_Books of_. This name is given to two historical books of
Scripture, which the Hebrews call _Dibri-Jamim_, “Words of Days,” that
is, “Diaries,” or “Journals.” They are called in the LXX,
_Paralipomena_, which signifies, “things omitted;” as if these books
were a supplement of what had been omitted, or too much abridged, in the
books of Kings, and other historical books of Scripture. And, indeed, we
find in them many particulars which are not extant elsewhere: but it
must not be thought that these are the records, or books of the acts, of
the kings of Judah and Israel, so often referred to. Those ancient
registers were much more extensive than these are; and the books of
Chronicles themselves refer to those original memoirs, and make long
extracts from them. They were compiled, and probably by Ezra, from the
ancient chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel just now mentioned,
and they may be considered as a kind of supplement to the preceding
books of Scripture. The former part of the first book of Chronicles
contains a great variety of genealogical tables, beginning with Adam;
and in particular gives a circumstantial account of the twelve tribes,
which must have been very valuable to the Jews after their return from
captivity. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, from all
of whom it was predicted that the Saviour of the world should be born,
are here marked with precision. These genealogies occupy the first nine
chapters, and in the tenth is recorded the death of Saul From the
eleventh chapter to the end of the book, we have a history of the reign
of David, with a detailed statement of his preparation for the building
of the temple, of his regulations respecting the priests and Levites,
and his appointment of musicians for the public service of religion. The
second book of Chronicles contains a brief sketch of the Jewish history,
from the accession of Solomon to the return from the Babylonian
captivity, being a period of four hundred and eighty years; and in both
these books we find many particulars not noticed in the other historical
books of Scripture.
Scripture, which the Hebrews call _Dibri-Jamim_, “Words of Days,” that
is, “Diaries,” or “Journals.” They are called in the LXX,
_Paralipomena_, which signifies, “things omitted;” as if these books
were a supplement of what had been omitted, or too much abridged, in the
books of Kings, and other historical books of Scripture. And, indeed, we
find in them many particulars which are not extant elsewhere: but it
must not be thought that these are the records, or books of the acts, of
the kings of Judah and Israel, so often referred to. Those ancient
registers were much more extensive than these are; and the books of
Chronicles themselves refer to those original memoirs, and make long
extracts from them. They were compiled, and probably by Ezra, from the
ancient chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel just now mentioned,
and they may be considered as a kind of supplement to the preceding
books of Scripture. The former part of the first book of Chronicles
contains a great variety of genealogical tables, beginning with Adam;
and in particular gives a circumstantial account of the twelve tribes,
which must have been very valuable to the Jews after their return from
captivity. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, from all
of whom it was predicted that the Saviour of the world should be born,
are here marked with precision. These genealogies occupy the first nine
chapters, and in the tenth is recorded the death of Saul From the
eleventh chapter to the end of the book, we have a history of the reign
of David, with a detailed statement of his preparation for the building
of the temple, of his regulations respecting the priests and Levites,
and his appointment of musicians for the public service of religion. The
second book of Chronicles contains a brief sketch of the Jewish history,
from the accession of Solomon to the return from the Babylonian
captivity, being a period of four hundred and eighty years; and in both
these books we find many particulars not noticed in the other historical
books of Scripture.