1 Chronicles
Old Testament · translated from the Hebrew
The history of Israel told again, after the exile, for a people starting over: genealogies from Adam and the reign of David, with the focus on the ark, worship and YHWH’s promise to the house of David.
How it is laid out
Key verses
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 — Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good
- 1 Chronicles 29:11 — Yours, YHWH, are the greatness and the might
- 1 Chronicles 4:10 — The prayer of Jabez
Who wrote it
The book does not say who wrote it. It cites writings of Samuel, Nathan and Gad (29:29). Jewish tradition attributes it to Ezra (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 15a). Authorship is debated.
When it was written
After the return from exile, probably between 450 and 400 BC: David’s genealogy runs several generations after Zerubbabel (3:19–24).
For whom, and in what situation
Those who had returned from exile to Judah and were starting over. The book reminds them of their families, from Adam on, and of the place of David, the temple and the Levites.
All the books
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation