First and Second Chronicles

To the natural mind, Chronicles may appear to be a rather incomplete adjunct to the book of Kings. However, nothing could be further from the truth. We find in this book—for originally the two books formed a single volume—that we have moved from an historic account of the decline and captivity of Israel and Judah to a new division, a different time, and a new subject.
Though grouped with Kings in the Old Testament arrangement with which we are familiar, this book falls within that part of Scripture called the “Writings”. Written after the captivity (1 Chron. 6:15; 3:17-24), with a remnant of Judah having returned to the land of Israel (see Ezra and Nehemiah), all was in ruin about them. Fragmentary in character, it reflects the condition of that day. What had become of the promises of God, and in particular that which concerned the house of David?
Whereas man in responsibility is the subject of Samuel and Kings, here in this beautiful book we have God’s sovereignty acting in grace to fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes—not one word of which can fail, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). It is Israel’s history as God delighted to see it.