1 Chronicles

David's Prayer (16:1-43). After David worshiped with sacrifice, he called for the Levites to offer thanksgiving, prayer, and praise.

David presented a thanksgiving hymn. The Chronicler compiled excerpts from well-known psalms to convey the meaning of David's hymn for the Chronicler's community (Ps. 96; 105:1-15; 106:1,47-48). David called the righteous to worship, extolled the Lord's grace from the days of Abraham, and concluded by invoking all creation to worship the Creator.

David provided for the daily sacrifice by appointing Asaph to minister at the ark in Jerusalem and Zadok to serve the tabernacle at Gibeon.

God's Promises to David (17:1-27). After David had brought the ark to Jerusalem, he decided to build a "house" (temple) for the Lord. By divine oracle the prophet Nathan learned that God would instead build David a dynastic "house." God promised David a kingdom, a throne, and an eternal dynastic house. David's son would build the Lord's house and would rule as God's son over the Lord's kingdom. The Chronicler explained elsewhere that God prohibited David from building the temple because David's career was known for war and bloodshed (22:8; 28:3).

When Nathan reported the oracle, David prayed, admitting his unworthiness and marveling at the magnitude of God's greatness and grace. The ultimate fulfillment of God's pledge is realized in David's Greater Son, Jesus Christ (see Luke 1:32-33).

David's Conquests (18:1-17). The sincerity of God's promise to David was evidenced by the immediate victories the Lord granted over the Philistines, Arameans, and Edomites. David responded with thanksgiving by giving the spoils of battle to the Lord. The Chronicler concluded: "The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went" (18:6,13). As a result of his new triumphs and expanding kingdom, David increased his governing bureaucracy (2 Sam. 8:15-18).

Defeat the Ammonites (19:1-19). The Lord remained faithful to David by enabling his victory over a coalition of Ammonites and Arameans. David sent a delegation of envoys to befriend Hanun, who succeeded his father, Nahash, as king of the Ammonites. But Hanun spurned David's offer of peace. A major battle ensued, and David's troops outmaneuvered the enemy (2 Sam. 10:1-19).

Rabbah and Philistia (20:1-8). Joab, David's military commander, routed the Ammonites by capturing their capital city Rabbah (1 Chr. 20:1-3; 2 Sam. 12:26-31). David's champions subjugated the Philistine giants (2 Sam. 21:15-22). Typical of the Chronicler, he omitted the embarrassing incident of David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11) and left out the account of Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam. 13-19). Chronicles passes over these accounts because they do not serve its purpose. The Chronicler overlooked moral defeats and highlighted David's victories to draw attention to God's sovereignty in David's life. God succeeded in using David to fulfill His purposes for him. David's greatest accomplishments were not political but spiritual—moving the ark to Jerusalem and preparing for the construction of the temple.

The final section features the preparations David made for the building of the temple. For the Chronicler this was the most important contribution of the king and predominated his account of David's reign. The temple site was divinely chosen. David organized the Levites and priests for the temple work, organized the army, and held a national convocation. There the people contributed gifts, and David appointed Solomon king and Zadok priest.

Atonement for Evil (21:1-30). While the Chronicler was careful to extol David's virtues, he included the sin of David's census because it explained the choice of the temple site. David took a census of his military troops, presumably because of his pride (see Exod. 30:11-16).

The parallel in 2 Samuel ascribes David's temptation to God (2 Sam. 24:1), but the Chronicler attributed it to Satan. The reason for this difference is the theological purpose of each writing. The Old Testament ascribes all things to the sovereignty of God, indicating His control over all creation (Isa. 45:7). The Chronicler, however, emphasized the holiness of God and therefore featured Satan as the direct cause for David's sin. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, Satan ( the accuser) acts under God's direction (Job 1:6; Zech. 3:1).

Although David confessed his sin, he suffered the consequences of his evil deed. God sent an angel to chasten Jerusalem by a plague. To atone for his sins, David built an altar of sacrifice at the site of Araunah's threshing floor. David bought the place, though Araunah volunteered it, because David knew that true atonement always requires payment. God consumed the offering with fire from heaven, and the plague ceased.

Charge to Solomon (22:1-19). In Kings David's charge included the elimination of his enemies (1 Kgs. 1-2). The Chronicler, whose interest was in David's role as a spiritual leader, omitted this and told only of Solomon's appointment to build the temple.

David established Araunah's threshing floor as the future temple site. He gathered materials and workmen in preparation for the building because Solomon was inexperienced. He charged Solomon to build the edifice, explaining that he was disqualified because of his reputation as a warrior. Peaceful Solomon would be permitted to build the temple. David illustrated his point by making a word play on the name of Solomon ( shelomoh), which is similar in sound to "peace" ( shalom). David finally instructed Solomon to be faithful so that he might have success. David assembled numerous materials and workers to assure Solomon's achievement.

David commanded his officials to help in the task and to serve the Lord with full devotion. He believed that for this purpose God had granted them victory over their enemies.

Organizing the Levites (23:1-32). The Chronicler was not concerned with the political details of Solomon's accession (see 1 Kgs. 1-2). He presented the transition as peaceful and orderly.

The appointment and work of the Levites was divinely ordained through Moses (Num. 3:1-4:49). David organized the Levites into three groups by families—Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. The Levites were assigned to assist the priests' work in the service of the temple.

Organizing the Priests (24:1-31). Aaron's descendants had the exclusive assignment of ministering before the ark (23:13-14; 24:19; Num. 18:1-7). The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar were divided into twenty-four orders, which served at the temple in rotation (see Luke 1:5,8-9). The order of service for the remaining Levites was determined by the casting of lots in the same manner for as the priests.

Music for the Lord (25:1-31). David established three musical guilds under his supervision. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (Ethan) were Levites David appointed for the musical accompaniment of temple worship (see 15:16-22). The guilds were drawn from all age groups and those with differing musical skills. They were divided into twenty-four courses like the priests.

Serving the Lord's House (26:1-32). Levites from the families of Korah and Merari were entrusted with the security of the temple as gatekeepers. They were chosen because of their exceptional ability. The gatekeepers were stationed day and night to protect the temple. The Levites also provided caretakers for the treasuries. The temple's treasuries included gifts dedicated by David, Samuel, and Saul. The Levites collected taxes for the king (23:29-32).

Army and Administrators (27:1-34). The twelve army divisions and the officers of Israel's tribes are listed. Population figures were not kept because of God's wrath (see 21:1-7). Administrators over civil matters are named, followed by the members of the royal cabinet.

Providential Plans (28:1-21). David assembled Israel to witness his final charge to Solomon. David was precluded from building the temple, but God providentially prepared Solomon to accomplish that task. David repeated the provisions of God's covenant and commissioned Solomon to build the temple (see also 17:1-27; 22:1-19).

David delivered the plans for the temple to Solomon that he had written under the Lord's guidance. Just as the Lord revealed the tabernacle plan to Moses (Exod. 25:1-30:38), the Spirit instructed David's mind.

The plans included the structure of the temple, the treasuries, storehouses, and the holy furniture. The specific document written by David is not preserved in Scripture, but the substance of it probably is found in Chronicles where the temple and its worship are described (1 Chr. 22:1-26:32; 2 Chr. 3:1-4:22). David assured Solomon that the Lord would help him and that the men and materials were prepared.

Worship through Giving (29:1-30). David exhorted the assembly to follow his example of stewardship. The people rejoiced when they saw their leaders give willingly and liberally. David led Israel in worship, praising God for His greatness and acknowledging that the gifts came from the Lord Himself. The congregation recognized Solomon as their king and Zadok as their priest and pledged their allegiance. The Lord exalted Solomon in the eyes of Israel.

David died after forty years of service to the Lord. The Chronicler concluded by referring the reader to the records of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, which give a comprehensive account of David's reign.

Theological and Ethical Significance. The Persian period, in which Chronicles was compiled, was a time of half-fulfilled hopes. The Jews had been allowed to return from Babylonian exile but without a king. They had been allowed to rebuild the temple, but the "second temple" paled in comparison with the first. The Chronicler reaffirmed for that generation (and ours) that despite the ambiguities of history God is in control and involved in the lives of His people. First Chronicles overlooks the moral defeats and highlights the victories of David to draw attention to God's sovereignty in his life. God succeeded in using David to fulfill His purposes for him. Chronicles challenges today's Christians to trace the high points of God's working in their own lives. Our hope is that the One who began a good work in us will complete it (Phil. 1:6).

First Chronicles illustrates a responsible use of Scripture. The Chronicler's use of the Pentateuch and Prophets to shed new light on his major sources—the Books of Samuel and Kings—demon-strates that Scripture is the best guide to the interpretation of Scripture. The need to interpret "the old, old story" of Samuel and Kings for a new, postexilic generation led to the writing of 1 and 2 Chronicles. Each generation is faced with the task of confronting their world with the truth of Scripture in a way that speaks to the distinctive needs of its age.

First Chronicles recognizes that the greatest accomplishment of David's dynasty was spiritual—the organization and support of temple worship. Worship continues to be the center of Christian life. Worship empowers believers for lives of Christian service.

McConville, J. G. I & II Chronicles. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1984.

Sailhamer, John. First and Second Chronicles. Chicago: Moody, 1983.

Wilcock, Michael. The Message of Chronicles. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1987.