King James Version
1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of 1 Chronicles: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Ezra, in the Talmud, with Nehemiah finishing. The book is anonymous. Many scholars speak of the Chronicler, a writer of the Persian period. |
|---|---|
| Date | 450–425 BC in one survey. Critical scholars commonly date it about 400–300 BC. |
| Place written | Not stated. Jerusalem, in the Persian province of Yehud, is the usual inference. |
| Genre | Genealogy and history retold from the perspective of the temple and the line of David. |
| Chapters | 29 |
| Verses | 942 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | 1 Chronicles 17:141 Chronicles 17:14 · King James VersionBut I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.1 Chronicles 17:14 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
1 and 2 Chronicles are one book in the Hebrew Bible. The Talmud says Ezra wrote his book and the genealogies of Chronicles up to himself, and that Nehemiah finished it. (2) The genealogy of David’s line in 1 Chronicles 3:17–241 Chronicles 3:17–24 · King James Version3:17 And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,
3:18 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
3:19 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:
3:20 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.
3:21 And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.
3:22 And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
3:23 And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.
3:24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
1 Chronicles 3:17–24 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) runs several generations after the exile. The writer cites sources, including the books of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad in 1 Chronicles 29:291 Chronicles 29:29 · King James VersionNow the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,
1 Chronicles 29:29 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Critical scholars often speak of the Chronicler and debate whether he also wrote Ezra and Nehemiah, given that 2 Chronicles 36:22–232 Chronicles 36:22–23 · King James Version36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
2 Chronicles 36:22–23 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Ezra 1:1–3Ezra 1:1–3 · King James Version1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
1:2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:1–3 · King James VersionOpen the Source overlap.
Who It Is Not
David and Solomon are subjects. The prophets cited as sources are not the authors.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives 450–425 BC. (5) The book’s genealogies and its use of the Persian coin darics in 1 Chronicles 29:71 Chronicles 29:7 · King James VersionAnd gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
1 Chronicles 29:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source point to the Persian period.
Audience and Setting
The returned community in Judah. The purpose is to connect them to Israel’s past, the temple, and the promise to David.
Rulers at the Time
David reigns in 1 Chronicles 11–29. Reign dates were not checked for this essay and are omitted.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Genealogies from Adam | 1 Chronicles 1–9 |
| Saul’s death | 1 Chronicles 10 |
| David’s reign | 1 Chronicles 11–29 |
| Composition | 450–425 BC in one survey. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem | The Old City and the City of David, Jerusalem. | 1 Chronicles 11:41 Chronicles 11:4 · King James VersionAnd David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.1 Chronicles 11:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Hebron | Hebron, West Bank. | 1 Chronicles 11:11 Chronicles 11:1 · King James VersionThen all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.1 Chronicles 11:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
1 Chronicles 1–9 trace genealogies from Adam to the returned exiles. 1 Chronicles 10 is Saul’s death. 1 Chronicles 11–29 are David’s reign, focused on the ark and preparations for the temple.
Key Themes
The Davidic covenant in 1 Chronicles 17:11–141 Chronicles 17:11–14 · King James Version17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.
17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:
17:14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
1 Chronicles 17:11–14 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Worship and the temple in 1 Chronicles 16. Seeking God in 1 Chronicles 16:111 Chronicles 16:11 · King James VersionSeek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
1 Chronicles 16:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Chronicles omits David’s sin with Bathsheba and sometimes gives different numbers from Samuel and Kings. Scholars explain the numbers by copying errors and different counts. The omissions fit the book’s purpose of presenting the temple and the covenant.
How the Book Points to Christ
The everlasting throne in 1 Chronicles 17:141 Chronicles 17:14 · King James VersionBut I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
1 Chronicles 17:14 · King James VersionOpen the Source points to Christ. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Chronicles is represented at Qumran by small fragments. (6)
Canon Reception
Chronicles is the last book in many Hebrew Bibles. Athanasius counts the two books of Chronicles as one. (4) (3)
Further Reading
References
- First Book of Chronicles, 3:17–24; 29:29
- Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 15a, 15a (The William Davidson English on Sefaria is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The page continues the list of writers and the debate about it.)
- Against Apion, 1.8Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William Whiston
For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from, and contradicting one another: [as the Greeks have:] but only twenty two books: which contain the records of all the past times: which are justly believed to be divine. And of them five belong to Moses: which contain his laws, and the traditions of the origin of mankind, till his death.
Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William WhistonOpen the Source (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion 1.8, translated by William Whiston. Josephus counts twenty-two books: five of Moses, thirteen of the prophets from Moses to Artaxerxes, and four of hymns and precepts.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, 1 Chronicles (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives 1 Chronicles as 450–425 BC (1 and 2 Chronicles). It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Dead Sea Scrolls, introduction, Biblical manuscriptsDead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities Authority
Among the Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther).
Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities AuthorityOpen the Source (Israel Antiquities Authority. Biblical manuscripts from the Qumran caves date from the third century BC into the first century AD, and every book of the Hebrew Bible except Esther is represented.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.