The early history is therefore contracted into a
series of tribal and priestly genealogies, which were doubtless by no
means the least interesting part of the work at a time when every
Israelite was concerned to prove the purity of his Hebrew descent (cp.
Ezra ii. 59, 62). Commencing abruptly (after some Benjamite genealogies)
with the death of Saul, the history becomes fuller and runs parallel
with the books of Samuel and Kings. The limitations of the compiler's
interest in past times appear in the omission, among other particulars,
of David's reign in Hebron, of the disorders in his family and the
revolt of Absalom, of the circumstances of Solomon's accession, and of
many details as to the wisdom and splendour of that sovereign, as well
as of his fall into idolatry. In the later history the ten tribes are
quite neglected ("Yahweh is not with Israel," 2 Chron. xxv. 7), and
political affairs in Judah receive attention, not in proportion to their
intrinsic importance, but according as they serve to exemplify God's
help to the obedient and His chastisement of the rebellious. That the
compiler is always unwilling to speak of the misfortunes of good rulers
is not necessarily to be ascribed to a deliberate suppression of truth,
but shows that the book was throughout composed not in purely historical
interests, but with a view to inculcating a single practical lesson. The
more important additions to the older narrative consist partly of
statistical lists (1 Chron. xii.), partly of full details on points
connected with the history of the sanctuary and the great feasts or the
archaeology of the Levitical ministry (1 Chron. xiii., xv., xvi.,
xxii.-xxix.; 2 Chron. xxix.-xxxi., &c.), and partly of narratives of
victories and defeats, of sins and punishments, of obedience and its
reward, which could be made to point a plain religious lesson in favour
of faithful observance of the law (2 Chron. xiii., xiv. 9 sqq.; xx.,
xxi. 11 sqq., &c.). The minor variations of _Chronicles_ from the books
of Samuel and Kings are analogous in principle to the larger additions
and omissions, so that the whole work has a consistent and well-marked
character, presenting the history in quite a different perspective from
that of the old narrative.

Sources.

The chronicler makes frequent reference to earlier histories which he
cites by a great variety of names. That the names "Book of the Kings of
Israel and Judah," "Book of the Kings of Judah and I