Our reading today begins with a genealogy of those retuning from exile. The Chronicler talks about the history written in the books of Kings, and reminds the remnant that they were exiled because of their disobedience to God (9:1). In verse 2, the writer is sure to emphasize that the land they were returning to is rightfully theirs because it was granted by God (“dwell again in their possessions“). In verse 3, we see that Israelites descended from more than Judah lived in the nation of Judah.

In the first eight chapters, the writer chronicled the genealogies by starting with the fathers and moving through generations through their offspring. In verse 4, he begins to work the other way by starting with that current generation and moving back through generations past. This is tying in the present with the past for the returnees. He goes as far back as Judah (v. 4), Phinehas and Eleazar (whom the Lord was with – v. 20), and David and Samuel (v. 22). In verses 28-34 he tells of the duties of the Levites. This ends the lists of genealogies.

In verse 35, while an abridged genealogy of Saul is presented, what the Chronicler is doing is starting his story. He begins the history of the returning Jews with the monarchy. He will tell the story all the way up until the decree to return (2 Chr 36:22-23). But Saul is considered just a precursor to David, so we get a brief history, not of his life and reign, but of his death.

Chapter 10 recounts the events that close the book of 1 Samuel. Note in 10:9 that the writer skips the part about the Philistines cutting off the head of Saul (1 Sam 31:9). The writer is relying on his readers having some knowledge of the history of Israel from the books of Samuel and Kings. Much like the Gospel writers of the New Testament, the writers goal is not to repeat in detail what has already been written, but is seeking to tell of the same events from a different point of view.

And right away we see that this is written from a very priestly, very Judahite, very pro-David point of view, because the writer is sure to point out that Saul died because of his sin (v. 13). He disobeyed the command of God (1 Sam 13:8-14). He consulted a medium (1 Sam 28:7-20). Because of these things, God put him to death. What was recorded in vv. 1-12 was the sovereign work of God! But more importantly, David becoming king was the sovereign work of God. From the Chronicler’s point of view, these two verses summarize the book of 1 Samuel.