By Mike Peek

What does it say? Josiah reinstated the passover celebration and set the priests in their offices and encouraged them and the Levites in the service of the house of the Lord. Josiah and the officers contributed for the people, the passover sacrifices. The Priest sacrificed the animals, sprinkling the blood, the Levites skinned and roasted them for the people. They celebrated the passover, then the feast of unleavened bread for seven days in the 18th year of Josiah’s reign. After setting the house of the Lord in order, Josiah went up against the king of Egypt in battle and died; the people lamented at his death and burial. Joahaz became king but was displaced to Egypt and Eliakim (Jehoiakim) his brother became king in his place. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon captured Jehoiakim and took him to Babylon; therefore, Jehoiachin his son became king in Jerusalem. After a brief reign, he too was taken to Babylon. Zedekiah was made king by Nebuchadnezzar but he rebelled against the Lord, ignori...

What does it say? Assyria invaded Judah coming up against the cities in Judah, so Hezekiah prepared for defense and encouraged the people to be strong and courageous trusting in the Lord God. Sennacherib sent his servants to speak to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall to frighten and terrify them, speaking of the Lord as if he were like the gods of other nations (idols) that were made with human hands. Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord in prayer and the Lord delivered Judah from Sennacherib. Hezekiah became prideful though all that he accomplished and had was given to him by the Lord; Hezekiah became ill and his heart was humbled, so the Lord did not pore out wrath on Judah during his days. His son Manasseh became king in Judah at the age of twelve, his reign was 55 years, during which he reversed all of the changes his father made in Judah, acting more abominably than the inhabitants of that the Lord sent Israel to remove from the land. Manasseh was capt...

What does it say? Ahaz became king in Judah and acted wickedly in many ways. The Lord God used the king of Aram and Israel to punish Judah for the wicked acts under the leadership of Ahaz. However, the Lord did not allow Israel to make slaves of Judah as they had it in their mind to do, for he rose up Obed as a prophet to preach against enslaving their brothers and warned of the wrath of God against Israel if they did not repent, so they clothed them and let them go free. King Ahaz asked Assyria to help against his enemies and Assyria took the wealth of Judah. After this Ahaz fell further into idolatry, sacrificing to the gods of Damascus and closing the doors to the house of the Lord, making alters for himself in Jerusalem. Hezekiah became king in Judah. He opened the doors to the house of the Lord and repaired them, bringing in the priests and the Levites, and he instructed them to cleanse the house of Idolatry and be ministers. It took a total of sixteen days to cleanse the whole ho...

What does it say? Amaziah became king and followed the word of the Lord but not with a whole heart. He followed the word of the Lord regarding those who killed his father; therefore, as the word said, he did not kill there sons. Amaziah hired 100,000 troops from Israel to go into battle against the Edomites. A man of God came and told him that if he went into battle with these men God would defeat him but without them he would give him victory; so he dismissed the men but while the army of Judah was fighting the edomites these men attacked the cities of Judah. Amaziah bowed down to idols, the gods of Edom; therefore, God sent him a prophet to rebuke him but he refused to listen. After defeating Edom Amaziah became proud and challenged Joash king of Israel and Joash defeated Judah and took the treasury out of the house of God. Amaziah’s reign would end buy fleeing to Lachish and dying there but he would be buried in Judah. Uzziah became king, like Amaziah, at the beginning he followed t...

What does it say? Jehoram succeeded Jehoshaphat as king in Judah. The relationship with the unrighteous that the Lord warned against came to Jerusalem. Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter and did evil in the sight of the Lord. Edom revolted and set up a king over themselves. God inflicted the house of Jehoram with the Philistines and Arabs who carried away his possessions and sons, except for the youngest because the Lord was unwilling to destroy completely the house of David his servant. Ahaziah succeeded Jehoram as king in Judah. Ahaziah slew his brothers at the direction of his mother Athaliah. His manner of leading was just like that of Ahab, king of Israel; therefore, he allied with Jehoram king of Israel. The Lord used Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab and the house of Ahaziah was inflicted in the wake. When Ahaziah died, Athaliah killed his sons but her daughter Jehoshabeath hid Joash from her and took him to Jehoiada the priest who cared for him and rallied the priests and Levites ...

What does it say? Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied with Ahab king of Israel by marriage. Ahab talked Jehoshaphat into going up against the city of Ramoth-gilead which was under the control of the king of Aram. Jehoshaphat requested to hear the word of the Lord regarding the matter. There was a lying spirit in the tongues of the prophets in Israel but Micaiah spoke truth about what would happen in the battle. He prophesying the death of Ahab. The Lord saved Jehoshaphat but let him know through the seer Hanani  that he was not pleased with the alliance he had made with Ahab saying, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” (vs. 19:2-3) Jehoshaphat made reforms in the land, appointing judges who would hear cases, directing them to judge righteously and not with partiality or the taking a bribe. Th...

What does it say? Abijah succeeded Rehoboam as king over Judah. His reign was for three years. Abijah took the forces of Judah and Benjamin up against Jeroboam and the northern tribes of Israel. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin by making two golden calves, drove out the priests of the Lord and made priests of whoever comes to consecrate himself. Abijah’s forces were 400,000 and Jeroboam’s were 800,000. Abijab called on the name of the Lord and God gave Jeroboam into his hand and 500,000 of Israel fell. After this, Jeroboam slept with his fathers and his son, Asa became king of Judah and Benjamin. Asa removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God and observe the law and the commandment. By invoking the name of the Lord, Asa defeated the Ethiopians who came up against Judah and Benjamin. Asa’s reforms where a result of Azariah’s warning that the Lord is with you when you are with him. He told him ...

What does it say? The queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because she heard the fame of his words and wisdom. Once she came and heard Solomon she was amazed and said that his wisdom surpassed what she had heard. She gave Solomon as a tribute gold, spices, and precious stones. Solomon’s wealth and power was eminence. Solomon received 666 talents of gold in one year. Everything in his kingdom was ornate. Even the shields were made of gold. Solomon’s reign was forty years, then he died and his son Rehoboam became king. The kingdom was split between Rehoboam in the south and Jeroboam in the north. The priests and Levites forsook their cities in the north and came to Judah. Jeroboam appointed priests of his own for the high places in the north; however, there were people in the northern tribes who continued to come to Jerusalem and offer sacrifices at the temple. Rehoboam had many wives and concubines and fathered many children. Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord and God punished him wit...

What does it say? Solomon spoke to assembly of Israel regarding the temple. He told them that it was in David’s heart to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, but it was David’s son who would build the Lord a house. Solomon then prays to the Lord in the presence of the assembly. Solomon ask’s that whenever the people turn and pray towards this house that he (Solomon) built, that the Lord would hear from heaven and act. When the people sin and fall into pestilence, war, or famine because of their sin; if they repent and pray toward the house that he (Solomon) built, he ask’s that the Lord hear from heaven and acts. The Shekinah glory filled the house and sacrifices were offered: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. This is how the the temple was dedicated. The priest stood on their posts and the Levites played instruments of Music. The assembly then enjoyed a feast together after which Solomon sent them away to their own tents. The Lord answers Solomon’s prayer and promis...

What does it say? Solomon decided to build a house for God and a royal palace for himself. David his father had numbered the non-Israelites living amongst them during his unsanctioned census of the people. There were 153,600 of whom Solomon assigned 70,000 to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stones and 3,600 to supervise the work. He also asked Huram, king of Tyre to help build the temple and his palace as he had helped build David’s house. Huram sent Huram-abi who was a skilled craftsmen. In return for the work and material, Huram asked for food. The temple was built and the inside of the temple was overlaid with pure gold. Then the temple was furnished by the magnificent craftsmanship of Huram-abi. At completion, Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the ark was placed in the inner sanctuary of the house, the holy of holies. A feast was eaten, singers sang, instruments were played and the cloud filled th...

What does it say? David addressed those whom he appointed about his plans for the temple; namely, the officials of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the commanders, the overseers of property and treasury, and his sons. David assumes the covenant given him through Nathan the prophet (cf. 1 Ch. 17:1-15, & 2 Sa. 7:1-17) to mean Solomon. David states before the congregation that the temple is not for man but for the Lord God. David charges Israel to be strong and courageous in the building of the temple. David talks about all that he has given for the temple; and thereby, employs the congregation to give towards the building project. David then prays to the Lord about this before the congregation. A sacrifice of 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams and 1,000 lambs is made, then they ate and drank. And they made Solomon king and he sat on the thrown instead of David. After David’s death, Solomon went to Gibeon where the tabernacle was to worship the Lord. He offered sacrifices and prayed to God whi...

What does it say? The previous chapter (24) gives the divisions of Levites. In chapter 25 these divisions are given duties to preform. The musicians are divided into three family groups: Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. The sons of these three and their relatives served in the temple in groups of twelve, for 2 weeks at a time, playing music on lyres, harps and cymbals. Then in chapter 26 other Levites are given the duties of keeping the gates. Others were given the duty of keeping the treasure. Still others were given duties outside of the temple as officers and judges. Then in chapter 27 the commanders of the army are listed into divisions of 24,000, serving for 1 month at a time. Following the army divisions, a chief officer for each tribe is named. Then a list of miscellaneous overseers with their duties is given. Lastly, the persons that made up David’s court. What does it mean? Regarding the musicians, more than music was being preformed for the text says that the sons of Asaph, Heman a...

What does it say? Though David was not to build the temple and was told through Nathan the prophet that one of his descendants would build a house for God, David took it upon himself to prepare for the building. David gathered resident aliens as forced laborers and gathered materials for the building of the temple. David then charges Solomon with the task of building a temple for God and tells Solomon that he intended to build the temple himself but refers to the word of the Lord given through Nathan the prophet as the reason for tasking Solomon with building the temple. (Ch. 22) David turned over the kingdom to his son Solomon before his death, when David had reached old age. In addition to the forced labor and materials; david also provides religious, military, and political leadership for Solomon’s kingdom. The Levites were given a new job because they would no longer need to care for the portable tabernacle and its furnishings which included the ark of the covenant. The age for Lev...

What does it say? The events of chapters 18-20 summarize David’s wars and victories which was drawn from the content of 2 Samuel 8-21. The Chronicler also shows David as a king that ministered justice and righteousness for all his people. (vs. 18:14) The chronicler gives Satan credit for moving David to number Israel. (vs. 21:1) Joab did not agree with the census; therefore, he did not number the tribes of Benjamin or Levi. (vs. 21:6) The Lord was angry; therefore, he struck Israel but gave David a choice through the the prophet Gad, three things: three years of famine, three months of being swept by his foes, or three days of pestilence. David leaned on the graciousness of God and choose the three days of pestilence. This lead to David purchasing the threshing floor of Oran the Jebusite to build an alter on which David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. After this, the Lord withdrew from destroying Jerusalem with pestilence.  What does it mean? The events of ...

What does it say? David built houses for himself and prepared a place for the ark of God by pitching a tent for it. This time David ascribed that the Levites should carry the ark of God to its resting place in the tent. The sons of Aaron and the Levites consecrated themselves for the task. David , with the elders of Israel and the captains of the armies went to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem and the Levites carried the ark of the covenant. The Israelites were united as one, shouting and playing musical instruments. The ark of God was placed in the tent and they offered burnt offerings and peace offering before God. Then all of Israel had a meal together; both man and women alike; a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a raisin cake. David gave thanks to the Lord with a psalm of thanksgiving. Then David was stirred in his heart to make a house of cedar for the ark of God but God told David that he would make him a house permanently. Th...

What does it say? Chapter 12 begins by listing the supporters that David had at Ziklag.  Ziklag: “a town in the south of Judah, later allotted to Simeon; noted for its having been the city of David given to him by king Achish of Gath and his residence when he was joined by many of his mighty warriors and when he received word of the death of Saul.” (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary) David had support from many of the Israelite tribes while Saul was still king. Then the text shifts to Hebron when all of Israel came there in support of David as their king. The text first list the men of war and then speaks also of Israel. Chapter 13 describes the peril in transporting the Ark to Jerusalem. They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab. Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. Uzza or Uzzah = "strength" (Ibid) Uzza was struck down because he put out his hand to steady the ark when it was rocked in the cart. This upset david a great deal and the ark of G...

What does it say? The text lists the genealogies of the people who lived in the city of Jerusalem. The significant persons listed are the priests, the Levites and the Temple servants (v. 9:2) Also, some of the tribes of Judah, of Benjamin and of Ephraim and of Manasseh lived in Jerusalem. (vs. 9:3-9) After listing these, the chronicler returns to the genealogies of the priests, Levites and Temple servants. After this, he turns to the ancestry of Saul and his descendants. (vs, 9:35-44) A very brief history of Saul and his son’s defeat at the hands of the Philistines is given. Then he honors the people of Jabesh-gilead for their Tribute to Saul for taking away his body and his son’s body and baring their bones. The chronicler states the reason for Saul’s death as his trespasses against the Word of the Lord and for asking the counsel of a medium rather than the Lord. (vs. 10:1-14) After this, David is made king by all of Israel at Hebron. (vs. 11:1-3) David with the people of Israel cap...

What does it say? Chapter 7 lists the genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. Chapter 8 returns to the genealogy of Benjamin, then becomes more specific as it lists the genealogy of Saul. In chapter 7 the lists of Issachar and Benjamin are composed from military censuses. It is noted that the genealogies of Dan and Zebulun are missing and I do not no the reason, perhaps there were no records to draw from. (ESV Global SB Notes) The tribe of Manasseh lists the genealogies of the half tribe that lived west of the Jordan. (ESV Global SB Notes) When the chronicler gets to Ephraim he focuses Joshua, the most famous leader from that tribe whom God used to bring Israel across the Jordan into the promised land. Like many of the other tribes of Israel that occupied the north, Asher’s  genealogy is comprised from a military register. It should be noted that “there are about 25 genealogical lists in the Bible.” (ESV Global SB Notes) What does it mean? It seem...

What does it say? This chapter lists the genealogy of the tribe of Levi but more specifically the priestly line from Aaron. The Levites and the priestly line were given no territory of their own in Israel but they were given cities amongst their brothers. The text lists theses cities and the tribes in which they dwell.  What does it mean? The levites service is in the temple; therefore, during the postexilic period with the rebuilding of the temple, they wanted to know who the Levites are, so that they may serve in the Temple. However, they also wanted to know who the descendants of Aaron are, because ”it is a recurring theme that the Aaronic priests make atonement for Israel in order to maintain a relationship with God.” (ESV Global SB Notes) The text ties all the Aaronic priests to Zadok and Ahimaaz, who lived in Solomon’s time. The Chronicler’s ideal Israel is the Israel that existed during the time of Solomon: a Davidic king on the thrown, Levites serving in the temple, and son...

What does it say? Chapter 3 lists David’s children, then goes through the royal line of David from Solomon of Bathsheba. The second half of the the chapter lists the known postexilic descendants of David. “Most of these individuals are unknown outside of this list. Exceptions are Zerubbabel, of whom considerably more is known and Hattush (v. 22)  who is known only as one who returned with Ezra (Ezra 8:2).”  (IVP BBC OT)  Chapters 4 and 5 list the descendants of Asher, Simeon and Reuben. Chapter 5 begins with a statement about birth rite and defilement and explaining who had the birth rite. Reuben had defiled the bed of Jacob; therefore, Jacob gave the birth rite of the first son to the first born of his second wife Rachel. Then the text speaks of how the tribe of Judah (meaning the Davidic royal line) prevailed over Joseph’s line but acknowledges that the birth rite of the first son was given to Joseph.  What does it mean? These genealogies can be difficult to unders...