6. The Parts of the Book are two: I. The Genealogy of the Israelites from Adam unto the return from the Babylonian captivity and beyond (1 Chronicles 1:1-9:34). II. The History of Kings Saul and David repeated and enlarged, and so a certain Chronicle of the Books of Samuel (1 Chronicles 9:35-29:30). A Synoptic Table, and the Interpreters of the book, Ancient, Reformed, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Hebrew.
Now, in the first book, the Author first runs through the rise and propagation of the Israelite people unto the return from Babylonian captivity (1 Chronicles 1:1-9:34): then, beginning the Kingdom again from the history of Saul, he describes concisely describes the history of that same Saul, but at greater length the history of David, and with the greatest possible precision the constitution of the Republic and Church settled by him (1 Chronicles 9:35-29:30). Accordingly, there are two principal parts of the book.
I. The Genealogy of the Israelites all the way from Adam to the return from captivity and beyond, Chapters 1:1-9:34. See:
1. The more concise Genealogies of the Fathers from Adam, almost to Christ: chapters 1-3. See:
a. The Genealogies of the Fathers from Adam to Jacob (verses 1-42), with the Kings and Dukes that were in charge of the territory of the Edomites unto the times of Moses listed also (verses 43-54): chapter 1.
b. An enumeration of the sons of Jacob (verses 1, 2), and of the posterity of Judah, specifically from whom Christ had to be born: where, with the family of Zerah having been run through, the posterity of Hezron is reviewed, first of Ram unto David, then of the sons that Hezron begat in his old age; then of Jerahmeel; and finally of Caleb, the first and the second (verses 3-55): chapter 2.
c. An enumeration of the sons of David, and of the successors to the kingdom, both of the Kings from Solomon (verses 1-16): and of the dukes and nobles from Nathan, beyond the Babylonian captivity, almost to the times of Christ (verses 17-24): chapter 3.
2. The Genealogies of the twelve sons of Jacob: chapters 4:1-9:34. See:
a. The Genealogy of the rest of the posterity of Judah, from whom Christ was not to be born: chapter 4:1-23.
b. The Genealogy of the posterity of Simeon: chapter 4:24-43.
c. The Genealogy of the posterity of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (verses 1-24), where also is the defection of those tribes from God, and their deportation into Assyria (verses 25, 26): chapter 5.
d. The Genealogy of the posterity of Levi (verses 1-30), whose functions and habitations are also listed (verses 31-81): chapter 6.
e. The Genealogy of the posterity of Issachar (verses 1-5), Benjamin (verses 6-12), Naphtali (verse 13), Manasseh (verses 14-19), Ephraim (verses 20-29), and Asher (verses 30-40): chapter 7.
f. A little more lengthy Genealogy of the posterity of Benjamin (verses 1-32), where also the descent of Saul and Jonathan is touched upon (verses 33-40): chapter 8.
g. A listing of those of the diverse tribes that, having returned from Babylon to Judah, occupied a fixed seat at Jerusalem: chapter 9:1-34.
II. The History of Kings Saul and David repeated and enlarged, and so a certain Chronicles of the Books of Samuel, Chapters 9:35-29:30. See:
1. The History of Saul. See:
a. The Genealogy of Saul: chapter 9:35-44.
b. The tragic death of Saul (verses 1-12), with the cause of his death, and of the translation of the Kingdom to David (verses 13, 14): chapter 10.
2. The History of David and his Kingdom: chapters 11-29. See:
a. His inauguration to the Kingdom of all Israel made at Hebron (verses 1-9), and a list of his chiefs, both those that were serving in military expeditions, and those that were stationed (verses 10-47): chapter 11.
b. A list of his troops, both those that joined themselves to him in the time of his exile, and afterwards while he was reigning at Hebron (verses 1-22): and of those that of the individual tribes came to the assembly, in which he was set over all Israel as King (verses 23-40): chapter 12.
c. His administration of the Kingdom, in times:
α. Of War, in which see:
א. His Acts Ecclesiastical: chapters 13-17: as:
אא. The translation of the Ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jebus (verses 1-8), the destruction of Uzzah from heaven during the journey (verses 9, 10), and the depositing of the Ark afterwards in the house of Obed-edom (verses 11-14): chapter 13.
בב. The gifts sent by Hiram to David, David’s children (verses 1-7), and the battles undertaken against the Philistines, with the help of God (verses 8-17): chapter 14.
גג. The translation of the Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem, with the orders of Israelites escorting it (verses 1-28), and with Michal mocking David (verse 29): chapter 15.
דד. The putting of the Ark into its place again, the song sung during the conveyance (verses 1-36), and the duties of the Priests and Levites before the Ark assigned to them (verses 37-43): chapter 16.
הה. The purpose of David to build a house for God (verses 1, 2), from which he is Divinely recalled, with that charged entrusted to his son (verses 3-27): chapter 17.
ב. His Acts Political: chapters 18-21: as:
אא. His battles with foreign nations, which he made tributaries (verses 1-13), and the persons put in charge of the Republic and the Church (verses 14-17): chapter 18.
בב. The war against the Ammonites, who dishonored David’s legates (verses 1-5), conducted successfully (verses 6-19): chapter 19.
גג. A new defeat of Ammon (verses 1-3), and also a battle with the Philistines, with their three giants cut down, conducted successfully (verses 4-8: chapter 20.
דד. A numbering of the people by David, undertaken at the instigation of Satan (verses 1-8): on account of which pestilence is sent from Heaven against the people (verses 9-14), and Jerusalem is preserved by David’s prayers and sacrifices (verses 15-30): chapter 21.
β. Of Peace, in which see:
א. His Acts Ecclesiastical: chapters 22-26: as:
אא. The preparation of the materials for the future building of the Temple (verses 1-5), at which time he also instructs his son concerning the promises of God and the task of building the Temple (verses 6-16), and also commands the Princes, that they should help his son (verses 17-19): chapter 22.
בב. A list of the Levites, whom David assigns to their tasks, distributed according to their clans and families (verses 1-32): chapter 23.
גג. A list of the Priests by their clans, and their offices and orders (verses 1-19): the duties also of the Kohathites and Merarites ministering to the Priests (verses 20-31): chapter 24.
דד. The selection of Sacred Musicians (verses 1-7) and their distribution into twenty-four orders: to which their individual functions are assigned (verses 8-31): chapter 25.
הה. The distribution of the Porters of the Temple, chosen from among the Levites (verses 1-19), and the duties, ordinary as well as extraordinary, assigned to them (verses 20-32): chapter 26.
ב. His Acts Political: chapters 27-29: as:
אא. A list of the ordinary legions with their generals (verses 1-15), and also of the tribunes of the people (verses 16-24), and the officials of the King (verses 25-34): chapter 27.
בב. The assembly celebrated by David, in which he declares Solomon to be the heir of the Kingdom by the will of God, and urges all to the worship of God and the building of the Temple commanded by God (verses 1-10), the form of which is delivered to Solomon (verses 11-21): chapter 28.
גג. The acts of the same assembly continued: in which David calls the orders of Israel, both by words and example, to offer liberally for the use of the building of the Temple; gives thanks to God; supplicates for the good of the people and of his son: and, with thanks given to God by the people, and sacrifices made (verses 1-21), he dies, and the new King, Solomon, and the High Priest, Zadok, are confirmed, with all consenting (verses 22-30): chapter 29.