1 Chronicles

Definition and Meaning

1 Chronicles is the thirteenth book of the Old Testament and comprises 29 chapters. Its Hebrew name, Dibre Hayyamim, means "the events of the days," that is, annals or chronicles. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) called the book Paraleipomena, "things omitted," reportedly because it was regarded as supplementing material not found in Samuel and Kings. It originally formed a single book with 2 Chronicles and was divided into two in the Septuagint.

Biblical and Historical Background

The book's contents are as follows:

• Chapters 1–9: Genealogies of the tribes of Israel, extending from Adam to the period after the return from exile
• Chapter 10: The death of Saul
• Chapters 11–29: The reign of David, including the bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (chapters 13 and 15–16), God's promise concerning the Davidic dynasty (chapter 17), the preparations for building the temple and the organization of the Levites, priests, and singers (chapters 22–26), and the transfer of the throne to Solomon (chapters 28–29)

Compared with 2 Samuel, the book omits most of David's failings, such as the Bathsheba affair, although it does include the sin of the census (chapter 21). The book as a whole centers on the Jerusalem temple and its worship. The author is unknown. Jewish tradition attributes the book to Ezra, while scholars commonly refer to the author as "the Chronicler." Many hold that it was written during the Persian period, after the return from the Babylonian exile. According to a widely accepted interpretation, the book sought to affirm to the returned community the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and of temple worship. In the Hebrew Bible it stands at the end of the Writings, whereas Protestant Bibles follow the Septuagint order and place it after Kings.

Use in the Korean Church

• Name: The New Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Standard Version call the book Yeokdaesang ("Chronicles, Part One"), while the Korean Catholic Bible calls it Yeokdaegi Sanggwon ("Chronicles, Book One").
• Bible reading: Because of the lengthy genealogies at its beginning, the book is regarded as one of the more difficult sections for church members reading through the entire Bible. Some reading plans are arranged so that it is read alongside Samuel and Kings.
• Offerings and church building: David's prayer (29:10–19), especially "for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee" (1 Chronicles 29:14), is frequently quoted in offering prayers. The accounts of the preparations for building the temple (chapters 22 and 29) are often used in sermons for building fund offerings and church dedication services.
• Praise: The account of David's appointment of the singers (chapter 25) serves as a sermon text for choir dedication services.
• The Prayer of Jabez: 1 Chronicles 4:9–10 became widely known in Korea after Bruce Wilkinson's book The Prayer of Jabez was translated into Korean in the early 2000s and gained a broad readership. Some preach this passage as a model of prayer for blessing. Other pastors and theologians, by contrast, criticize this reading as taken out of context and akin to prosperity theology.

There are no notable differences among denominations regarding the book's canonical status or its basic interpretation.