1 Chronicles - Odessacofchrist.org

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Chronicles 13another tribe came to a head in David and his descendants. The transjordanian tribesexperienced the results of unfaithfulness to God. The tribe of Levi enjoyed the privilegeof priesthood in Israel. The writer also drew attention to the 12-tribe structure of the oneIsraelite nation.C. THE LINEAGE OF SAUL CHS. 8—9This list obviously parallels to some extent David's genealogy (chs. 1—3). Saul camefrom the tribe of Benjamin, not from the tribe of Judah that God had promised leadershipof the nation. One reason the writer had an interest in the tribe of Benjamin (ch. 8) wasthat it was the only tribe other than Judah to remain loyal to the Davidic line. The tribe ofBenjamin "ranked second only to Judah in postexilic society." 37 Furthermore Jerusalemstood in Benjamin's territory.In both chapters 8 and 9 the writer drew a distinction between those people who lived inJerusalem (8:28; 9:34) and those who lived in Gibeon (8:29; 9:35). There wereBenjamites who lived in Jerusalem and others who lived in Gibeon. Both these townswere important religious centers. Gibeon was where the central sanctuary stood duringmost of Saul's reign and from then on until Solomon built the temple. Nonetheless it wasnot God's chosen place of worship. The ark was never in the sanctuary at Gibeon. Ratherthe Gibeon site was the people's choice even as Saul was. God's choice was Jerusalem (2Chron. 6:6). God did not choose Saul or Gibeon, but He had chosen David andJerusalem. David and Jerusalem are the two major pieces in God's plan of salvation andblessing in Chronicles.Chapter 9 brings the genealogical roots of Israel down to real life postexilic Jerusalem.The emphasis in this chapter is again on the temple: the priests (vv. 10-13), the Levites(vv. 14-19), and the temple servants (vv. 17-34)."The Chronicler established Israel's place in the world through the lengthygenealogies of chaps. 1—9 so that his audience might understand anewtheir role among the nations." 38These nine chapters of genealogy prepare for the narrative section of the book thatfollows and the very next section, the record of Saul's death (10:1-14). God permittedleadership by Saul and worship at Gibeon, but His plan called for leadership by Davidand worship at Jerusalem. Thus the Chronicler reminded his readers that their forefathers'premature insistence that God give them a king similar to all the other nations was aserious mistake. They should learn from their history and not seize the initiative fromGod again but simply follow Him faithfully."With his first nine chapters the Chronicler has introduced his ambitiousre-presentation of Israel's history as a sermon. Drawing on ancientmaterial, much of which is familiar to us from the earlier books of the37 Ibid., p. 360.38 Thompson, p. 48.