DBG - May 9 - I Chronicles 9-10

In this chapter we close out the genealogical portion of I Chronicles with the returning settlers after captivity and a review of Saul’s family.

vs. 1-9 – These are the first Jews to return to the Promised Land as the Babylonian Captivity was ending.  This first section deals with the settlers that are not priests or Levites.  We note the focus on Jerusalem as the priority for their resettlement.  It was important to reestablish their identity where the Temple once stood.

vs. 10-34 – Here is the record of the various priests and Levites that settled in Jerusalem.  It focuses on the various tasks assigned to families.  Not only did God preserve His people through judgment, but He also saw that when they returned that they had people ready to cover every aspect of Temple service. 

vs. 35-44 – The genealogy of Saul is repeated from the previous chapter.  This is not a mistake and is done purposefully.  It serves as a bridge between genealogies and the narrative that begins next.  It is a literary device called epanalepsis, where the author repeats pertinent information before beginning a new section. 

In this chapter Saul’s death and rejection are covered.

vs. 1-10 – The Chronicles narrative begins with the final moments of Saul’s reign.  The focus is on the Davidic line and the Temple.  The record of Saul’s death is repeated from I Samuel 31:1-10.

vs. 11-12 – The rescue of the remains of Saul and his sons is repeated from I Samuel 31:11-13.

vs. 13-14 – The reason given for Saul’s death is his visit to the witch at Endor (I Samuel 28). However, he had already been rejected twice before that point: when he offered sacrifice at Gilgal (I Samuel 13:13) and when he failed to destroy the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:26). Perhaps he may have lived and lost the throne? But the depravity of his heart required his removal lest Israel’s kingdom begin on an unsteady foundation.

As we being the narrative section of Chronicles, it is impossible not to notice how closely it parallels the accounts from Samuel and Kings.  We saw something similar with Deuteronomy and how it repeated much of the law and history from the books before it.  Just because we have heard it all before does not mean there is not something to learn.  Chronicles takes a different approach than what we read before.  There are differences, mostly minor, but there are also major stories that are only recorded in this account.  Even in the Law of Moses it was established that two witnesses were necessary to know for certain what happened.  This is our second witness.  We know for certain what happened.

For today’s hymn, I have chosen something that speaks about the return of Israel from Captivity.  This setting of Psalm 126 is from the 1650 Scottish Psalter and captures the joy of the Israelites’ hearts.

1 When Zion's bondage God turned back,
as men that dreamed were we.
2 Then filled with laughter was our mouth,
our tongue with melody:
They 'mong the heathen said, The Lord
great things for them hath wrought.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us,
whence joy to us is brought.

4 As streams of water in the south,
our bondage, Lord, recall.
5 Who sow in tears, a reaping time
of joy enjoy they shall.
6 That man who, bearing precious seed,
in going forth doth mourn,
He doubtless, bringing back his sheaves,
rejoicing shall return.