attention to the tribe of Levi. Collins writes: “The other tribes [besides Judah] that are accorded prominence in these genealogies are Levi and Benjamin. These were the tribes that remained faithful to the Davidic line, and were also significant in the restoration of the postexilic period. The Levitical line is treated at length in 1 Chron 6:1-[66]. Benjamin is also treated at length in 8:1-40. Saul, the first king of Israel, is listed in the genealogy of Benjamin, but receives no particular emphasis. The Chronicler returns to Saul, however, at the end of the genealogies in 9:35-44, where the notice prepares for the transition to the historical narrative proper, which begins with the death of Saul and the rise of David, in chapter 10.” (446)

Chapter 6 focuses on the Levitical singers. In an interesting study, Gese reconstructs the history behind the various references to the group. De Vries (71) summarizes Gese’s study as follows:

• At the return from the exile, the singers are simply called ‘sons of Asaph,’ and are not yet reckoned as Levites (Ezr 2:41; Neh 7:44);
• Neh 11:3-19 and 1 Chr 9:1-18, from Nehemiah’s time. The singers are now reckoned as Levites, and are in two groups, (1) the sons of Asaph, and (2) the sons of Jeduthun;
• 1 Chr 16:4ff.; 2 Chr 5:12; 29:13f; 35:15. The Levitical singers are now in three groups: (1) Asaph, (2) Heman, and (3) Jeduthun;
• 1 Chr 6:16ff. and 15:16ff. Jeduthun is replaced by Ethan, and Heman is now more prominent than Asaph.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://emilfineart.com/Images/photoLand/pasture2.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The genealogies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are all listed. While these tribes initially succeed in warfare, they are exiled by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria on account of their many sins. The descendants of Levi are then listed.

II. Photo
Tiglath-Pileser III, the Assyrian king who ruled from 744–727 BCE, is mentioned by name: “But [the Israelites] trespassed against the God of their fathers by going astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul of Assyria — the spirit of King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria — and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.” (vv. 25-26)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel. (He was the first-born; but when he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so he is not reckoned as first-born in the genealogy; though Judah became more powerful than his brothers and a leader came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.)
v. 6: his son Beerah — whom King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria exiled — was chieftain of the Reubenites.
v. 10: And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they occupied their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.
v. 17: All of them were registered by genealogies in the days of King Jotham of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam of Israel.
vv. 18-20: The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had warriors who carried shield and sword, drew the bow, and were experienced at war — 44,760, ready for service. They made war on the Hagrites — Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. They prevailed against them; the Hagrites and all who were with them were delivered into their hands, for they cried to God in the battle, and He responded to their entreaty because they trusted in Him.
vv. 23-26: The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land; they were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. These were the chiefs of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, men of substance, famous men, chiefs of their clans. But they trespassed against the God of their fathers by going astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul of Assyria — the spirit of King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria — and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

IV. Outline
1-10. List of the Reubenites and their conquests
11-17. List of the Gadites
18-22. Transjordanian war with the Hagrites
23-24. List of the half-tribe of Manasseh
25-26. Exile for Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
27-41. The descendants of Levi (including Aaron, Moses, and Miriam)

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/Tilglath_pileser_iii.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Judah’s genealogy is concluded. The genealogy of Simeon is listed, and the tribe’s dwelling place, chieftains, and battle reports are all enumerated.

II. Photo
A few professionals are specified: “The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the linen factory at Beth-ashbea.” (v. 21)

III. Important Verses
v. 1: The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
v. 14: Hathath and Meonothai. He begot Ophrah. Seraiah begot Joab father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen.
v. 21: The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the linen factory at Beth-ashbea.
v. 23: These were the potters who dwelt at Netaim and Gederah; they dwelt there in the king’s service.

IV. Outline

1-23. Geneaology of Judah (concluded)
    1. The sons of Judah
    2-7. The children of Hur
    8-20. Assorted geneaologies
    21-23. The children of Shela, son of Judah
24-43. Geneaology of Simeon
    24. Simeon’s sons
    25-33. Shaul’s sons, cities, and towns
    34-38. Tribal chieftains
    39-43. Battle reports

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://cottoncandycreations.net/linenthread.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David and Solomon’s descendants are listed.

II. Photo
Six of David’s sons are born in Hebron: “These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite…” (v. 1)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1,4-5, 9: These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron… six were born to him in Hebron. He reigned there seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. These were born to him in Jerusalem… All were David’s sons, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.
v. 10: The son of Solomon: Rehoboam; his son Abijah, his son Asa, his son Jehoshaphat…

IV. Outline

1-9. The children of David
    1-4. Children born in Hebron
    5-8. Children born in Jerusalem
10-24. The children of Solomon

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://www.global-ethic-now.de/gen-eng/0b_weltethos-und-religionen/0b-img/4-judentum/grab-hebron.jpg

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The genealogy of Judah is presented, and there is a special emphasis on Judah’s grandson Hezron. Hezron is the forefather of David.

II. Photo
Jesse’s seven sons are enumerated: “Jesse begot Eliab his first-born, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.” (vv. 13-15)

III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
vv. 3-4: The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three, Bath-shua the Canaanite woman bore to him. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was displeasing to the LORD, and He took his life. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah’s sons were five in all.
v. 7: The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass against the proscribed thing.
v. 55: The families of the scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites; these are the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rechab.

IV. Outline

1-2. Introduction: the sons of Israel
3-8. Sons of Judah
9-55. Descendants of Judah’s grandchild Hezron
    9-17. Genealogy of Ram, i.e. the lineage to David
    18-24. Genealogy of Caleb
    25-33. Genealogy of Jerahmeel
    34-41. Genealogy of Sheshan
    42-50a. Genealogy of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel
    50b-55. Genealogy of Hur

V. Comment
Chapter 2 begins Judah’s genealogy, and it will last for three chapters (chapter 3 focuses on David and chapter 4 focuses on the rest of the tribe). In a brief comment, Collins writes: “Although Judah is listed fourth among the sons of Jacob, his genealogy is presented first, and at greatest length (2:3-4:23). The Chronicler acknowledges the sin or Er, but skips over the episode of Onan, and the encounter of Judah and Tamar. A few genealogies in this list have no biblical source: Caleb son of Hezron (2:18-24), Jerahmeel (2:25-41), and Caleb again (2:42-50). We do not know whether the Chronicler derived these genealogies from other sources or how old those putative sources might be.” (446)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://lh5.ggpht.com/roadtotheaisle/SIkDkJWTPoI/AAAAAAAAAVs/XyaKleAi5qI/0129.jpg?imgmax=576

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The book of Chronicles opens with a lengthy genealogy that begins with Adam. Special attention is paid to the descendants of Shem, Ham, Japheth, Abraham, and the Edomites.

II. Photo
A history of the land of Edom is given: “These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites…” (v. 43)

III. Important Verses
v. 1: Adam, Seth, Enosh.
v. 10: Cush begot Nimrod; he was the first mighty one on earth.
vv. 27-28: Abram, that is, Abraham. The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
v. 34: Abraham begot Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

IV. Outline

1-23. Lineage of Adam’s descendants
    1-4. Antediluvian name list
    5-23. Lineage of Shem, Ham, and Japheth
        5-7. Japheth’s descendants
        8-16. Ham’s descendants
        17-23. Shem’s descendants
24-54. Lineage of Shem’s descendants
    24-27. Postdiluvian name list
    28-37. Abraham’s descendants
    38-54. Lineage of the Edomites

V. Comment
The book of Chronicles begins with a lengthy list of names. Like many of the names of Biblical books, the English name “Chronicles” derives from the ancient translations of the Bible. Klein writes: “In the Hebrew Bible this work carries the title dibrei hayyamim, ‘the events of the days.’ The title ‘Chronicles’ can be traced back to Jerome, who, in his Prologus Galeatus (a preface to the Books of Samuel and Kings), provided a more appropriate title, Chronicon Totius Divinae Historiae, or Chronicle of the Entire Divine History. In his German translation of the Bible, Luther called the book Die Chronik, which led to the familiar ‘Chronicles’ in English Bibles.” (992) The book appears as two books in most Bibles, and Klein writes: “The division into two books appears first in the LXX [Septuagint] and has been standard in Hebrew Bibles since the 15th century.” (992)

Collins provides an appropriate introduction to the book: “The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles constitute an alternative account of the history in the books of 2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings. They contain some material not found in the earlier books, and apparently drew on some additional sources. The character of Chronicles, however, is most easily seen by comparing its narrative with that of Samuel and Kings. The secondary character of these books is recognized already in the Septuagint, where they are given the title Paralipomena, which means ‘things ommitted’ or ‘passed over.’ This characterization offers a justification of sorts for the inclusion of a second historical narrative in the biblical corpus. It is not an accurate description of Chronicles, as it is in fact a highly selective retelling of the older material…

“The two books provide a continuous history, which can be divided into three parts:
    1 Chronicles 1-9: Introduction;
    1 Chronicles 10 - 2 Chronicles 9: the reigns of David and Solomon;
    2 Chronicles 10-36: the history of Judah from the separation of the northern tribes.

Since 2 Chronicles concludes with a reference to the restoration of the Jews after the Babylonian exile by Cyrus of Persia (2 Chron 36:22-23 = Ezra 1:1-3a), this account was completed in the postexilic period. The genealogy of the house of David points to a date around 400 B.C.E.” (445)
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from  http://www.basarchive.org/bswbImage.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=22&Issue=06&ImageID=03000&SourcePage=bswbSearch.asp&UserID=2369&