1 Chronicles
The book of 1 Chronicles contains genealogical records of the descendants of Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the Israelites, including the lines of Cain, Seth, and Noah, as well as the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The book also lists the descendants of Abraham, including Ishmael and Isaac, and the sons of Esau and Israel. The genealogies continue through the descendants of Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, eventually leading to Jesse and his sons, including David. The book also lists the descendants of Caleb, Jerahmeel, and other notable figures, as well as the kings of Edom and the commanders who ruled Edom. Additionally, the book records the reign of King David, including his victories over the Philistines, Moabites, and other nations, and his preparations for the construction of the Lord's house, which would eventually be built by his son Solomon.
Chapter 1
The descendants of Adam are listed, including the lines of Cain, Seth, and Noah. The sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, are also listed along with their descendants, including the nations that arose from them. The descendants of Abraham are then listed, including Ishmael and Isaac, and the sons of Esau and Israel. The chapter also lists the kings of Edom, who reigned before there was a king over Israel, and the commanders who later ruled Edom.
Chapter 2
The descendants of Israel are listed, including the sons of Judah and their offspring, such as Perez and Zerah. The genealogy continues through the descendants of Perez, including Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, and eventually leads to Jesse and his sons, including David. The chapter also lists the descendants of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, and the sons of Hezron, including Hur and Bezalel. Additionally, the genealogy includes the descendants of Jerahmeel, including Ram and his sons, as well as the sons of Caleb and his concubines.
Chapter 3
David had six sons born to him in Hebron, and later, in Jerusalem, he had more sons, including Solomon, who was born to Bathsheba. The descendants of Solomon are listed, including Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat, continuing down to Josiah. Josiah's sons are listed, including Johanan, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, and Shallum. The descendants of Jeconiah, who was taken captive, are also listed, including Shealtiel, Pedaiah, and Zerubbabel, and continuing down to several generations of their descendants.
Chapter 4
The descendants of Judah are listed, including Perez, Hezron, Carmi, and Hur, as well as the sons of Ashhur, Jabez, and other notable figures. The chapter also lists the descendants of Simeon, including Nemuel, Jamin, and Jarib. The Simeonites are described as living in various cities and towns, and some of them went to Mount Seir and struck down the remaining Amalekites, taking their place.
Chapter 5
The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, are listed, but his right as firstborn was given to the sons of Joseph due to his sin. The sons of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, were skilled warriors who fought against the Hagarites and were victorious with God's help. They possessed a large amount of land and livestock in Gilead and Bashan, but eventually abandoned God and were taken captive by the Assyrian kings Pul and Tilgath-pilneser.
Chapter 6
The descendants of Levi are listed, including the sons of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, and their subsequent generations. The sons of Aaron are also listed, along with their roles in the priestly office. The Levites are assigned various cities and suburbs throughout the tribes of Israel, with the sons of Aaron receiving cities of refuge, including Hebron and Libnah. The chapter concludes with the distribution of cities to the remaining Levites, including the sons of Kohath, Gershom, and Merari, from various tribes.
Chapter 7
The descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher are listed, along with their numbers and notable family members. The sons of Issachar are Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, with Tola having 22,600 strong men in the days of David. The sons of Benjamin are Bela, Becher, and Jediael, with Bela having 22,034 strong men. The sons of Manasseh include Asriel and Machir, with Machir's descendants including Huppim and Shuppim. The sons of Ephraim include Shuthelah and Beriah, with Ephraim mourning the loss of his sons who were killed by the men of Gath. The sons of Asher are Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah, with Beriah having 26,000 strong men.
Chapter 8
The descendants of Benjamin are listed, including his sons Bela, Ashbel, Aharah, Nohah, and Rapha. The sons of Bela and their descendants are also listed, as well as the descendants of other Benjaminite families, including those of Ehud, Shaharaim, Elpaal, and Beriah. The chapter also lists the descendants of Saul, including his sons Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal, and the descendants of Jonathan's son Meribbaal.
Chapter 9
The Israelites were numbered and recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, and those who remained in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile are listed, including the sons of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. The priests, Levites, and temple servants who stayed in Jerusalem are also listed, along with their families and numbers. The gatekeepers, who were responsible for the gates of the temple, are listed as well, including their families and the number of gatekeepers, which was 212. The chapter also lists the leaders of the singing men, the sons of the priests who composed ointments, and the Levites who were in charge of the vessels and equipment of the sanctuary. The chapter concludes with a list of the descendants of Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, and the family of Saul, including Jonathan and his son Meribbaal.
Chapter 10
The Philistines defeated the Israelites on Mount Gilboa, killing Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. Saul, wounded by archers, asked his armor bearer to kill him, but the armor bearer refused, so Saul took his own life by falling on his sword. The Philistines then desecrated Saul's body, cutting off his head and stripping his armor, and sent these items to their temples to be displayed. The men of Jabesh Gilead later retrieved Saul's body and those of his sons, burying them under an oak tree in Jabesh.
Chapter 11
David was anointed king over Israel at Hebron, and he made a pact with the leaders of Israel before the Lord. He then captured the stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites and made it his capital, renaming it the City of David. David's power and influence continued to grow, and the Lord was with him. The chapter also lists the names and exploits of David's mighty men, including Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Benaiah, who performed great deeds in battle.
Chapter 12
Warriors from various tribes, including Benjamin, Gad, Manasseh, and others, joined David at Ziklag and later at Hebron, bringing their military skills and strength to support him. These men were skilled fighters, some of whom were leaders of thousands, and they pledged their loyalty to David. The total number of warriors who joined David at Hebron was significant, with representatives from all the tribes of Israel, and they all came with the intention of making David their king. The people of Israel, including those from nearby tribes, provided food and supplies for the warriors, and there was great joy and unity among them as they gathered to support David's kingship.
Chapter 13
David consulted with the leaders of Israel and proposed that they bring the ark of God back to them, as it had been neglected during Saul's reign. The people agreed, and David gathered all of Israel to bring the ark from Kiriath-jearim. However, during the transport, Uzzah, who was driving the cart, reached out to steady the ark and was struck down by God for touching it. The ark was then taken to the house of Obededom, where it remained for three months and brought blessings to his household.
Chapter 14
King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers and materials to David to build a house for him, and David realized the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel. David took more wives in Jerusalem and had several sons, including Solomon. The Philistines sought David after hearing he was anointed king over all Israel, but David consulted the Lord and was told to ascend and fight them, resulting in a victory at Baal-perazim. David again consulted the Lord when the Philistines invaded a second time and was given specific instructions on how to defeat them, which he followed and achieved another victory.
Chapter 15
David prepared a place for the ark of God in Jerusalem and gathered the Levites to carry it, as only they were chosen by the Lord for this task. The Levites, led by Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, were sanctified and carried the ark on their shoulders as instructed by Moses. David also appointed singers and musicians to accompany the ark, and the procession was led by the priests sounding trumpets. The ark was brought to Jerusalem with great rejoicing and sacrifices, but Michal, David's wife, despised him for dancing and playing before the ark.
Chapter 16
David set up the ark of God in the tabernacle and offered sacrifices, then blessed the people and distributed food to them. He appointed Levites, led by Asaph, to minister before the ark, singing and playing instruments to praise the Lord. Asaph and his brothers were instructed to confess to the Lord, invoking his name and describing his miracles, and to seek the Lord and his virtue. The passage also describes the Lord's greatness and power, and the people's call to worship and praise him, and concludes with the Levites continuing to minister before the ark and the priests offering sacrifices at the tabernacle in Gibeon.
Chapter 17
David expressed his desire to build a house for the Lord, but God told Nathan that David would not build the house, as He had never dwelled in a house since leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Instead, God promised to establish David's kingdom and raise up his offspring to build a house for Him. God also promised to make David's throne firm and to be a father to his son, showing mercy to him. David responded with a prayer of gratitude and humility, acknowledging God's greatness and asking that His word be confirmed in perpetuity.
Chapter 18
David defeated the Philistines, taking Gath and its surrounding cities, and the Moabites became his servants. He also defeated Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, and the Syrians who came to his aid, taking many chariots, horses, and men. David stationed soldiers in Damascus and took many spoils, including gold, silver, and brass, which he consecrated to the Lord. He also defeated the Edomites and stationed a garrison in Edom, and the Lord saved him in all his endeavors, allowing him to reign over all of Israel and execute judgment and justice among his people.
Chapter 19
David sent messengers to console Hanun, the new king of Ammon, after his father's death, but Hanun's leaders suspected David's intentions and humiliated the messengers. In response, Hanun and the Ammonites prepared for war against David, hiring chariots and horsemen from neighboring regions. David sent Joab and the army to fight the Ammonites and their allies, and they were victorious, with Joab defeating the Syrians and Abishai defeating the Ammonites. The Syrians regrouped and were again defeated by David, who killed 7,000 chariots and 40,000 men, leading to the surrender of Hadadezer's servants and the end of Syrian aid to Ammon.
Chapter 20
Joab led the army to lay waste to the land of the sons of Ammon, besieged Rabbah, and destroyed it, with David taking the crown of Milcom and the city's spoils. David then led the people of Rabbah away and subjected them to harsh treatment, including being cut apart and crushed by plows and iron chariots. David also led his people to victory in wars against the Philistines, with his servants defeating giants, including Sippai, the brother of Goliath, and a man with six digits. These victories were won by David and his servants, including Jonathan, the son of Shimea, and Sibbecai the Hushathite.
Chapter 21
Satan incited David to number Israel, despite Joab's warning that it may be considered a sin. David ordered the census, and the total number of men who could draw a sword was found to be 1.1 million from Israel and 470,000 from Judah. God was displeased with the census and struck Israel, and David confessed his sin and was given the option of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose the pestilence, and 70,000 men died, but the Lord relented and stopped the Angel of the Lord from striking Jerusalem. David then built an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, where the Angel had appeared, and offered sacrifices to the Lord, who heeded his prayer and sent fire from heaven.
Chapter 22
David prepared materials for the construction of the Lord's house, including iron, brass, and cedar trees, and appointed stoneworkers and craftsmen for the project. He called for his son Solomon and instructed him to build the house, explaining that the Lord had forbidden David from building it himself due to his history of bloodshed. David encouraged Solomon to seek the Lord and to build the house according to the Lord's instructions, and he presented Solomon with the vast wealth of materials he had prepared for the project.
Chapter 23
David, now old, appointed Solomon as king over Israel and gathered the leaders, priests, and Levites. The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, totaling 38,000 men, with 24,000 chosen for the ministry of the house of the Lord. David distributed them into courses according to the sons of Levi, specifically Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. The Levites were assigned various roles, including ministry, oversight, judging, and singing, with the priests overseeing the bread of the presence and sacrifices.
Chapter 24
The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, died without children, leaving Eleazar and Ithamar to exercise the priestly office. David distributed the priestly duties between the sons of Eleazar and Ithamar, with 16 leaders from the sons of Eleazar and 8 from the sons of Ithamar. The priestly duties were divided by lot, with the scribe Shemaiah recording the assignments. The Levites, who were not part of the priestly families, also cast lots to determine their duties, with the assignments being divided equitably among the families.
Chapter 25
David and the leaders of the army set apart the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with musical instruments in the temple. The sons of these men were assigned to their respective fathers and were given specific roles in the ministry. The total number of these musicians, including their brothers, was 288, and they were divided into 24 groups, each with 12 members, to serve in the temple.
Chapter 26
The divisions of the porters, or gatekeepers, were established from the Korahites and the sons of Merari, with specific individuals assigned to each gate. The porters were distributed by lot, with some assigned to the east, north, south, and west gates. The sons of Obededom and the sons of Meshelemiah were among those assigned to the gates. The treasuries of the house of God were overseen by Ahijah, and the sons of Ladan, the sons of Gershon, were leaders of the families of Ladan and Gershon.
Chapter 27
The Israelites were divided into 12 companies, each led by a different commander, with 24,000 men in each company, serving on a monthly rotation. The leaders of the tribes of Israel were also listed, with specific individuals in charge of each tribe. David had leaders in charge of various aspects of the kingdom, including the king's storerooms, farmlands, vineyards, olive groves, herds, camels, donkeys, and sheep. Additionally, David had counselors, including Jonathan, Ahithophel, and Hushai, and Joab was the leader of the king's army.
Chapter 28
David gathered Israel's leaders and announced that God had chosen Solomon to build the temple, as David was a man of war and had shed blood. David explained that God had chosen him as king and then chosen Solomon as his successor, promising to establish his kingdom forever if he obeyed God's precepts. David exhorted Solomon to know and serve God with a perfect heart and willing mind, and then gave him detailed plans for the temple, including the materials and vessels needed for its construction.
Chapter 29
King David addressed the assembly, stating that his son Solomon was chosen by God to build the temple, despite being young. David had prepared materials for the temple, including gold, silver, and precious stones, and he offered additional gold and silver from his own belongings. The leaders of Israel also made generous offerings, and the people rejoiced, giving willingly to the Lord. David blessed the Lord, acknowledging His power and dominion over all things, and prayed that the people's desire to build the temple would remain forever.
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