Books of Chronicles in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Hebrew "Words" or "Acts of days." In the Septuagint Paraleipomena, i.e. "Supplements" to 1 and 2 KINGS. Probably compiled by Ezra. One genealogy, indeed, of a later date, namely, Zerubbabel's, was doubtless added by a more recent hand (1 Chronicles 3:22-24) as was Nehemiah 12:10-11-22-23. The Book of Ezra forms a continuation to Chronicles. The chief difficulty at the return from Babylon was to maintain the genealogical distribution of lands, which was essential in the Jewish polity. Ezra and Nehemiah therefore, as restorers of that polity, gave primary attention to this. Again, the temple service, the religious bond of the nation, could only be maintained by the Levites' residence in Jerusalem, for which end the payment of tithes and firstfruits was indispensable. Moreover, the Levitical genealogies needed to be arranged, to settle the order of the temple courses, and who were entitled to allowances as priests, porters, and singers. The people also needed to have their inheritances assigned according to their families, to be able to pay tithes. Hence, genealogies occupy a prominent place in the Chronicles, just as we should expect in a book compiled by Ezra under such circumstances. Zerubbabel, and subsequently Ezra and Nehemiah, not only strove in the face of difficulties (Ezra 2-3; Ezra 5-6; Ezra 8; Nehemiah 7-8) to restore the temple service to its state under the kings of Judah, but also to infuse into the people a national spirit. For this end, the Chronicles give a summary history of David, introduced by the closing scene of Saul's life, and of the succeeding kings, especially of some of the greatest and best kings who built or restored the temple, abolished corruption, and established the services in due order, as Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc. Since the northern kingdom of Israel had passed away, and Samaria its only remaining representative was among Judah's bitterest foes, Israel's history occupies a subordinate place. Accordingly, 1 Chronicles 1-8 give the genealogies and settlements; 1 Chronicles 9:1-24 their disturbance by the captivity, and partial restoration at the return; this portion is reinserted in Nehemiah 11:3-22 with additional matter from the archives, as to times succeeding the return from Babylon, down to Nehemiah 12:27, where Nehemiah's narrative is resumed from Nehemiah 11:2. At 1 Chronicles 9:35 begins Saul's genealogy, taken from the tables drawn up in Hezekiah's reign (for 14 generations from Jonathan to Azel correspond to the 14 from David to Hezekiah); then the history of (mainly) Judah's kings follows, and of the events down to the end of the book of Ezra, which suit the patriotic purpose of the compiler...