Volume II
The First Book of Chronicles
With John Brown’s marginal references, notes and reflections · Vol. II, p. 807
This and the following book were probably written by Ezra the noted reformer after the captivity. They comprehend a history of about 3500 years from the creation till after the Jews returned from Babylon. Their manifest scope is to fix the genealogies of the Jewish nation, and to narrate the noted transactions of David and his royal descendants. As the ancient names of persons or places are sometimes altered in whole or in part, and a number of circumstances, not formerly mentioned, inserted, there is sometimes a seeming, but not a real, contradiction between them and the preceding books; particularly 2 Samuel and the two books of Kings. If we are at any loss to reconcile some of these passages let us blame our own weakness, but never the oracles of God. Things relative to these mere circumstances might be obvious to the ancient Jews, which are now to us obscure or unknown. The first book contains, (1) A collection of sacred genealogy for about 3600 years, from Adam till long after the captivity, mingled with some shreds of history not formerly inserted, i.-ix. This genealogy was of great use to the Jews who returned from Babylon, to fix them in their respective tribes and families; and is of use to us, to manifest our Redeemer to be the promised seed of David, Judah, Abraham, and Eve, according to the flesh. And now that he is come, for whose sake the registers were chiefly preserved, no genealogy of the Jews, for more than 1700 years backwards, is in the least to be depended on. (2) A repeated view of the translation of the kingdom of Israel from Saul to David, and of the triumphs of the latter, with several additions, x.-xii. xviii.-xxi. (3) An account of David's settling the ark at Jerusalem; fixing the orders of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, and other ecclesiastical officers; appointing the officers of his property and trained bands; of the vast preparations he made for building the temple; and the directions he gave to Solomon and others concerning it; most of which is not before narrated; xiv.-xvii. xxii.-xxix. [The First and Second Books of Chronicles were originally one. Jerome informs us that in his time they formed but one book in all Hebrew MSS.; but that the early Christian churches had divided them on account of their length. The name Chronica, or Chronicorum Liber, given to them in the Vulgate, and from which comes their modern appellation, appears to be derived from Jerome. Jewish tradition assigns the compilation of the books to Ezra, and with this their internal character entirely agrees. It is worthy of note that the book of Ezra is a continuation of Chronicles. The two may be said in fact to form one complete history. The more immediate causes of the compilation of Chronicles appear to have been, (1) A desire to rectify and preserve the genealogical registers of the nation, which had doubtless become seriously deranged by the captivity. Without these registers the redistribution of Palestine among the returned captives would have been impossible. (2) A desire to reconstruct the whole temple service and national worship in accordance with the Mosaic law. This could only be effected by the residence of the priests and Levites in Jerusalem in the order of their courses, as arranged by David. The whole registers of the tribe of Levi had therefore to be revised; and the laws for the tithes and offerings had to be fully considered. These facts will explain the leading characteristics of the books of Chronicles. The scholar observes a striking resemblance in style to the book of Ezra; he also notices many Chaldee words and forms of expression, showing that the author, while he wrote in Hebrew, was familiar with the Chaldee tongue. P.]