1 Chronicles 8

1 Chronicles 8:1

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:2

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:3

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:4

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:5

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:6

Flee and Capture of Zedekiah

The history described in these verses is also found in Jeremiah 39 and Ezekiel 24. Here the final judgement begins. This was the end for Judah and there was to be no more grace.

As a result of Zedekiah’s uprising, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem for the third time. The city was besieged and a siege wall was built all around it. This happened to the city that was first surrounded by the favor of the LORD. The city, however, had driven out the LORD by its iniquity, and now experienced its consequences. The city was surrounded by enemies and no longer by the favor of God.

Nebuchadnezzar took his time for the conquest. For two years he besieged the city. His aim was to starve the city. Lack of food would cause many to starve to death and have made the remaining living so weak that the city could be taken without any resistance.

The famine drove the soldiers to a deed of despair. Instead of surrendering, as Jeremiah had strongly urged (Jeremiah 38:17), an attempt was made to escape. The moment the city was broken into by the enemy and the enemy entered the city, they made their attempt to escape. They left the city through the gate during the night. Zedekiah also participated in the flight. It was all foretold by God (Ezekiel 12:12-15). It did not get out of His hand. It happened just as He had said.

Zedekiah managed to get far away, even to the plains of Jericho. It only needed a moment longer and he could have crossed the Jordan. But there he was overtaken. It is also nonsensical to think that you can flee from the discipline of God. There was no defense whatsoever when he was arrested. There was nothing left of his army, it was completely scattered. Every soldier thought only of himself. There was no one who wanted to defend him anymore.

When he is seized, he was brought to the king of Babylon, who was then in Riblah, the place where Jehoahaz was imprisoned (2 Kings 23:31-33). There stood a little king of a small city, king of the throne of David, before the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had said to be the golden head (Daniel 2:37-38). God was on the side of Nebuchadnezzar because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nebuchadnezzar was His rod of discipline for His people and “he passed sentence on him” (Jeremiah 52:9).

His sentence was executed in 2 Kings 25:7. It was a dramatic and horrific sentence. This verse speaks twice about Zedekiah’s eyes. First his sons were slaughtered before his eyes. The word “slaughtered” shows that they were killed in a horrible way. He saw how it was done. With this picture before his eyes, they are blinded. This picture would remain with him for the rest of his life. What was done to him was worse than death. It was an incessant torment of the mind.

1 Chronicles 8:7

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:8

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:9

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:10

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:11

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:12

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:13

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:14

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:15

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:16

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:17

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:18

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:19

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:20

Judah Carried Away Into Exile

These verses report on the downfall of the realm of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by order of Nebuchadnezzar. This work began on “the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” (2 Kings 25:8), which in our era was August 15, 586 BC. “Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, the servant of the king of Babylon, a servant of the king of Babylon” began burning all the houses in Jerusalem with fire in order of importance.

The first house he burned was “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 25:9). The house had been empty for five years. Maybe there were still some materials, but the glory of the LORD had left. That glory is gone to this day. Professing Christianity also has buildings that are impressive to the eye but empty inside. They are empty shells. The house of the LORD had become useless, and was given away to the nations. The king’s house and the other houses had lost their meaning and were being destroyed. Where there are no more houses and people, a wall is no longer necessary. The wall was also demolished (2 Kings 25:10).

Then it was the turn of the homeless and rest of the population of the city. Together with the deserters and a remnant of the crowd living outside Jerusalem, they are led by Nebuzaradan to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). Nebuzaradan did not take all people with him. He left a few to take care of the land and maintain it (2 Kings 25:12).

In 2 Kings 25:13-17, a detailed description is given of everything Nebuchadnezzar took with him. It shows us once again how beautiful everything had been and how good it could have been if the people not only had a beautiful temple, but also a heart to serve the LORD. If the heart is not there, everything loses its value to God. He is not bound to His people. If it does not meet His purpose, He sets it aside. This is also the general judgment on professing Christianity.

What became of all these temple objects is an extremely sad contrast to the position given to them by Solomon, as he placed them with great care in the house of the LORD in his time. In 2 Kings 25:15, reference is still made to that time in connection with “the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands”. The Babylonians had no respect for this. They demolished these parts. What was of value to them, they took with them.

The people did not concern themselves with the meaning of the pillars and the sea. The pillars symbolically represented the power of God, the basis on which the temple could only be maintained. The sea pointed to the cleansing of the priest to be fit to enter God’s temple. However, if the people denied God’s power and the necessary cleansing, the symbols lose their meaning and God allowed these things to be taken away by gentile nations.

Today we see the same thing in professing Christianity. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper will lose their real meaning when given their own interpretation and when they are separated from God’s meaning. If we do not experience them prayerfully and spiritually, the flesh will feed on them. In this way God will take away these things by the people and withdraw Himself from them and from those who give them their own interpretation. It may all look beautiful, but He is not present there.

The 2 Kings 25:18-21 give an account of the leading people from Jerusalem being put to death. The people in the city who were connected to the temple were first captured. They must have been the fiercest opponents of surrendering to the king of Babylon. They were also those who preceded the people into idolatry. Their imprisonment and death were an exercise of God’s righteousness. The commander took some other prominent people from the city with the prisoners, to the king of Babylon to be killed together with the temple officials.

This total destruction, as an expression of God’s righteousness, was the beginning of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25:21b).

1 Chronicles 8:21

Appointment and Death of Gedaliah

In this section we have a brief announcement about what happened to the people who were left in the land of Judah. These people largely ended up in Egypt. A detailed description of this can be found in Jeremiah 40:1-43:7. The announcement here completes the picture of the end of Judah’s realm. It ends with the exile to Babylon and the flight to Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar had finished all his actions in and with Judah and Jerusalem, he appointed Gedaliah, “the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan” over the people he allowed to live in “the land of Judah”. Gedaliah was one of the descendants of God-fearing Shaphan, whom we met during the reign and reformation of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3; 8-14).

When four of the named captains heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, they and their men came to him in Mizpah. These four probably fled with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:4) and escaped the pursuit by the Babylonians. They did not seem to accept the situation that had arisen. Gedaliah advised them urgently, he “swore to them”, to just stay in the land. He wanted to convince them that they would have nothing to fear from the Chaldeans if they stayed and served the king of Babylon. They could be sure that things would go well with them. Gedaliah spoke of what God had said through Jeremiah. Jeremiah had always urged the people to submit to king Nebuchadnezzar. If we bow under the discipline of God, it will bring blessing to us.

Despite Gedaliah’s penetrating words, the few remaining in the land revolted against Gedaliah. They pertinently refused to function as servants of the Babylonians. They had their own views on the matter and their own plans to deal with it and saw that he was a danger to their plans. That is why Gedaliah was murdered. A detailed account of the murder of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25) can be found in Jeremiah 40:13-41:15. The perpetrators and all the people then fled to Egypt.

However, the Holy Spirit does not close the book with this. He finishes with a ray of hope that we read about in the following and also the last verses of this book.

1 Chronicles 8:22

Appointment and Death of Gedaliah

In this section we have a brief announcement about what happened to the people who were left in the land of Judah. These people largely ended up in Egypt. A detailed description of this can be found in Jeremiah 40:1-43:7. The announcement here completes the picture of the end of Judah’s realm. It ends with the exile to Babylon and the flight to Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar had finished all his actions in and with Judah and Jerusalem, he appointed Gedaliah, “the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan” over the people he allowed to live in “the land of Judah”. Gedaliah was one of the descendants of God-fearing Shaphan, whom we met during the reign and reformation of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3; 8-14).

When four of the named captains heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, they and their men came to him in Mizpah. These four probably fled with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:4) and escaped the pursuit by the Babylonians. They did not seem to accept the situation that had arisen. Gedaliah advised them urgently, he “swore to them”, to just stay in the land. He wanted to convince them that they would have nothing to fear from the Chaldeans if they stayed and served the king of Babylon. They could be sure that things would go well with them. Gedaliah spoke of what God had said through Jeremiah. Jeremiah had always urged the people to submit to king Nebuchadnezzar. If we bow under the discipline of God, it will bring blessing to us.

Despite Gedaliah’s penetrating words, the few remaining in the land revolted against Gedaliah. They pertinently refused to function as servants of the Babylonians. They had their own views on the matter and their own plans to deal with it and saw that he was a danger to their plans. That is why Gedaliah was murdered. A detailed account of the murder of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25) can be found in Jeremiah 40:13-41:15. The perpetrators and all the people then fled to Egypt.

However, the Holy Spirit does not close the book with this. He finishes with a ray of hope that we read about in the following and also the last verses of this book.

1 Chronicles 8:23

Appointment and Death of Gedaliah

In this section we have a brief announcement about what happened to the people who were left in the land of Judah. These people largely ended up in Egypt. A detailed description of this can be found in Jeremiah 40:1-43:7. The announcement here completes the picture of the end of Judah’s realm. It ends with the exile to Babylon and the flight to Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar had finished all his actions in and with Judah and Jerusalem, he appointed Gedaliah, “the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan” over the people he allowed to live in “the land of Judah”. Gedaliah was one of the descendants of God-fearing Shaphan, whom we met during the reign and reformation of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3; 8-14).

When four of the named captains heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, they and their men came to him in Mizpah. These four probably fled with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:4) and escaped the pursuit by the Babylonians. They did not seem to accept the situation that had arisen. Gedaliah advised them urgently, he “swore to them”, to just stay in the land. He wanted to convince them that they would have nothing to fear from the Chaldeans if they stayed and served the king of Babylon. They could be sure that things would go well with them. Gedaliah spoke of what God had said through Jeremiah. Jeremiah had always urged the people to submit to king Nebuchadnezzar. If we bow under the discipline of God, it will bring blessing to us.

Despite Gedaliah’s penetrating words, the few remaining in the land revolted against Gedaliah. They pertinently refused to function as servants of the Babylonians. They had their own views on the matter and their own plans to deal with it and saw that he was a danger to their plans. That is why Gedaliah was murdered. A detailed account of the murder of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25) can be found in Jeremiah 40:13-41:15. The perpetrators and all the people then fled to Egypt.

However, the Holy Spirit does not close the book with this. He finishes with a ray of hope that we read about in the following and also the last verses of this book.

1 Chronicles 8:24

Appointment and Death of Gedaliah

In this section we have a brief announcement about what happened to the people who were left in the land of Judah. These people largely ended up in Egypt. A detailed description of this can be found in Jeremiah 40:1-43:7. The announcement here completes the picture of the end of Judah’s realm. It ends with the exile to Babylon and the flight to Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar had finished all his actions in and with Judah and Jerusalem, he appointed Gedaliah, “the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan” over the people he allowed to live in “the land of Judah”. Gedaliah was one of the descendants of God-fearing Shaphan, whom we met during the reign and reformation of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3; 8-14).

When four of the named captains heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, they and their men came to him in Mizpah. These four probably fled with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:4) and escaped the pursuit by the Babylonians. They did not seem to accept the situation that had arisen. Gedaliah advised them urgently, he “swore to them”, to just stay in the land. He wanted to convince them that they would have nothing to fear from the Chaldeans if they stayed and served the king of Babylon. They could be sure that things would go well with them. Gedaliah spoke of what God had said through Jeremiah. Jeremiah had always urged the people to submit to king Nebuchadnezzar. If we bow under the discipline of God, it will bring blessing to us.

Despite Gedaliah’s penetrating words, the few remaining in the land revolted against Gedaliah. They pertinently refused to function as servants of the Babylonians. They had their own views on the matter and their own plans to deal with it and saw that he was a danger to their plans. That is why Gedaliah was murdered. A detailed account of the murder of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25) can be found in Jeremiah 40:13-41:15. The perpetrators and all the people then fled to Egypt.

However, the Holy Spirit does not close the book with this. He finishes with a ray of hope that we read about in the following and also the last verses of this book.

1 Chronicles 8:25

Appointment and Death of Gedaliah

In this section we have a brief announcement about what happened to the people who were left in the land of Judah. These people largely ended up in Egypt. A detailed description of this can be found in Jeremiah 40:1-43:7. The announcement here completes the picture of the end of Judah’s realm. It ends with the exile to Babylon and the flight to Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar had finished all his actions in and with Judah and Jerusalem, he appointed Gedaliah, “the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan” over the people he allowed to live in “the land of Judah”. Gedaliah was one of the descendants of God-fearing Shaphan, whom we met during the reign and reformation of Josiah (2 Kings 22:3; 8-14).

When four of the named captains heard of Gedaliah’s appointment, they and their men came to him in Mizpah. These four probably fled with Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:4) and escaped the pursuit by the Babylonians. They did not seem to accept the situation that had arisen. Gedaliah advised them urgently, he “swore to them”, to just stay in the land. He wanted to convince them that they would have nothing to fear from the Chaldeans if they stayed and served the king of Babylon. They could be sure that things would go well with them. Gedaliah spoke of what God had said through Jeremiah. Jeremiah had always urged the people to submit to king Nebuchadnezzar. If we bow under the discipline of God, it will bring blessing to us.

Despite Gedaliah’s penetrating words, the few remaining in the land revolted against Gedaliah. They pertinently refused to function as servants of the Babylonians. They had their own views on the matter and their own plans to deal with it and saw that he was a danger to their plans. That is why Gedaliah was murdered. A detailed account of the murder of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25) can be found in Jeremiah 40:13-41:15. The perpetrators and all the people then fled to Egypt.

However, the Holy Spirit does not close the book with this. He finishes with a ray of hope that we read about in the following and also the last verses of this book.

1 Chronicles 8:26

Grace for Jehoiachin

In these verses a ray of hope lights up. For this, the Holy Spirit advances to “the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin”, which was 560 BC. Nebuchadnezzar was no longer king. Jehoiachin, who had been in Babylon since he was eighteen, was now fifty-five. It was his deserved judgment, for he had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

But then suddenly we read in these verses about grace. Jehoiachin was taken out of captivity, spoken kindly and was given a position of prestige above the other kings who were subject to the king of Babylon. He was to eat at the table of the king of Babylon, as long as he lived. His entire allowance was also guaranteed for all the days of his life.

In what happens to Jehoiachin we see a picture of what will happen to the people of God, that is, with a remnant, in the future. In them God will accept His people again in grace and take care of them as long as they are His people on earth, that is, during the entire period of the millennial kingdom of peace.

In what happens to Jehoiachin, we still see another picture. Here we see the change in someone who repents. It is the display of undeserved and unexpected grace. It also shows that in an evil time, when judgment comes on the masses, God has grace for the individual. Those who take part in it are given different clothing, which speaks of different behavior, and are assured of an allowance for their spiritual life.

1 Chronicles 8:27

Grace for Jehoiachin

In these verses a ray of hope lights up. For this, the Holy Spirit advances to “the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin”, which was 560 BC. Nebuchadnezzar was no longer king. Jehoiachin, who had been in Babylon since he was eighteen, was now fifty-five. It was his deserved judgment, for he had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

But then suddenly we read in these verses about grace. Jehoiachin was taken out of captivity, spoken kindly and was given a position of prestige above the other kings who were subject to the king of Babylon. He was to eat at the table of the king of Babylon, as long as he lived. His entire allowance was also guaranteed for all the days of his life.

In what happens to Jehoiachin we see a picture of what will happen to the people of God, that is, with a remnant, in the future. In them God will accept His people again in grace and take care of them as long as they are His people on earth, that is, during the entire period of the millennial kingdom of peace.

In what happens to Jehoiachin, we still see another picture. Here we see the change in someone who repents. It is the display of undeserved and unexpected grace. It also shows that in an evil time, when judgment comes on the masses, God has grace for the individual. Those who take part in it are given different clothing, which speaks of different behavior, and are assured of an allowance for their spiritual life.

1 Chronicles 8:28

Grace for Jehoiachin

In these verses a ray of hope lights up. For this, the Holy Spirit advances to “the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin”, which was 560 BC. Nebuchadnezzar was no longer king. Jehoiachin, who had been in Babylon since he was eighteen, was now fifty-five. It was his deserved judgment, for he had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

But then suddenly we read in these verses about grace. Jehoiachin was taken out of captivity, spoken kindly and was given a position of prestige above the other kings who were subject to the king of Babylon. He was to eat at the table of the king of Babylon, as long as he lived. His entire allowance was also guaranteed for all the days of his life.

In what happens to Jehoiachin we see a picture of what will happen to the people of God, that is, with a remnant, in the future. In them God will accept His people again in grace and take care of them as long as they are His people on earth, that is, during the entire period of the millennial kingdom of peace.

In what happens to Jehoiachin, we still see another picture. Here we see the change in someone who repents. It is the display of undeserved and unexpected grace. It also shows that in an evil time, when judgment comes on the masses, God has grace for the individual. Those who take part in it are given different clothing, which speaks of different behavior, and are assured of an allowance for their spiritual life.

1 Chronicles 8:29

Grace for Jehoiachin

In these verses a ray of hope lights up. For this, the Holy Spirit advances to “the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin”, which was 560 BC. Nebuchadnezzar was no longer king. Jehoiachin, who had been in Babylon since he was eighteen, was now fifty-five. It was his deserved judgment, for he had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

But then suddenly we read in these verses about grace. Jehoiachin was taken out of captivity, spoken kindly and was given a position of prestige above the other kings who were subject to the king of Babylon. He was to eat at the table of the king of Babylon, as long as he lived. His entire allowance was also guaranteed for all the days of his life.

In what happens to Jehoiachin we see a picture of what will happen to the people of God, that is, with a remnant, in the future. In them God will accept His people again in grace and take care of them as long as they are His people on earth, that is, during the entire period of the millennial kingdom of peace.

In what happens to Jehoiachin, we still see another picture. Here we see the change in someone who repents. It is the display of undeserved and unexpected grace. It also shows that in an evil time, when judgment comes on the masses, God has grace for the individual. Those who take part in it are given different clothing, which speaks of different behavior, and are assured of an allowance for their spiritual life.

1 Chronicles 8:32

Introduction

If we read the first book of the Kings and the second book of the Kings on the one hand and the first books of the Chronicles and the second book of the Chronicles on the other hand, we notice the great similarity between the contents of the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles. They indeed describe the same historical events. Yet there is an important difference. In the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles the history is described from a different point of view. They can be compared with each other, just as we compare the four Gospels with each other. Each writes history in his own way, while it is one Spirit Who leads the writers. Therefore, there is no contradiction, but harmony. The books complement each other.

Who is used by the Holy Spirit to write these books is not known. Jeremiah has been mentioned as the author of the two books of the Kings, while the two books of the Chronicles has been understood as having been written by Ezra. However, there is no hard evidence for this.

The books of the Chronicles occupy a special place among the historical books of the Old Testament. We can compare this with the special place the Gospel according to John occupies among the Gospels. John goes back to what was “in the beginning” (John 1:1), when the eternal Word was with God. The Chronicles also go back to the beginning, but then from the history of man to follow that history along a line of promise and grace.

We find in these books the history of kings who ruled over God’s people. The first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – ruled over all Israel, the twelve tribes. For a short time, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, also ruled over the entire realm of the twelve tribes. But under his government the kingdom is torn into two parts: one part of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, which continue under the name of Judah, and the other part of ten tribes, the other tribes, which continue under the name of Israel or also called Ephraim.

Nineteen kings ruled over each of the two realms until they both ceased to exist. After the nineteenth king of Israel, Hoshea, this realm was conquered by the king of Assyria and the inhabitants were scattered. After the nineteenth king of Judah, Zedekiah, this realm was taken away into exile by the king of Babylon.

Of the kings who have ruled over Judah, some are relatively good, others exceptionally bad; some start well and finish bad; others start bad and finish good. But they all fall short of the glory of God and of God’s ideal of what a king should be. Only the Lord Jesus answers perfectly to it. God calls him ‘My King’. The kings of the ten tribes are without exception bad.

The history described in both books mentioned the Chronicles, runs from Adam until the year 538 BC, roughly 3,500 years. Both books of the Chronicles are written, or at least completed, after the return from exile. This is shown by the fact that the exile of Judah and Jerusalem is mentioned by Nebuchadnezzar as a historical fact in the first book of the Chronicles (1 Chronicles 6:15).

Both books of the Chronicles form a whole. The first book describes the history of David. In the second book we find the history of David’s posterity. Many of these histories can also be found in the first and second book of Samuel and the first and second book of the Kings. These four books can also be viewed as a whole.

Nevertheless, there is an important difference between the series of these four books and the books of the Chronicles. The books of Samuel and the Kings focus on the history of Israel and its kings, with emphasis on the responsibility of man. In the books of the Chronicles, the emphasis is more on the history of Judah and its kings with emphasis on the grace of God.

After man has totally failed in his responsibility in the books of the Kings, we see in the books of the Chronicles the God of grace Himself working to write history again from the beginning. It is the history of God’s people that the Holy Spirit places in the spotlight. Only the mistakes are mentioned which must be known to understand the teaching of His grace. The books of the Chronicles show us the kingship according to the grace of God and not according to its responsible character as in books of the Kings.

The first book of the Chronicles for example is silent about the suffering and the rejection of David, which is described in the books of Samuel, but we see David directly as king in his glory. The books of the Kings mainly give the history of the northern ten tribes realm. The sins of the royal house of David are meticulously mentioned in it, so that the reader may know the reasons for the decay and the tearing. Prophets come to the fore there, because the people have cut themselves off from the service of the priests and Levites, which is connected to the temple in Jerusalem. It is God’s provision that He provides for their spiritual needs through these prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha.

The first and second book of the Chronicles, written after the return of a remnant from the Babylonian exile to the land of Israel, seem to have been written more for this remnant. For it is a great encouragement for the returning handful of Judeans who read in these books to be reminded of God’s former gracious actions with His people. The books of the Chronicles seem to be written more for the remnant, while the books of the Kings seem to be written more for the whole people.

Also the genealogies we find in the first book of the Chronicles, have their use. They are important because only the seed of Abraham is entitled to the promised land. The purpose of these genealogies is to prove origin. Happy he who has kept his genealogies and appreciates the inheritance of the LORD. It is a proof of their faith.

Furthermore, the genealogies are a means to prevent mixing with the surrounding peoples. They also serve to determine the succession of the Aaronite priesthood. For example, we read in the book of Ezra that a person who wants to serve as a priest must be able to prove from the genealogies that he indeed comes from a priestly family and is thus entitled to the priesthood (Ezra 2:62-63; cf. Nehemiah 7:64-65).

Above all, it is possible to determine from these genealogies Who as Messiah is entitled to kingship. This shows the importance of the genealogy in Matthew 1. This clearly shows that the Lord Jesus has the legitimate right to the throne of David. This genealogy can be seen as a continuation of the registers given to us in 1 Chronicles 1-9.

For us who belong to the church of the living God, such genealogies are not important. We do not need to prove our origin. When we think of our origins, it is enough to know that we originate from a sinful Adam. Therefore we are subject to the judgment of God. We have realized this and have been privileged to believe in the work of the Lord Jesus that has been necessary to make us a new generation. Through faith in Him we are born again and belong to the family of God (John 1:12).

Belonging to that family is not based on natural descent, but on our new birth, through which we became partakers of the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). For us, terrestrial registers are not important. Names can be removed from such registers. We may know that our names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). No names can be removed from these registers.

The main theme of the books of the Chronicles is the temple. In these books the ‘house of God’ is often mentioned, while that name does not occur once in the books of the Kings. This might plead for the priest-scribe Ezra to be the author of the Chronicles. Temple and priest belong inextricably together. The book of Ezra is also closely linked to the Chronicles. We can see this in the last verses of 2 Chronicles, which form the opening verses of the book of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-2). Much attention is paid to the temple service, which was established by David and has fallen into decay, but is restored at the end of 2 Chronicles under Hezekiah and Josiah.

The actual importance of the books of the Chronicles for us is related to the main theme, the temple. As in the Old Testament the temple is called the dwelling place or house of God, so in the New Testament the church is called the dwelling place or house of God (Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Timothy 3:15). Often we will make the ‘translation’ of what is described in the Chronicles to our time.

The Bible itself indicates that this is permitted. With regard to the history of Israel in the wilderness we read: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). On this basis we can therefore expect that through both books of the Chronicles we can learn a lot about the church and our behavior in it.

In Hebrew, the title of the Chronicles is ‘words of the days’, which means ‘events of the time’. In the Hebrew Bible, the books of the Chronicles are at the very end of it (cf. Matthew 23:35). These things say something about the span of the Chronicles. The Chronicles begin with the origination of mankind and extend beyond the period of exile to eight generations before the Messiah. Then the thread of the genealogies is taken up again at the beginning of the New Testament with the genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1 (Matthew 1:1-17). The Chronicles begin with the first Adam; the genealogy of Matthew 1 ends with Christ, the last Adam.

The Holy Spirit begins in the Chronicles with the history of mankind, to focus in the midst of mankind attention on that one people of Israel and among that people to focus on Judah and finally to focus on the family of David and in that family on the one man David. This one man is chosen by God.

The authority of the books of the Chronicles as the Word of God is confirmed by the Lord Jesus. He refers to some events from these books. Thus He refers to the visit of the queen of Sheba to Solomon (Matthew 12:42; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12) and to the murder of Zechariah (Matthew 23:35; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Further a verse from 1 Chronicles is quoted in Hebrews 1 (1 Chronicles 17:13; Hebrews 1:5).

The first book of the Chronicles can be subdivided as follows: 1. 1 Chronicles 1-9 The people of God 2. 1 Chronicles 10-12 The anointed of God 3. 1 Chronicles 13-16 The ark of God 4. 1 Chronicles 17-29 The house of God

Before we look at the content of this chapter, let me make some general remarks about the first part of the book, 1 Chronicles 1-9. This first part consists mainly of names. These are chapters that are almost never read. Yet they are part of the whole Word of God and therefore it is useful to read them with attention. The following applies to these chapters as well: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As a stimulus for reading these genealogies I would like to quote something from a comment on 1 Chronicles that has encouraged me: ‘Reading the Chronicles takes some perseverance. The introduction to the genealogies at the beginning of this Bible book can easily reduce our interest. But whoever possesses a little energy and enters into this ‘treasure room’ with prayer will come out again with a hymn of praise.’ (H. Rossier, ‘The Scroll of the Book’, the books of the Chronicles I.)

The names mentioned are of great value, because they often contain a message in their meaning (cf. Hebrews 7:1-2). Here is a gold mine for the zealous researcher. Using a search program and dictionaries of biblical names, many lessons can be learned here. With a few exceptions, this comment leaves the research for the meaning of the names to the reader.

Just one more general remark about the genealogies we encounter here, and elsewhere in the Bible. Paul warns Timothy not to pay “attention to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4). It will be clear that Paul does not mean the genealogies we encounter in the Bible, for they belong to the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The genealogies that Paul mentions in his first letter to Timothy and against which he warns are lists of data originating from the human spirit. They do not come from the Spirit of God. The word ‘genealogy’ means ‘a doctrine about origin’. What the Jews are concerned with are theories about the origins of angels and the families they are supposed to have. This has nothing to do with the Bible, but with being busy about mystical things (Colossians 2:18).

To conclude this general introduction to 1 Chronicles 1-9 a few tips for self-study of these chapters:

1. Read through a chapter or part of a chapter every day. 2. Write down at least one characteristic of a name of which you know something. (For easy retrieval also note the verse.) 3. Sometimes there is just a peculiarity mentioned between the names. Write it down in your own words. As far as I have noticed any details, I will point this out, without saying that there are no more. 4. Write down a verse from each chapter or a name that appeals to you.

Every name that comes after Adam is just another manifestation of this first Adam. In some of his descendants we also see that faith reveals itself. Where there is faith, there must be new life, a new nature, that is to say, the Divine nature. Where faith reveals itself, God is glorified.

The first chapter goes from Adam to the sons of Jacob, who are mentioned in the next chapter. There they are called “the sons of Israel” (1 Chronicles 2:1-2). This chapter deals with two series of names, which are then further elaborated (1 Chronicles 1:1-4; 24-27).

We can imagine reading the names of this genealogy when we are at a cemetery. We walk along the graves and see the names of past generations. They are all names of people who were born and died, they loved and suffered, people who have made their way through the world. The names are engraved on these fixed plates, tombstones. If Christ does not come to take us up during our lives, so will our names. “All flesh”, including ours, “is like grass” (1 Peter 1:24).

Each of these lives has fulfilled a necessary part in the progress of human life and has passed on the torch of it. Each life will also exist on the other side of death, after being revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The names of the persons in this chapter, who are individually known to God, can all be found in the book of Genesis (Genesis 5; 10; 11; 25; 36). There are ten listings. First ten ancestors, from Adam to Noah, are mentioned (1 Chronicles 1:1-4). This is followed by seventy peoples from Noah. Then come the names of another ten ancestors, now from Shem to Abraham (1 Chronicles 1:24-27). Then again seventy nations that come forth from Abraham.

This shows a divine order. The fact that the genealogies start with Adam shows that David’s house – because it is about him in the genealogies – is not only important for Israel, but for the whole of humanity.

From Adam to Noah and His Sons

From Adam to Noah the names of ten ancestors are mentioned.

In the genealogy of Noah in 1 Chronicles 1:4 Shem is mentioned first. But when the generations are listed, the generations of Japheth (1 Chronicles 1:5-7) and Ham (1 Chronicles 1:8-16) have precedence.

1 Chronicles 8:33

Introduction

If we read the first book of the Kings and the second book of the Kings on the one hand and the first books of the Chronicles and the second book of the Chronicles on the other hand, we notice the great similarity between the contents of the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles. They indeed describe the same historical events. Yet there is an important difference. In the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles the history is described from a different point of view. They can be compared with each other, just as we compare the four Gospels with each other. Each writes history in his own way, while it is one Spirit Who leads the writers. Therefore, there is no contradiction, but harmony. The books complement each other.

Who is used by the Holy Spirit to write these books is not known. Jeremiah has been mentioned as the author of the two books of the Kings, while the two books of the Chronicles has been understood as having been written by Ezra. However, there is no hard evidence for this.

The books of the Chronicles occupy a special place among the historical books of the Old Testament. We can compare this with the special place the Gospel according to John occupies among the Gospels. John goes back to what was “in the beginning” (John 1:1), when the eternal Word was with God. The Chronicles also go back to the beginning, but then from the history of man to follow that history along a line of promise and grace.

We find in these books the history of kings who ruled over God’s people. The first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – ruled over all Israel, the twelve tribes. For a short time, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, also ruled over the entire realm of the twelve tribes. But under his government the kingdom is torn into two parts: one part of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, which continue under the name of Judah, and the other part of ten tribes, the other tribes, which continue under the name of Israel or also called Ephraim.

Nineteen kings ruled over each of the two realms until they both ceased to exist. After the nineteenth king of Israel, Hoshea, this realm was conquered by the king of Assyria and the inhabitants were scattered. After the nineteenth king of Judah, Zedekiah, this realm was taken away into exile by the king of Babylon.

Of the kings who have ruled over Judah, some are relatively good, others exceptionally bad; some start well and finish bad; others start bad and finish good. But they all fall short of the glory of God and of God’s ideal of what a king should be. Only the Lord Jesus answers perfectly to it. God calls him ‘My King’. The kings of the ten tribes are without exception bad.

The history described in both books mentioned the Chronicles, runs from Adam until the year 538 BC, roughly 3,500 years. Both books of the Chronicles are written, or at least completed, after the return from exile. This is shown by the fact that the exile of Judah and Jerusalem is mentioned by Nebuchadnezzar as a historical fact in the first book of the Chronicles (1 Chronicles 6:15).

Both books of the Chronicles form a whole. The first book describes the history of David. In the second book we find the history of David’s posterity. Many of these histories can also be found in the first and second book of Samuel and the first and second book of the Kings. These four books can also be viewed as a whole.

Nevertheless, there is an important difference between the series of these four books and the books of the Chronicles. The books of Samuel and the Kings focus on the history of Israel and its kings, with emphasis on the responsibility of man. In the books of the Chronicles, the emphasis is more on the history of Judah and its kings with emphasis on the grace of God.

After man has totally failed in his responsibility in the books of the Kings, we see in the books of the Chronicles the God of grace Himself working to write history again from the beginning. It is the history of God’s people that the Holy Spirit places in the spotlight. Only the mistakes are mentioned which must be known to understand the teaching of His grace. The books of the Chronicles show us the kingship according to the grace of God and not according to its responsible character as in books of the Kings.

The first book of the Chronicles for example is silent about the suffering and the rejection of David, which is described in the books of Samuel, but we see David directly as king in his glory. The books of the Kings mainly give the history of the northern ten tribes realm. The sins of the royal house of David are meticulously mentioned in it, so that the reader may know the reasons for the decay and the tearing. Prophets come to the fore there, because the people have cut themselves off from the service of the priests and Levites, which is connected to the temple in Jerusalem. It is God’s provision that He provides for their spiritual needs through these prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha.

The first and second book of the Chronicles, written after the return of a remnant from the Babylonian exile to the land of Israel, seem to have been written more for this remnant. For it is a great encouragement for the returning handful of Judeans who read in these books to be reminded of God’s former gracious actions with His people. The books of the Chronicles seem to be written more for the remnant, while the books of the Kings seem to be written more for the whole people.

Also the genealogies we find in the first book of the Chronicles, have their use. They are important because only the seed of Abraham is entitled to the promised land. The purpose of these genealogies is to prove origin. Happy he who has kept his genealogies and appreciates the inheritance of the LORD. It is a proof of their faith.

Furthermore, the genealogies are a means to prevent mixing with the surrounding peoples. They also serve to determine the succession of the Aaronite priesthood. For example, we read in the book of Ezra that a person who wants to serve as a priest must be able to prove from the genealogies that he indeed comes from a priestly family and is thus entitled to the priesthood (Ezra 2:62-63; cf. Nehemiah 7:64-65).

Above all, it is possible to determine from these genealogies Who as Messiah is entitled to kingship. This shows the importance of the genealogy in Matthew 1. This clearly shows that the Lord Jesus has the legitimate right to the throne of David. This genealogy can be seen as a continuation of the registers given to us in 1 Chronicles 1-9.

For us who belong to the church of the living God, such genealogies are not important. We do not need to prove our origin. When we think of our origins, it is enough to know that we originate from a sinful Adam. Therefore we are subject to the judgment of God. We have realized this and have been privileged to believe in the work of the Lord Jesus that has been necessary to make us a new generation. Through faith in Him we are born again and belong to the family of God (John 1:12).

Belonging to that family is not based on natural descent, but on our new birth, through which we became partakers of the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). For us, terrestrial registers are not important. Names can be removed from such registers. We may know that our names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). No names can be removed from these registers.

The main theme of the books of the Chronicles is the temple. In these books the ‘house of God’ is often mentioned, while that name does not occur once in the books of the Kings. This might plead for the priest-scribe Ezra to be the author of the Chronicles. Temple and priest belong inextricably together. The book of Ezra is also closely linked to the Chronicles. We can see this in the last verses of 2 Chronicles, which form the opening verses of the book of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-2). Much attention is paid to the temple service, which was established by David and has fallen into decay, but is restored at the end of 2 Chronicles under Hezekiah and Josiah.

The actual importance of the books of the Chronicles for us is related to the main theme, the temple. As in the Old Testament the temple is called the dwelling place or house of God, so in the New Testament the church is called the dwelling place or house of God (Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Timothy 3:15). Often we will make the ‘translation’ of what is described in the Chronicles to our time.

The Bible itself indicates that this is permitted. With regard to the history of Israel in the wilderness we read: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). On this basis we can therefore expect that through both books of the Chronicles we can learn a lot about the church and our behavior in it.

In Hebrew, the title of the Chronicles is ‘words of the days’, which means ‘events of the time’. In the Hebrew Bible, the books of the Chronicles are at the very end of it (cf. Matthew 23:35). These things say something about the span of the Chronicles. The Chronicles begin with the origination of mankind and extend beyond the period of exile to eight generations before the Messiah. Then the thread of the genealogies is taken up again at the beginning of the New Testament with the genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1 (Matthew 1:1-17). The Chronicles begin with the first Adam; the genealogy of Matthew 1 ends with Christ, the last Adam.

The Holy Spirit begins in the Chronicles with the history of mankind, to focus in the midst of mankind attention on that one people of Israel and among that people to focus on Judah and finally to focus on the family of David and in that family on the one man David. This one man is chosen by God.

The authority of the books of the Chronicles as the Word of God is confirmed by the Lord Jesus. He refers to some events from these books. Thus He refers to the visit of the queen of Sheba to Solomon (Matthew 12:42; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12) and to the murder of Zechariah (Matthew 23:35; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Further a verse from 1 Chronicles is quoted in Hebrews 1 (1 Chronicles 17:13; Hebrews 1:5).

The first book of the Chronicles can be subdivided as follows: 1. 1 Chronicles 1-9 The people of God 2. 1 Chronicles 10-12 The anointed of God 3. 1 Chronicles 13-16 The ark of God 4. 1 Chronicles 17-29 The house of God

Before we look at the content of this chapter, let me make some general remarks about the first part of the book, 1 Chronicles 1-9. This first part consists mainly of names. These are chapters that are almost never read. Yet they are part of the whole Word of God and therefore it is useful to read them with attention. The following applies to these chapters as well: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As a stimulus for reading these genealogies I would like to quote something from a comment on 1 Chronicles that has encouraged me: ‘Reading the Chronicles takes some perseverance. The introduction to the genealogies at the beginning of this Bible book can easily reduce our interest. But whoever possesses a little energy and enters into this ‘treasure room’ with prayer will come out again with a hymn of praise.’ (H. Rossier, ‘The Scroll of the Book’, the books of the Chronicles I.)

The names mentioned are of great value, because they often contain a message in their meaning (cf. Hebrews 7:1-2). Here is a gold mine for the zealous researcher. Using a search program and dictionaries of biblical names, many lessons can be learned here. With a few exceptions, this comment leaves the research for the meaning of the names to the reader.

Just one more general remark about the genealogies we encounter here, and elsewhere in the Bible. Paul warns Timothy not to pay “attention to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4). It will be clear that Paul does not mean the genealogies we encounter in the Bible, for they belong to the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The genealogies that Paul mentions in his first letter to Timothy and against which he warns are lists of data originating from the human spirit. They do not come from the Spirit of God. The word ‘genealogy’ means ‘a doctrine about origin’. What the Jews are concerned with are theories about the origins of angels and the families they are supposed to have. This has nothing to do with the Bible, but with being busy about mystical things (Colossians 2:18).

To conclude this general introduction to 1 Chronicles 1-9 a few tips for self-study of these chapters:

1. Read through a chapter or part of a chapter every day. 2. Write down at least one characteristic of a name of which you know something. (For easy retrieval also note the verse.) 3. Sometimes there is just a peculiarity mentioned between the names. Write it down in your own words. As far as I have noticed any details, I will point this out, without saying that there are no more. 4. Write down a verse from each chapter or a name that appeals to you.

Every name that comes after Adam is just another manifestation of this first Adam. In some of his descendants we also see that faith reveals itself. Where there is faith, there must be new life, a new nature, that is to say, the Divine nature. Where faith reveals itself, God is glorified.

The first chapter goes from Adam to the sons of Jacob, who are mentioned in the next chapter. There they are called “the sons of Israel” (1 Chronicles 2:1-2). This chapter deals with two series of names, which are then further elaborated (1 Chronicles 1:1-4; 24-27).

We can imagine reading the names of this genealogy when we are at a cemetery. We walk along the graves and see the names of past generations. They are all names of people who were born and died, they loved and suffered, people who have made their way through the world. The names are engraved on these fixed plates, tombstones. If Christ does not come to take us up during our lives, so will our names. “All flesh”, including ours, “is like grass” (1 Peter 1:24).

Each of these lives has fulfilled a necessary part in the progress of human life and has passed on the torch of it. Each life will also exist on the other side of death, after being revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The names of the persons in this chapter, who are individually known to God, can all be found in the book of Genesis (Genesis 5; 10; 11; 25; 36). There are ten listings. First ten ancestors, from Adam to Noah, are mentioned (1 Chronicles 1:1-4). This is followed by seventy peoples from Noah. Then come the names of another ten ancestors, now from Shem to Abraham (1 Chronicles 1:24-27). Then again seventy nations that come forth from Abraham.

This shows a divine order. The fact that the genealogies start with Adam shows that David’s house – because it is about him in the genealogies – is not only important for Israel, but for the whole of humanity.

From Adam to Noah and His Sons

From Adam to Noah the names of ten ancestors are mentioned.

In the genealogy of Noah in 1 Chronicles 1:4 Shem is mentioned first. But when the generations are listed, the generations of Japheth (1 Chronicles 1:5-7) and Ham (1 Chronicles 1:8-16) have precedence.

1 Chronicles 8:34

Introduction

If we read the first book of the Kings and the second book of the Kings on the one hand and the first books of the Chronicles and the second book of the Chronicles on the other hand, we notice the great similarity between the contents of the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles. They indeed describe the same historical events. Yet there is an important difference. In the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles the history is described from a different point of view. They can be compared with each other, just as we compare the four Gospels with each other. Each writes history in his own way, while it is one Spirit Who leads the writers. Therefore, there is no contradiction, but harmony. The books complement each other.

Who is used by the Holy Spirit to write these books is not known. Jeremiah has been mentioned as the author of the two books of the Kings, while the two books of the Chronicles has been understood as having been written by Ezra. However, there is no hard evidence for this.

The books of the Chronicles occupy a special place among the historical books of the Old Testament. We can compare this with the special place the Gospel according to John occupies among the Gospels. John goes back to what was “in the beginning” (John 1:1), when the eternal Word was with God. The Chronicles also go back to the beginning, but then from the history of man to follow that history along a line of promise and grace.

We find in these books the history of kings who ruled over God’s people. The first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – ruled over all Israel, the twelve tribes. For a short time, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, also ruled over the entire realm of the twelve tribes. But under his government the kingdom is torn into two parts: one part of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, which continue under the name of Judah, and the other part of ten tribes, the other tribes, which continue under the name of Israel or also called Ephraim.

Nineteen kings ruled over each of the two realms until they both ceased to exist. After the nineteenth king of Israel, Hoshea, this realm was conquered by the king of Assyria and the inhabitants were scattered. After the nineteenth king of Judah, Zedekiah, this realm was taken away into exile by the king of Babylon.

Of the kings who have ruled over Judah, some are relatively good, others exceptionally bad; some start well and finish bad; others start bad and finish good. But they all fall short of the glory of God and of God’s ideal of what a king should be. Only the Lord Jesus answers perfectly to it. God calls him ‘My King’. The kings of the ten tribes are without exception bad.

The history described in both books mentioned the Chronicles, runs from Adam until the year 538 BC, roughly 3,500 years. Both books of the Chronicles are written, or at least completed, after the return from exile. This is shown by the fact that the exile of Judah and Jerusalem is mentioned by Nebuchadnezzar as a historical fact in the first book of the Chronicles (1 Chronicles 6:15).

Both books of the Chronicles form a whole. The first book describes the history of David. In the second book we find the history of David’s posterity. Many of these histories can also be found in the first and second book of Samuel and the first and second book of the Kings. These four books can also be viewed as a whole.

Nevertheless, there is an important difference between the series of these four books and the books of the Chronicles. The books of Samuel and the Kings focus on the history of Israel and its kings, with emphasis on the responsibility of man. In the books of the Chronicles, the emphasis is more on the history of Judah and its kings with emphasis on the grace of God.

After man has totally failed in his responsibility in the books of the Kings, we see in the books of the Chronicles the God of grace Himself working to write history again from the beginning. It is the history of God’s people that the Holy Spirit places in the spotlight. Only the mistakes are mentioned which must be known to understand the teaching of His grace. The books of the Chronicles show us the kingship according to the grace of God and not according to its responsible character as in books of the Kings.

The first book of the Chronicles for example is silent about the suffering and the rejection of David, which is described in the books of Samuel, but we see David directly as king in his glory. The books of the Kings mainly give the history of the northern ten tribes realm. The sins of the royal house of David are meticulously mentioned in it, so that the reader may know the reasons for the decay and the tearing. Prophets come to the fore there, because the people have cut themselves off from the service of the priests and Levites, which is connected to the temple in Jerusalem. It is God’s provision that He provides for their spiritual needs through these prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha.

The first and second book of the Chronicles, written after the return of a remnant from the Babylonian exile to the land of Israel, seem to have been written more for this remnant. For it is a great encouragement for the returning handful of Judeans who read in these books to be reminded of God’s former gracious actions with His people. The books of the Chronicles seem to be written more for the remnant, while the books of the Kings seem to be written more for the whole people.

Also the genealogies we find in the first book of the Chronicles, have their use. They are important because only the seed of Abraham is entitled to the promised land. The purpose of these genealogies is to prove origin. Happy he who has kept his genealogies and appreciates the inheritance of the LORD. It is a proof of their faith.

Furthermore, the genealogies are a means to prevent mixing with the surrounding peoples. They also serve to determine the succession of the Aaronite priesthood. For example, we read in the book of Ezra that a person who wants to serve as a priest must be able to prove from the genealogies that he indeed comes from a priestly family and is thus entitled to the priesthood (Ezra 2:62-63; cf. Nehemiah 7:64-65).

Above all, it is possible to determine from these genealogies Who as Messiah is entitled to kingship. This shows the importance of the genealogy in Matthew 1. This clearly shows that the Lord Jesus has the legitimate right to the throne of David. This genealogy can be seen as a continuation of the registers given to us in 1 Chronicles 1-9.

For us who belong to the church of the living God, such genealogies are not important. We do not need to prove our origin. When we think of our origins, it is enough to know that we originate from a sinful Adam. Therefore we are subject to the judgment of God. We have realized this and have been privileged to believe in the work of the Lord Jesus that has been necessary to make us a new generation. Through faith in Him we are born again and belong to the family of God (John 1:12).

Belonging to that family is not based on natural descent, but on our new birth, through which we became partakers of the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). For us, terrestrial registers are not important. Names can be removed from such registers. We may know that our names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). No names can be removed from these registers.

The main theme of the books of the Chronicles is the temple. In these books the ‘house of God’ is often mentioned, while that name does not occur once in the books of the Kings. This might plead for the priest-scribe Ezra to be the author of the Chronicles. Temple and priest belong inextricably together. The book of Ezra is also closely linked to the Chronicles. We can see this in the last verses of 2 Chronicles, which form the opening verses of the book of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-2). Much attention is paid to the temple service, which was established by David and has fallen into decay, but is restored at the end of 2 Chronicles under Hezekiah and Josiah.

The actual importance of the books of the Chronicles for us is related to the main theme, the temple. As in the Old Testament the temple is called the dwelling place or house of God, so in the New Testament the church is called the dwelling place or house of God (Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Timothy 3:15). Often we will make the ‘translation’ of what is described in the Chronicles to our time.

The Bible itself indicates that this is permitted. With regard to the history of Israel in the wilderness we read: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). On this basis we can therefore expect that through both books of the Chronicles we can learn a lot about the church and our behavior in it.

In Hebrew, the title of the Chronicles is ‘words of the days’, which means ‘events of the time’. In the Hebrew Bible, the books of the Chronicles are at the very end of it (cf. Matthew 23:35). These things say something about the span of the Chronicles. The Chronicles begin with the origination of mankind and extend beyond the period of exile to eight generations before the Messiah. Then the thread of the genealogies is taken up again at the beginning of the New Testament with the genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1 (Matthew 1:1-17). The Chronicles begin with the first Adam; the genealogy of Matthew 1 ends with Christ, the last Adam.

The Holy Spirit begins in the Chronicles with the history of mankind, to focus in the midst of mankind attention on that one people of Israel and among that people to focus on Judah and finally to focus on the family of David and in that family on the one man David. This one man is chosen by God.

The authority of the books of the Chronicles as the Word of God is confirmed by the Lord Jesus. He refers to some events from these books. Thus He refers to the visit of the queen of Sheba to Solomon (Matthew 12:42; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12) and to the murder of Zechariah (Matthew 23:35; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Further a verse from 1 Chronicles is quoted in Hebrews 1 (1 Chronicles 17:13; Hebrews 1:5).

The first book of the Chronicles can be subdivided as follows: 1. 1 Chronicles 1-9 The people of God 2. 1 Chronicles 10-12 The anointed of God 3. 1 Chronicles 13-16 The ark of God 4. 1 Chronicles 17-29 The house of God

Before we look at the content of this chapter, let me make some general remarks about the first part of the book, 1 Chronicles 1-9. This first part consists mainly of names. These are chapters that are almost never read. Yet they are part of the whole Word of God and therefore it is useful to read them with attention. The following applies to these chapters as well: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As a stimulus for reading these genealogies I would like to quote something from a comment on 1 Chronicles that has encouraged me: ‘Reading the Chronicles takes some perseverance. The introduction to the genealogies at the beginning of this Bible book can easily reduce our interest. But whoever possesses a little energy and enters into this ‘treasure room’ with prayer will come out again with a hymn of praise.’ (H. Rossier, ‘The Scroll of the Book’, the books of the Chronicles I.)

The names mentioned are of great value, because they often contain a message in their meaning (cf. Hebrews 7:1-2). Here is a gold mine for the zealous researcher. Using a search program and dictionaries of biblical names, many lessons can be learned here. With a few exceptions, this comment leaves the research for the meaning of the names to the reader.

Just one more general remark about the genealogies we encounter here, and elsewhere in the Bible. Paul warns Timothy not to pay “attention to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4). It will be clear that Paul does not mean the genealogies we encounter in the Bible, for they belong to the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The genealogies that Paul mentions in his first letter to Timothy and against which he warns are lists of data originating from the human spirit. They do not come from the Spirit of God. The word ‘genealogy’ means ‘a doctrine about origin’. What the Jews are concerned with are theories about the origins of angels and the families they are supposed to have. This has nothing to do with the Bible, but with being busy about mystical things (Colossians 2:18).

To conclude this general introduction to 1 Chronicles 1-9 a few tips for self-study of these chapters:

1. Read through a chapter or part of a chapter every day. 2. Write down at least one characteristic of a name of which you know something. (For easy retrieval also note the verse.) 3. Sometimes there is just a peculiarity mentioned between the names. Write it down in your own words. As far as I have noticed any details, I will point this out, without saying that there are no more. 4. Write down a verse from each chapter or a name that appeals to you.

Every name that comes after Adam is just another manifestation of this first Adam. In some of his descendants we also see that faith reveals itself. Where there is faith, there must be new life, a new nature, that is to say, the Divine nature. Where faith reveals itself, God is glorified.

The first chapter goes from Adam to the sons of Jacob, who are mentioned in the next chapter. There they are called “the sons of Israel” (1 Chronicles 2:1-2). This chapter deals with two series of names, which are then further elaborated (1 Chronicles 1:1-4; 24-27).

We can imagine reading the names of this genealogy when we are at a cemetery. We walk along the graves and see the names of past generations. They are all names of people who were born and died, they loved and suffered, people who have made their way through the world. The names are engraved on these fixed plates, tombstones. If Christ does not come to take us up during our lives, so will our names. “All flesh”, including ours, “is like grass” (1 Peter 1:24).

Each of these lives has fulfilled a necessary part in the progress of human life and has passed on the torch of it. Each life will also exist on the other side of death, after being revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The names of the persons in this chapter, who are individually known to God, can all be found in the book of Genesis (Genesis 5; 10; 11; 25; 36). There are ten listings. First ten ancestors, from Adam to Noah, are mentioned (1 Chronicles 1:1-4). This is followed by seventy peoples from Noah. Then come the names of another ten ancestors, now from Shem to Abraham (1 Chronicles 1:24-27). Then again seventy nations that come forth from Abraham.

This shows a divine order. The fact that the genealogies start with Adam shows that David’s house – because it is about him in the genealogies – is not only important for Israel, but for the whole of humanity.

From Adam to Noah and His Sons

From Adam to Noah the names of ten ancestors are mentioned.

In the genealogy of Noah in 1 Chronicles 1:4 Shem is mentioned first. But when the generations are listed, the generations of Japheth (1 Chronicles 1:5-7) and Ham (1 Chronicles 1:8-16) have precedence.

1 Chronicles 8:35

Introduction

If we read the first book of the Kings and the second book of the Kings on the one hand and the first books of the Chronicles and the second book of the Chronicles on the other hand, we notice the great similarity between the contents of the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles. They indeed describe the same historical events. Yet there is an important difference. In the two books of the Kings and the two books of the Chronicles the history is described from a different point of view. They can be compared with each other, just as we compare the four Gospels with each other. Each writes history in his own way, while it is one Spirit Who leads the writers. Therefore, there is no contradiction, but harmony. The books complement each other.

Who is used by the Holy Spirit to write these books is not known. Jeremiah has been mentioned as the author of the two books of the Kings, while the two books of the Chronicles has been understood as having been written by Ezra. However, there is no hard evidence for this.

The books of the Chronicles occupy a special place among the historical books of the Old Testament. We can compare this with the special place the Gospel according to John occupies among the Gospels. John goes back to what was “in the beginning” (John 1:1), when the eternal Word was with God. The Chronicles also go back to the beginning, but then from the history of man to follow that history along a line of promise and grace.

We find in these books the history of kings who ruled over God’s people. The first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – ruled over all Israel, the twelve tribes. For a short time, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, also ruled over the entire realm of the twelve tribes. But under his government the kingdom is torn into two parts: one part of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, which continue under the name of Judah, and the other part of ten tribes, the other tribes, which continue under the name of Israel or also called Ephraim.

Nineteen kings ruled over each of the two realms until they both ceased to exist. After the nineteenth king of Israel, Hoshea, this realm was conquered by the king of Assyria and the inhabitants were scattered. After the nineteenth king of Judah, Zedekiah, this realm was taken away into exile by the king of Babylon.

Of the kings who have ruled over Judah, some are relatively good, others exceptionally bad; some start well and finish bad; others start bad and finish good. But they all fall short of the glory of God and of God’s ideal of what a king should be. Only the Lord Jesus answers perfectly to it. God calls him ‘My King’. The kings of the ten tribes are without exception bad.

The history described in both books mentioned the Chronicles, runs from Adam until the year 538 BC, roughly 3,500 years. Both books of the Chronicles are written, or at least completed, after the return from exile. This is shown by the fact that the exile of Judah and Jerusalem is mentioned by Nebuchadnezzar as a historical fact in the first book of the Chronicles (1 Chronicles 6:15).

Both books of the Chronicles form a whole. The first book describes the history of David. In the second book we find the history of David’s posterity. Many of these histories can also be found in the first and second book of Samuel and the first and second book of the Kings. These four books can also be viewed as a whole.

Nevertheless, there is an important difference between the series of these four books and the books of the Chronicles. The books of Samuel and the Kings focus on the history of Israel and its kings, with emphasis on the responsibility of man. In the books of the Chronicles, the emphasis is more on the history of Judah and its kings with emphasis on the grace of God.

After man has totally failed in his responsibility in the books of the Kings, we see in the books of the Chronicles the God of grace Himself working to write history again from the beginning. It is the history of God’s people that the Holy Spirit places in the spotlight. Only the mistakes are mentioned which must be known to understand the teaching of His grace. The books of the Chronicles show us the kingship according to the grace of God and not according to its responsible character as in books of the Kings.

The first book of the Chronicles for example is silent about the suffering and the rejection of David, which is described in the books of Samuel, but we see David directly as king in his glory. The books of the Kings mainly give the history of the northern ten tribes realm. The sins of the royal house of David are meticulously mentioned in it, so that the reader may know the reasons for the decay and the tearing. Prophets come to the fore there, because the people have cut themselves off from the service of the priests and Levites, which is connected to the temple in Jerusalem. It is God’s provision that He provides for their spiritual needs through these prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha.

The first and second book of the Chronicles, written after the return of a remnant from the Babylonian exile to the land of Israel, seem to have been written more for this remnant. For it is a great encouragement for the returning handful of Judeans who read in these books to be reminded of God’s former gracious actions with His people. The books of the Chronicles seem to be written more for the remnant, while the books of the Kings seem to be written more for the whole people.

Also the genealogies we find in the first book of the Chronicles, have their use. They are important because only the seed of Abraham is entitled to the promised land. The purpose of these genealogies is to prove origin. Happy he who has kept his genealogies and appreciates the inheritance of the LORD. It is a proof of their faith.

Furthermore, the genealogies are a means to prevent mixing with the surrounding peoples. They also serve to determine the succession of the Aaronite priesthood. For example, we read in the book of Ezra that a person who wants to serve as a priest must be able to prove from the genealogies that he indeed comes from a priestly family and is thus entitled to the priesthood (Ezra 2:62-63; cf. Nehemiah 7:64-65).

Above all, it is possible to determine from these genealogies Who as Messiah is entitled to kingship. This shows the importance of the genealogy in Matthew 1. This clearly shows that the Lord Jesus has the legitimate right to the throne of David. This genealogy can be seen as a continuation of the registers given to us in 1 Chronicles 1-9.

For us who belong to the church of the living God, such genealogies are not important. We do not need to prove our origin. When we think of our origins, it is enough to know that we originate from a sinful Adam. Therefore we are subject to the judgment of God. We have realized this and have been privileged to believe in the work of the Lord Jesus that has been necessary to make us a new generation. Through faith in Him we are born again and belong to the family of God (John 1:12).

Belonging to that family is not based on natural descent, but on our new birth, through which we became partakers of the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4). For us, terrestrial registers are not important. Names can be removed from such registers. We may know that our names are recorded in heaven (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). No names can be removed from these registers.

The main theme of the books of the Chronicles is the temple. In these books the ‘house of God’ is often mentioned, while that name does not occur once in the books of the Kings. This might plead for the priest-scribe Ezra to be the author of the Chronicles. Temple and priest belong inextricably together. The book of Ezra is also closely linked to the Chronicles. We can see this in the last verses of 2 Chronicles, which form the opening verses of the book of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-2). Much attention is paid to the temple service, which was established by David and has fallen into decay, but is restored at the end of 2 Chronicles under Hezekiah and Josiah.

The actual importance of the books of the Chronicles for us is related to the main theme, the temple. As in the Old Testament the temple is called the dwelling place or house of God, so in the New Testament the church is called the dwelling place or house of God (Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Timothy 3:15). Often we will make the ‘translation’ of what is described in the Chronicles to our time.

The Bible itself indicates that this is permitted. With regard to the history of Israel in the wilderness we read: “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). On this basis we can therefore expect that through both books of the Chronicles we can learn a lot about the church and our behavior in it.

In Hebrew, the title of the Chronicles is ‘words of the days’, which means ‘events of the time’. In the Hebrew Bible, the books of the Chronicles are at the very end of it (cf. Matthew 23:35). These things say something about the span of the Chronicles. The Chronicles begin with the origination of mankind and extend beyond the period of exile to eight generations before the Messiah. Then the thread of the genealogies is taken up again at the beginning of the New Testament with the genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1 (Matthew 1:1-17). The Chronicles begin with the first Adam; the genealogy of Matthew 1 ends with Christ, the last Adam.

The Holy Spirit begins in the Chronicles with the history of mankind, to focus in the midst of mankind attention on that one people of Israel and among that people to focus on Judah and finally to focus on the family of David and in that family on the one man David. This one man is chosen by God.

The authority of the books of the Chronicles as the Word of God is confirmed by the Lord Jesus. He refers to some events from these books. Thus He refers to the visit of the queen of Sheba to Solomon (Matthew 12:42; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12) and to the murder of Zechariah (Matthew 23:35; 2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Further a verse from 1 Chronicles is quoted in Hebrews 1 (1 Chronicles 17:13; Hebrews 1:5).

The first book of the Chronicles can be subdivided as follows: 1. 1 Chronicles 1-9 The people of God 2. 1 Chronicles 10-12 The anointed of God 3. 1 Chronicles 13-16 The ark of God 4. 1 Chronicles 17-29 The house of God

Before we look at the content of this chapter, let me make some general remarks about the first part of the book, 1 Chronicles 1-9. This first part consists mainly of names. These are chapters that are almost never read. Yet they are part of the whole Word of God and therefore it is useful to read them with attention. The following applies to these chapters as well: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As a stimulus for reading these genealogies I would like to quote something from a comment on 1 Chronicles that has encouraged me: ‘Reading the Chronicles takes some perseverance. The introduction to the genealogies at the beginning of this Bible book can easily reduce our interest. But whoever possesses a little energy and enters into this ‘treasure room’ with prayer will come out again with a hymn of praise.’ (H. Rossier, ‘The Scroll of the Book’, the books of the Chronicles I.)

The names mentioned are of great value, because they often contain a message in their meaning (cf. Hebrews 7:1-2). Here is a gold mine for the zealous researcher. Using a search program and dictionaries of biblical names, many lessons can be learned here. With a few exceptions, this comment leaves the research for the meaning of the names to the reader.

Just one more general remark about the genealogies we encounter here, and elsewhere in the Bible. Paul warns Timothy not to pay “attention to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:4). It will be clear that Paul does not mean the genealogies we encounter in the Bible, for they belong to the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

The genealogies that Paul mentions in his first letter to Timothy and against which he warns are lists of data originating from the human spirit. They do not come from the Spirit of God. The word ‘genealogy’ means ‘a doctrine about origin’. What the Jews are concerned with are theories about the origins of angels and the families they are supposed to have. This has nothing to do with the Bible, but with being busy about mystical things (Colossians 2:18).

To conclude this general introduction to 1 Chronicles 1-9 a few tips for self-study of these chapters:

1. Read through a chapter or part of a chapter every day. 2. Write down at least one characteristic of a name of which you know something. (For easy retrieval also note the verse.) 3. Sometimes there is just a peculiarity mentioned between the names. Write it down in your own words. As far as I have noticed any details, I will point this out, without saying that there are no more. 4. Write down a verse from each chapter or a name that appeals to you.

Every name that comes after Adam is just another manifestation of this first Adam. In some of his descendants we also see that faith reveals itself. Where there is faith, there must be new life, a new nature, that is to say, the Divine nature. Where faith reveals itself, God is glorified.

The first chapter goes from Adam to the sons of Jacob, who are mentioned in the next chapter. There they are called “the sons of Israel” (1 Chronicles 2:1-2). This chapter deals with two series of names, which are then further elaborated (1 Chronicles 1:1-4; 24-27).

We can imagine reading the names of this genealogy when we are at a cemetery. We walk along the graves and see the names of past generations. They are all names of people who were born and died, they loved and suffered, people who have made their way through the world. The names are engraved on these fixed plates, tombstones. If Christ does not come to take us up during our lives, so will our names. “All flesh”, including ours, “is like grass” (1 Peter 1:24).

Each of these lives has fulfilled a necessary part in the progress of human life and has passed on the torch of it. Each life will also exist on the other side of death, after being revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The names of the persons in this chapter, who are individually known to God, can all be found in the book of Genesis (Genesis 5; 10; 11; 25; 36). There are ten listings. First ten ancestors, from Adam to Noah, are mentioned (1 Chronicles 1:1-4). This is followed by seventy peoples from Noah. Then come the names of another ten ancestors, now from Shem to Abraham (1 Chronicles 1:24-27). Then again seventy nations that come forth from Abraham.

This shows a divine order. The fact that the genealogies start with Adam shows that David’s house – because it is about him in the genealogies – is not only important for Israel, but for the whole of humanity.

From Adam to Noah and His Sons

From Adam to Noah the names of ten ancestors are mentioned.

In the genealogy of Noah in 1 Chronicles 1:4 Shem is mentioned first. But when the generations are listed, the generations of Japheth (1 Chronicles 1:5-7) and Ham (1 Chronicles 1:8-16) have precedence.

1 Chronicles 8:36

Descendants of Japheth

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1 Chronicles 8:37

Descendants of Japheth

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1 Chronicles 8:38

Descendants of Japheth

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1 Chronicles 8:39

Descendants of Ham

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1 Chronicles 8:40

Descendants of Ham

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