In the lists of the tribes in the early chapters, the time of the exile was often highlighted. This was such a major and devastating event in the life of Israel that brought lasting trauma. The Chronicler now speaks of the faithfulness of God as he focuses on those who returned.

The numbers of the returnees from different tribes that are mentioned; 690(v6), 956 (v9), 1,760 (v13) and 212 (v22), are very small compared to some of the numbers mentioned before the exile; 44,760 (5 v18), 22,600 (7 v2), 36,000 (7 v4), 87,000 (7 v5) and 22,034 (7 v7). This reminds us that while Israel as a nation was preserved, it was only a remnant of what was before. God’s grace overrides sin, but sin still causes terrible consequences. Sin must never be treated lightly in our lives.

The focus in naming the returnees falls particularly on those who would be involved in the temple and worship. God’s people are saved, God’s people are returned in order to be worshippers, that is His priority.

The purpose of chapter 10 focusing on the death of Saul and his sons, is to highlight that the failure of Saul is now going to be replaced with the faithfulness of David. This is show how the line of the rightful king of Israel moves from Saul from the tribe of Benjamin, to David from the tribe of Judah.