First and Second Chronicles

(In the following, I.2.3 refers to I Chronicles, chapter 2, verse 3)

I.1–9 This passage is pretty much solid genealogies.

I.10.1—II.36.14 The bulk of these two books parallels 2 Sam and 1–2 Kings, but with a different emphasis. In brief:

It is more positive, particularly towards David, passing over his adultery and the rebellions against him.
During the period of the divided kingdom, only Judah is dealt with.
The plans for the Temple are attributed to David.
There is more detail about the Temple and its worship.

The table below summarizes the correspondence between the two accounts. You can use it in two ways: as a guide for comparing the texts side-by-side (even small differences reveal things about the emphases of the two accounts), or as a cheat sheet for skipping redundant sections of Chronicles. The minimalist plan would be: I.21.28—22.19; I.28.1—29.30; II.11.5—31.21, but pay attention to the contexts of these passages.

A reference in italics means that the passage has substantial material not found in its parallel.

Chronicles Samuel Summary

I.10.1–14 I.31.1–13 Death of Saul

II.1.1–4.12 David king over Judah

I.11.1–9 II.5.1–10 David captures Jerusalem

I.11.10-47 II.23.8–39 David’s mighty men

I.12.1–41 David’s helpers at Ziklag

I.13.1–14 II.6.1–11 The Ark from Kiriath-jearim

I.14.1–17 II.5.11–25 David king in Jerusalem

I.15.1–16.6 II.6.12–19a The Ark to Jerusalem

I.16.7–36 (Ps 105.1–15; 96; 106.1, 47, 48) David’s psalm of thanksgiving

I.16.37–43 Levites in charge of the Ark

II.6.19b–23 Michal chides David

I.17.1—18.17 II.7.1–8.18 God’s covenant with David; David extends his kingdom

II.9.1–13 David and Mephibosheth

I.19.1–19 II.10.1–19 Defeat of Ammon and Aram

I.20.1–3 II.11.1—12.31 Joab besieges Rabbah/David and Bathsheba

II.13.1—20.26 Absalom’s rebellion

II.21.1–14 Avenging of the Gibeonites

I.20.4–8 II.21.15–22 Giants slain by David’s men

(Ps 18.1–15) II.22.1–51 David’s song of deliverance

II.23.1–7 Last words of David

I.21.1–27 II.24.1–25 Census of Israel and Judah

I.21.28—29.22 David’s preparations for the Temple

Kings

I.1.1—2.9 Solomon becomes king

I.29.23–30 I.2.10–12 Death of David

I.2.13–46 Solomon establishes his rule

II.1.1–13 I.3.1–15 Solomon asks for wisdom

I.3.16—4.19 Solomon’s wise judgment; his officials

II.1.14–17 II.10.26–29 Solomon’s wealth

II.4.20—34 Solomon’s wealth and wisdom

II.1.18—8.18 I.5.1—9.28 Solomon builds the Temple and his palace

II.9.1–28 I.10.1–29 The queen of Sheba visits; Solomon’s wealth

I.11.1–40 Solomon’s sin

II.9.29–31 I.11.41–43 Death of Solomon

II.10.1—11.4 I.12.1–24 Israel revolts

I.12.25—14.20 Jeroboam I

II.11.5—17.1 I.14.21—15.24 Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa

I.15.25—21.29 Nadab through Ahab; Elijah

II.17.2–19 Jehoshaphat established

II.18.1–34 I.22.1–40 Micaiah prophesies against Ahab and Jehoshaphat

II.19.1—21.1 I.22.41–51 Jehoshaphat’s reign

I.22.52—II.8.15 Ahaziah of Israel, Jehoram of Israel; Elisha

II.21.2—22.6 II.8.16–29 Jehoram of Judah, Ahaziah of Judah

II.22.7–9 II.9.1—10.36 Jehu

II.22.10—24.27 II.11.1—12.22 Athaliah; Jehoash of Judah

II.13.1–25 Jehoahaz, Jehoash of Israel

II.25.1—26.2 II.14.1–22 Amaziah

II.14.23–29 Jeroboam II

II.26.3–23 II.15.1–7 Uzziah = Azariah

II.15.8–31 Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah

II.27.1–9 II.15.32–38 Jotham

II.28.1—28.27 II.16.1–20 Ahaz

II.17.1–41 Fall of Samaria

II.29.1–2 II.18.1–12 Hezekiah

II.29.3—31.21 Hezekiah restores worship

II.32.1–19 II.18.13–37 Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem

II.32.20–33, (Isa 37.1—39.3) II.19.1—20.21 Sennacherib leaves; aftermath

II.33.1–25 II.21.1–26 Manasseh, Amon

II.34.1–33 II.22.1—23.20 Josiah

II.35.1–19 II.23.21–23 Josiah restores worship

II.23.24–27 The Lord’s anger against Judah

II.35.20—36.1 II.23.28–30 Death of Josiah

II.36.2–17 II.23.31—24.20 Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah

II.25.1–7 Fall of Jerusalem

II.36.18–21 II.25.8–30 Captivity of Judah

Chronicles	Samuel	Summary
I.10.1–14	I.31.1–13	Death of Saul
	II.1.1–4.12	David king over Judah
I.11.1–9	II.5.1–10	David captures Jerusalem
I.11.10-47	II.23.8–39	David’s mighty men
I.12.1–41		David’s helpers at Ziklag
I.13.1–14	II.6.1–11	The Ark from Kiriath-jearim
I.14.1–17	II.5.11–25	David king in Jerusalem
I.15.1–16.6	II.6.12–19a	The Ark to Jerusalem
I.16.7–36	(Ps 105.1–15; 96; 106.1, 47, 48)	David’s psalm of thanksgiving
I.16.37–43		Levites in charge of the Ark
	II.6.19b–23	Michal chides David
I.17.1—18.17	II.7.1–8.18	God’s covenant with David; David extends his kingdom
	II.9.1–13	David and Mephibosheth
I.19.1–19	II.10.1–19	Defeat of Ammon and Aram
I.20.1–3	II.11.1—12.31	Joab besieges Rabbah/David and Bathsheba
	II.13.1—20.26	Absalom’s rebellion
	II.21.1–14	Avenging of the Gibeonites
I.20.4–8	II.21.15–22	Giants slain by David’s men
(Ps 18.1–15)	II.22.1–51	David’s song of deliverance
	II.23.1–7	Last words of David
I.21.1–27	II.24.1–25	Census of Israel and Judah
I.21.28—29.22		David’s preparations for the Temple
	Kings
	I.1.1—2.9	Solomon becomes king
I.29.23–30	I.2.10–12	Death of David
	I.2.13–46	Solomon establishes his rule
II.1.1–13	I.3.1–15	Solomon asks for wisdom
	I.3.16—4.19	Solomon’s wise judgment; his officials
II.1.14–17	II.10.26–29	Solomon’s wealth
	II.4.20—34	Solomon’s wealth and wisdom
II.1.18—8.18	I.5.1—9.28	Solomon builds the Temple and his palace
II.9.1–28	I.10.1–29	The queen of Sheba visits; Solomon’s wealth
	I.11.1–40	Solomon’s sin
II.9.29–31	I.11.41–43	Death of Solomon
II.10.1—11.4	I.12.1–24	Israel revolts
	I.12.25—14.20	Jeroboam I
II.11.5—17.1	I.14.21—15.24	Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa
	I.15.25—21.29	Nadab through Ahab; Elijah
II.17.2–19		Jehoshaphat established
II.18.1–34	I.22.1–40	Micaiah prophesies against Ahab and Jehoshaphat
II.19.1—21.1	I.22.41–51	Jehoshaphat’s reign
	I.22.52—II.8.15	Ahaziah of Israel, Jehoram of Israel; Elisha
II.21.2—22.6	II.8.16–29	Jehoram of Judah, Ahaziah of Judah
II.22.7–9	II.9.1—10.36	Jehu
II.22.10—24.27	II.11.1—12.22	Athaliah; Jehoash of Judah
	II.13.1–25	Jehoahaz, Jehoash of Israel
II.25.1—26.2	II.14.1–22	Amaziah
	II.14.23–29	Jeroboam II
II.26.3–23	II.15.1–7	Uzziah = Azariah
	II.15.8–31	Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah
II.27.1–9	II.15.32–38	Jotham
II.28.1—28.27	II.16.1–20	Ahaz
	II.17.1–41	Fall of Samaria
II.29.1–2	II.18.1–12	Hezekiah
II.29.3—31.21		Hezekiah restores worship
II.32.1–19	II.18.13–37	Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem
II.32.20–33, (Isa 37.1—39.3)	II.19.1—20.21	Sennacherib leaves; aftermath
II.33.1–25	II.21.1–26	Manasseh, Amon
II.34.1–33	II.22.1—23.20	Josiah
II.35.1–19	II.23.21–23	Josiah restores worship
	II.23.24–27	The Lord’s anger against Judah
II.35.20—36.1	II.23.28–30	Death of Josiah
II.36.2–17	II.23.31—24.20	Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah
	II.25.1–7	Fall of Jerusalem
II.36.18–21	II.25.8–30	Captivity of Judah

Source: Endres, Millar, and Burns, eds., Chronicles and its synoptic parallels in Samuel, Kings, and related Biblical texts. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1998.

II.36.15–23 This passage takes place many years later. It matches up with the beginning of Ezra, and stops rather abruptly. Some people think this was a copyist's error; some people think it is part of Chronicles, a sort of happy epilogue.