I Chronicles Chapter 9
Please read: I Chronicles 9 –
There is very little explanation regarding the gap in time known as the Babylonian captivity and the return to the promised land. The author of Chronicles did not write about the 70 years of captivity here. He sums up the reason for the captivity in one phrase in the first verse and that is they were “taken into exile by Babylon because of their breach of faith.”
At this point the chronicler will pick up where he left off in a way of continuing the genealogical record of the people of Israel. They are no longer separated into two kingdoms, but all were one, they were Israelites. And while they were gone, for the most part God had kept the land empty waiting for their return.
“A wonderful providence of God it was, that as the land kept her Sabbaths for those seventy years, so the country should be all that while kept empty, till the return of the natives.” [Trapp]
Let's Reflect
1. In the first verse there is mention of the genealogical records. This is not a reference to the books in the Bible but rather the ancient census type records. Those records must have been preserved because the chronicler knows what about the people that returned to Jerusalem?
2. In verses 10-16 we see an emphasis given to two groups of people, the priests and the Levites, and he gives their genealogical history. Verse 13 shows that there were enough of them that returned to the land to give attention to what?
3. Verses 17-34 shows that the people were anxious to return to the order that had been established long ago by King David. Regarding the temple and the city of Jerusalem, what organization do you see listed that they restored?
4. The last section of the chapter is a repeat of the genealogy of a king which shows the preservation of his line as God had promised. Those that came after this king did not sit on the throne, but God did preserve their family line. What was the king’s name?
