Historical records from Adam to Abraham.
The sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshr, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
Arphaxad- shelah - Eber - Peleg - Reu - Serug - Nahor - Terah - Abram (that is, Abraham)
The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.
Why?
Although clearly concerned with the past, the Chronicler cares less about what happened than about the meaning of events. He is an interpreter of history.
For most of Chronicles the writer draws on Samuel and Kings. He expects his readers to know this history which he abbreviates, expands and modifies in keeping with his overall purpose. He ranges widely across other Old Testament books. He names as his sources various court records mentioned in Samuel and Kings.
The Chronicler chose his themes to get a particular message across to his original readers. These were the people who had returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah. The new community had no king: the priests were their leaders:
- They needed to be linked with the past
- They needed reassurance that God was still with them working out his purposes
- They needed to know how best to reestablish worship
- They needed to be reminded that their future well being depended on their faithfulness to God.
Today's reader has some problems with Chronicles. One is the Chronicler's tendency to 'modernize' - describing events in terms the people of his own day would understand. As in other Old Testament books figures quoted often seem much too high. Chronicles frequently gives a higher figure than the comparable one in Samuel or Kings. The reason for this is not known. Maybe the intention is to stress the greatness of a victory God has given them.
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