UNROLL
Sunrise on the slope of the Mount of Olives: a returned family seen from behind, a father with a staff, a mother with a child on her hip and a boy leading a laden donkey, look across the Kidron valley at a small rebuilt Jerusalem on its ridge, its patched walls and a plain, modest stone temple with a thin line of altar smoke, under a calm, clear sky.

The Book of

1 Chronicles Intro

From Adam to David’s last prayer, told for a people home from exile who needed to know they still belonged.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min29 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

From Adam to the exiles, every name kept.

Saul falls; all Israel crowns David.

The ark comes home with songs.

God promises David a house forever.

David gets everything ready for the temple.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

The Chronicler

Unnamed; perhaps a Levite, writing after the exile

  • The book names no author; Jewish tradition named Ezra.Jewish tradition
  • It names its sources: the records of Samuel, Nathan and Gad.1 Chronicles 29:29
  • Its royal line runs past Zerubbabel, after the exile.1 Chronicles 3:19
  • So it was written after the exile, probably about 450–400 BC.Most scholars

How it’s built

Names, then a king

Adam to theexiles1–9 · nine chapters ofnamesSaul falls10 · he did not seekthe LORDAll Israelcrowns David11–12 · Hebron andJerusalemThe ark comeshome13–16 · on theLevites’ shouldersA house forever17 · God’s covenantwith DavidWars and thesite18–21 · Ornan’sthreshing floorReady for thetemple22–29 · Levites,singers, gifts

Whiteboard

Nine chapters of names bring every tribe to David’s day. Then the book tells David’s reign through what mattered most for worship: the ark, the promise, the site, and the house his son would build.

Big themes

Four threads to follow

Where it happens

Mount GilboaZiklag (site uncertain)HebronBethlehemJerusalemGibeonKiriath-jearim

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

David’s land

Saul fell on Mount Gilboa. David gathered men at Ziklag, was made king at Hebron, and took Jerusalem. The ark waited at Kiriath-jearim until he brought it up to a tent in Jerusalem, while the tabernacle and its altar stood at Gibeon.

Meet the cast

Five people to know

Watch for

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

1 Chronicles 16:11

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Question

Quick question

1 Chronicles begins further back than any other history book in the Bible.

What is the first word of 1 Chronicles?

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