Difference between revisions of "Chronicles"

<p> The name of two historical books of the Old Testament, the author of which is not known, though the general opinion ascribes them to Ezra, B. C. 457. In writing them the inspired penman made use, not only of the earlier books of Scripture, but of numerous other public annals, now lost, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:29 &nbsp; 16:11 &nbsp; 20:32 . The first book contains a recapitulation of sacred history, by genealogies, from the beginning of the world to the death of David. The second book contains the history of the kings of Judah, without those of Israel, from the beginning of the reign of [[Solomon]] only, to the return from the captivity of Babylon. In this respect it differs from the books of Kings, which give the history of the kings of both Judah and Israel. In many places, where the history of the same kings is related, the narrative in Chronicles is almost a copy of that in Kings; in other places, the one serves as a supplement to the other. In the Septuagint, these books are called Paraleipomena, that is, things omitted. The two books of Chronicles dwell more on ecclesiastical matters than the books of Kings; they enlarge upon the ordinances of public worship; and detail minutely the preparation of David for the building of the temple, and its erection and dedication by Solomon; the histories of the other kings also are specially full in respect to their religious character and acts, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 13:8-11 &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 11:13 &nbsp; 19:8-11 &nbsp; 26:16-19 , etc. The Chronicles should be read in connection with the books of Samuel and the Kings; treating of the same periods, they illustrate each other, and form a continuous and instructive history, showing that religion is the main source of national prosperity, and ungodliness of adversity, &nbsp;Proverbs 14:34 . The details of these books may be studied with interest, in view of their bearing upon the coming and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole period treated of in the Chronicles is about 3,500 years. </p>

<p> '''Chronicles, books of.''' Among the ancient Jews these formed but one book, though they are now divided in [[Hebrew]] Bibles, as well as in our own, into two. They were called The Words of Days, ''I.E.,'' Diaries or Journals. The [[Septuagint]] translators denominated them Paraleipomena, Things omitted; and from [[Jerome]] we have derived the name "Chronicles." They are an abridgment of the whole of the sacred history, more especially tracing the Hebrew nation from its origin, and detailing the principal events of the reigns of David and Solomon, and of the succeeding kings of Judah down to the return from Babylon. The writer goes over much the same ground as the author of the books of Kings, with whose work he was probably acquainted. He does not, however, merely produce a supplement, hut works out his narrative independently after his own manner. The composition of the books is ascribed to Ezra by Jewish and [[Christian]] tradition, and in language and style they resemble the book of Ezra. The date of Chronicles cannot be fixed earlier than the return from exile; and as the history ends with the decree of Cyrus, that may be assumed as the time of their composition. </p>

<p> ( '''''דִּבְדֵי''''' '''''הִיָּמִים''''' , ''Dibrey' Hay-Yamim', Words'' [or ''Acts] Of The Days,'' &nbsp;1 Kings 14:19, Sept. '''''Ῥήματα''''' '''''Τών''''' '''''Ἡμερῶν''''' , Vulg. ''Verba Dierum;'' &nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:24, '''''Βιβλίον''''' '''''Λόγων''''' , fasti; &nbsp;Esther 6:1, '''''Μνημόσυνα''''' '', Annales;'' &nbsp;1 [[Esdras]] 2:12, '''''Ὑπομνηματισμοί''''' ; &nbsp;1 [[Maccabees]] 16:24, '''''Βιβλίον''''' '''''Ἡμερῶν''''' ) '','' journals or diaries, i.e. the record of the daily occurrences; the name originally given to the record made by the appointed historiographers in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, usually called more simply "book of the kings of Israel and Judah" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 9:1); so also of separate sovereigns, e.g. Solomon (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:41), [[Jehu]] (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 20:34), etc. (See [[History]]). </p>