1 and 2 Chronicles

A Mentor Commentary

Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

MENTOR

Dr. Richard L. Pratt is Robert Macllelan Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida where he also chairs the Old Testament Department. He has traveled extensively throughout the world, evangelizing and teaching and is highly regarded as a brilliant, scintillating scholar and teacher. Dr. Pratt has a great concern to help students grow spiritually and to apply theological truths to their daily lives. He is intensively involved in applying technology to theological education through his innovative Third Millenium project of multimedia instruction (www.thirdmill.org).

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

© Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

ISBN 1-84550-144-6

ISBN 978-1-84550-144-0

First published in 1998

with ISBN 1-85792-151-8

reprinted in 2006

in the

Mentor Imprint

by

Christian Focus Publications,

Geanies House, Fearn, Tain,

Ross-shire, IV20 1TW, Great Britain

www.christianfocus.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher or a license permitting restricted copying. In the U.K. such licenses are issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 9HE.

Contents

Figure List

Introduction

Authorship and Date

Historical and Theological Purposes

Outline

Major Themes

1) All Israel

2) Northern Israel

3) International Relations

4) Royal and Levitical Families

5) Religious Assemblies

6) Royal Observance of Worship

7) Divine Kingship

8) Music

9) Temple Contributions

10) Divine Activity

11) Name of God

12) Presence and Help

13) Covenant

14) Standards

15) Prophets

16) Motivations

17) Prayer

18) Humility

19) Seeking

20) Abandoning / Forsaking

21) Unfaithfulness

22) Repentance

23) Victory and Defeat

24) Building and Destruction

25) Increase and Decline of Progeny

26) Prosperity and Poverty

27) Disappointment and Celebration

28) Healing and Long Life / Sickness and Death

Translation and Transmission

The Families of Levi

The Structures, Furnishings and Decorations of Solomon’s Temple

Part One: The Identity, Privileges and Responsibilities of God’s People (1 Chr 1:1–9:34)

The Roots of Israel (1:1–2:2)

Judah in First Place (2:3–4:23)

Tribes Easily Forgotten (4:24–5:26)

Levi in the Center (6:1–81)

Other Tribes Easily Forgotten (7:1–40)

Benjamin in Honor (8:1–40)

The Continuation of Israel (9:1b–34)

Part Two: The Ideal United Kingdom (1 Chr 9:35–2 Chr 9:31)

Overview of David’s Reign (1 Chr. 9:35–29:30)

David’s Ideal Reign: Part One David Becomes King (1 Chr. 9:35–12:40)

David’s Ideal Reign: Part Two David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr 13:1–16:43)

David’s ...