In our Bibles today, we have 1 and 2 Chronicles as two books, but they were originally one book. The Book of 1 Chronicles is a book of narrative history and genealogies.
While the books of 1 and 2 Kings focus on the northern kingdom, Israel, 1 Chronicles focuses on the southern kingdom, Judah. Nothing is said about the northern kingdom in 2 Chronicles because Jeroboam led the northern tribes after the sins that led them away from worshipping God.
For this reason, 1 Chronicles focuses on the kings and events that relate to the southern kingdom, specifically the tribe of Judah. 2 Chronicles covers the history of both 1 and 2 Kings.
The purpose of the book was to encourage the remnant that had come out of the Babylonian captivity, and it covers in some extra detail most of the information already covered by 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
No one knows who the author of the book is, but Jewish tradition believes that Ezra wrote both 1 and 2 Chronicles, as well as the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The reason for this is that the book of Ezra immediately begins where 2 Chronicles concludes, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 / Ezra 1:1-3. Ezra was a priest in the southern kingdom who lived in Jerusalem, Ezra 7:11.
Chronicles tell us about the events in the history of Israel down to the end of their captivity in Babylon and the restoration that was initiated by the Medo-Persian king, Cyrus, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23.
In view of what the author writes in 2 Chronicles 35:25, it appears that the book was written after the time of Jeremiah, who wrote Lamentations. Most commentators agree that the book was written between 450 and 425 BC.
2 Chronicles 1-9 speaks about the history of the reign of Solomon, and 2 Chronicles 10-36 speaks about the history of the separate kingdom of Judah to the time of the return from the Babylonian Exile.
The author of the book gathers up the threads of the old national life broken by captivity. The book also mentions public records, registers, and genealogical tables which belonged to the Jews.
These are referred to throughout the book, 1 Chronicles 27:24 / 1 Chronicles 29:29 / 2 Chronicles 9:29 / 2 Chronicles 12:15 / 2 Chronicles 13:22 / 2 Chronicles 20:34 / 2 Chronicles 24:27 / 2 Chronicles 26:22-23 / 2 Chronicles 27:7 / 2 Chronicles 35:25-27.
There are within the books, and the books of Samuel and Kings, forty parallels, often verbal, proving that the writer knew and used these records, 1 Chronicles 17:18 / 2 Samuel 7:18-20 / 1 Chronicles 19:1-99 / 2 Samuel 10:1-19.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The very beginning of this book shows that it is a continuation of the preceding, and should not be thus formally separated from it.’
After the death of his father, David, Solomon is now king of Israel, 2 Chronicles 1:1 / 1 Chronicles 29:26-28. Thanks to his father, David, and because God was with him, he got off to a great start, 1 Kings 1:1-11:43. After speaking to all of Israel, they went to the high place at Gibeon because that was where the tabernacle was located, 2 Chronicles 1:2-3.
The tabernacle was made by Moses in the wilderness, but the one mentioned here isn’t obviously the original one, as Moses made that one four hundred years ago, so this tabernacle wouldn’t be the original one.
Although the ark of the covenant had been brought to Jerusalem by David, 2 Samuel 6:2 / 2 Samuel 6:17, the tabernacle itself remained at Gibeon, 2 Chronicles 1:4.
The bronze altar, 2 Chronicles 1:5, would have been the original, Exodus 38:1, which was made by Bezalel, Exodus 36:1-2. It wouldn’t have worn out like the cloth of the tabernacle over the years.
The wealth of Solomon is seen in the number of offerings he provided, 2 Chronicles 1:6, and we must note that although Solomon provided the burnt offerings, he didn’t offer them personally; this was the job of the priests.
1 Kings 3:5 tells us that God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God often appeared to men in dreams, but that didn’t always mean that God approved that person.
We see this Pharaoh, Genesis 41:1-8, and Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 2:1-9. In the Old Testament, God spoke to people in various ways, Genesis 15:1 / Genesis 28:12 / Genesis 37:5, but in the Christian age, He speaks to us through Christ, Hebrews 1:1-3.
If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask for? A new car, better health, a better job, a wife who can cook or a husband who can use the Hoover! When Solomon became king of Israel, God asked him that very question.
God says, Ask me for whatever you want, Solomon, and I’ll give it to you, 1 Kings 3:5 / 2 Chronicles 1:7. He could have asked for long life or even wealth; he could have asked that God kill all of Israel’s enemies, but he didn’t.
When God tells Solomon to ask for anything, 2 Chronicles 1:7 / Matthew 7:7 / John 15:7 / 1 John 5:14, we see in Solomon’s answer to God that he truly appreciated everything God had done for him, 2 Chronicles 1:8.
Solomon answered God and told Him He has shown great kindness to him, his father David, 1 Kings 1:48, because he was faithful to Him and righteous and upright in heart, 1 Kings 3:6. He says God has continued this great kindness towards him and has given him a son to sit on his throne this very day, 1 Kings 3:6.
Notice Solomon says to God after having his dream that he is ‘only a little child’, 1 Kings 3:7. Solomon could be referring to his inexperience in judging the people, and he could be referring to his young age as king, he is young. Although we don’t exactly know how old he was when he became king, the Septuagint gives it at age twelve, 1 Kings 2:12, but we simply don’t know.
He knows that God has made him king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth, just as He promised David, 2 Chronicles 1:8. Solomon understands that his greatest need, if he is going to have this huge responsibility to lead God’s people, is wisdom, 2 Chronicles 1:9.
He knows he needs understanding so that he can lead God’s people with justice, 2 Chronicles 1:9. Remember his father, David, prayed that Solomon would reign with wisdom and understanding, 1 Chronicles 29:10-20.
Solomon didn’t request anything for himself, such as long life or riches, 2 Chronicles 1:11; he simply asked for wisdom to rule the people. Because of this, God heard his prayer, and God was pleased with him, 1 Kings 3:10.
God was so pleased with his request, He gave Solomon more than just wisdom, He gave him wealth and honour, 2 Chronicles 1:12 / 1 Kings 3:5-15. God tells him if he walks in obedience to Him and keeps His decrees and commands as David did, then God will give him a long life, 1 Kings 3:14.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The promise here was only conditional. As the condition was not observed, 1 Kings 11:1-8, the right to the promise was forfeited, and it was not fulfilled. Solomon can scarcely have been more than fifty-nine or sixty at his death.’
When Solomon woke up, he realised it was a dream, and so he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and then he gave a feast for all his court, 1 Kings 3:15 / Deuteronomy 14:29 / 2 Samuel 6:19 / 1 Chronicles 16:3.
One of the most famous incidents in the Scriptures where Solomon uses his divine wisdom is seen in the incident between the two mothers who claimed that the baby belonged to them, 1 Kings 3:16-28.
Solomon now goes to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel, 2 Chronicles 1:13. Solomon is reigning over Israel, and he accumulated chariots and horses, 2 Chronicles 1:14 / 1 Kings 4:26.
The famous stables of Solomon show what a vast cavalry he assembled for Israel. Sadly, it appears that Solomon didn’t use his wisdom at this point, as God directly said that the kings of Israel shouldn’t acquire a vast amount of horses, Deuteronomy 17:16.
Notice also that all the silver and gold were as common as stones, 2 Chronicles 1:15 / 1 Kings 10:26-29 / 2 Chronicles 9:13-28. This is a vivid description that explains the amount of silver and gold that was amassed by both David and Solomon.
Sadly, it appears he didn’t use his wisdom again here, as this was also forbidden by God, Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Notice also that Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Kue, that is, Cilicia, 2 Chronicles 1:16. This again was total disobedience to God’s commands, Deuteronomy 17:16.
Henry, in his commentary, says the following concerning 2 Chronicles 1:16-17.
‘He also opened a trade with Egypt, whence he imported horses and linen yarn, which he exported again to the kings of Syria, with great advantage, no doubt, 2 Chronicles 1:16-17. This we had before, 1 Kings 10:28 / 1 Kings 10:29. It is the wisdom of princes to promote industry and encourage trade in their dominions. Perhaps Solomon took the hint of setting up the linen manufacture, bringing linen-yarn out of Egypt, working it into cloth, and then sending that to other nations, from what his mother taught when she specified this as one of the characteristics of the virtuous woman, Proverbs 31:24. In all labour there is profit.’