1 and 2 Chronicles were written at the time when the exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, and it was written to bring encouragement. It is a book very similar to 1 and 2 Kings in regards its content, but whereas 1 and 2 Kings were written to show what was wrong with Israel’s past, 1 and 2 Chronicles were written to show what was right with Israel’s past.

1 Chronicles begins with nine chapters of lists of genealogy, which in a sense is a reminder of the history of Israel, but also focuses in particularly on the line of the Messiah where true hope was to be found.

Chapter 1 shares the family lines of Noah’s three sons, but focuses particularly on the sons of Shem (v17-27), from whom would come Abraham’s family (v28-37). Often people miss that Abraham had children from three women, Sarah (v34), Hagar (v29) and Keturah (v32; Genesis 25v1).

Chapter 2 focuses in on King David’s family (v11-17), as this would be the family line of the Messiah. Certain events are highlighted to remind us of God’s grace working in families of sin (see v3-4; 7). Caleb the great man of faith is mentioned (v18-19) but not always with honour (v24, 42-50).