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The books of Chronicles likewise comprised a single volume that has been made into two books. While the time period and material covered by Chronicles is much the same as Samuel and Kings, there are some striking differences. First, the emphasis on sins and its consequences found in Samuel and Kings are not found in Chronicles. And sin, when it is found, is largely seen in the light of God's forgiveness. Thus, with Manasseh, Kings leaves him a sinner while Chronicles tells of his repentance. Second, the Chronicles emphasizes the priestly aspects of the period, with great stress placed upon the temple and the worship. Third, the Chronicles focuses on the Judaic line of kings, mentioning only 8 of Israel's kings. Finally, where Samuel was probably written by Samuel and Nathan and Gad, and Kings by Jeremiah, Chronicles was most likely written by Ezra. These two books are the last of the books in the Hebrew Old Testament, closing out the third section of the Tanakh. (2 Chronicles 24:20-21; Matthew 23:35) Date:  Around 1010 to 538 B.C.

Divisions:  The book of Chronicles may be divided as follows: The Book of 1 Chronicles

I.  Genealogies  1-9

II.  Saul  10

III.  David  11-29

1. David's Army  11-12
2. The Ark  13-16
3. The Covenant  17
4. The Conquests  18
5. Ammon and Syria  12-20
6. Census  21
7. The Temple Preparation  22-29

The Book of 2 Chronicles

I.  Solomon  1-9

1. Commencement of Reign  1
2. The Temple  2-7
3. Other Achievements  8-9

II.  Rehoboam to Ahaz  10-28

1. Rehoboam  10-12
2. Abijah  13
3. Asa  14-16
4. Jehoshaphat  17-20
5. Jehoram  21
6. Ahaziah  22
7. Joash  23-24
8. Amaziah  25
9. Uzziah  26
10. Jotham  27
11. Ahaz  28

III.  Hezekiah to Judah's End  29-36

1. Hezekiah  29-32
2. Manasseh  33
3. Josiah  34-35
4. Judah's End  36

Key Word:
". . . house of the LORD . . ." 69x in Chronicles; 61x in Kings, 184x in all of the Old Testament. (1 Chronicles 6:31, 32; 22:1; 28:12-13; 2 Chronicles 7:2, 7, 11; 23:5, 6, 12, 14, 18; 24:4, 7, 8, 12; 29:3, 5, 15, 16-20)

Key Passage:
2 Chronicles 36:15-17; see also 1 Chronicles 29:17; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42; 26:5; also repentance forestalls Judgment (2 Chronicles 34:27-28; 33:12-13, 19.

Key Lesson:
Godliness is a choice of each person (it does not carry from generation to generation)