The term "Chronicler" refers to the presumed author or compiler of the biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, as well as the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These books are part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The Chronicler's work is characterized by a distinct theological perspective and a focus on the history of Israel, particularly the southern kingdom of Judah, from a post-exilic viewpoint.

Authorship and Date

Traditionally, Jewish and Christian traditions have attributed the authorship of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah to Ezra the scribe. This view is based on the similarities in language, style, and themes across these books. The Chronicler's work is believed to have been completed in the late 5th century BC, during the Persian period, after the return from the Babylonian exile.

Purpose and Themes

The Chronicler's primary purpose was to provide a theological interpretation of Israel's history, emphasizing the faithfulness of God and the importance of the Davidic covenant. The Chronicler sought to encourage the post-exilic community by highlighting God's ongoing relationship with His people and the centrality of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Key themes in the Chronicler's work include:

1. The Davidic Covenant: The Chronicler places significant emphasis on God's covenant with David, portraying David and his dynasty as central to God's plan for Israel. This is evident in the detailed genealogies and narratives that highlight David's reign and the subsequent kings of Judah.

2. Temple Worship: The Chronicler underscores the importance of the Temple as the focal point of Israel's religious life. The construction, dedication, and reforms related to the Temple are given considerable attention, reflecting the Chronicler's concern for proper worship and adherence to the Law.

3. Retributive Justice: The Chronicler presents a theology of retributive justice, where obedience to God leads to blessing, and disobedience results in punishment. This theme is woven throughout the narratives of the kings, illustrating the consequences of their actions in relation to God's covenant.

4. Restoration and Hope: By recounting the history of Israel with a focus on God's faithfulness, the Chronicler offers hope to the post-exilic community. The return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple are seen as acts of divine restoration, encouraging the people to remain faithful to God.

Distinctive Features

The Chronicler's work is distinguished by its selective retelling of Israel's history, often omitting or altering details found in the earlier books of Samuel and Kings. For example, the Chronicler omits the sins of David, such as his adultery with Bathsheba, focusing instead on his role in establishing the Temple worship. Additionally, the Chronicler includes extensive genealogies and lists, emphasizing the continuity of God's people from creation to the post-exilic period.

Biblical Quotations

The Chronicler's emphasis on the Davidic covenant is evident in passages such as 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 : "When your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son. I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. But I will set him over My house and My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever."

The Chronicler's focus on Temple worship is highlighted in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 : "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the house, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, worshiping and praising the LORD, saying, 'For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.'"

The Chronicler's work remains a vital part of the biblical canon, offering insights into the theological and historical perspectives of the post-exilic Jewish community. Through its emphasis on the Davidic covenant, Temple worship, and divine justice, the Chronicler's narrative continues to inspire and instruct believers in their faith journey.(n.) A writer of a chronicle; a recorder of events in the order of time; an historian.

Chronicles
... The Chronicler makes a man of God say to Amaziah, "Jehovah is not with Israel,"
2 Chronicles 25:7, and this exactly represents his own attitude. ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

The Fall of Judah
... Consider the sin. There is nothing more remarkable than the tone in which the
chronicler, like all the Old Testament writers, deals with the national sin. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the fall of judah.htm

Ezra-Nehemiah
... 2.p>These are the chief sources, but there can be no doubt that they were
compiled"that is put together and in certain cases worked over"by the Chronicler. ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezra-nehemiah.htm

The Death of Saint George.
... His faithful chronicler relates numberless adventures he met with, scarcely
less marvellous than those he encountered in his youth. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter twenty one the death.htm

The Waves of Time
... 'The times that went over him.'"1 Chronicles 29:30. This is a fragment
from the chronicler's close of his life of King David. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the waves of time.htm

Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory
... II. The chronicler brings out strongly the truth which runs through his whole
book,"namely, the connection between honouring Jehovah and national prosperity. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/asas reformation and consequent peace.htm

A Strange Reward for Faithfulness
... Sennacherib, king of Assyria'! The chronicler not only tells this as singular,
but one can feel that he is staggered by it. There is a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a strange reward for faithfulness.htm

Historical Criticism of Medi??val Amplifications.
... our biographer, placing it after the death of Constans, which took place in January
350, and thus confirming the date assigned by the Paschal chronicler and by ...
/.../v historical criticism of mediaeval amplifications.htm

Our Lord Helps Her to Become a Nun. Her Many Infirmities.
... Ribera says she entered November 2, 1535; and the chronicler of the Order, relying
on the contract by which her father bound himself to the monastery, says ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter iv our lord helps.htm

Our Relations to the Departed
... spirit broods into higher life. "He fell asleep," says the sacred chronicler,
speaking of bloody Stephen. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/our relations to the departed.htm

Chronicler (7 Occurrences)
...Chronicler (7 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the
host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chronicler; (DBY). ...
/c/chronicler.htm - 8k

Shimeath (2 Occurrences)
... Many textual emendations have been suggested (compare HDB, article "Shimeath"),
but they are unnecessary, as the Chronicler's revised version of the incident ...
/s/shimeath.htm - 8k

Books (16 Occurrences)
... The Contents 5. Sources Biblical and Extra-Biblical 6. Nehemiah's Library 7. The
Way of Using the Biblical Sources 8. Additions by the Chronicler 9. Omissions ...
/b/books.htm - 101k

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)
... The Chronicler represents him (2 Chronicles 32:31) as lapsing from the wisdom of
piety only by his vainglory in revealing the resources of his realm to the ...
/h/hezekiah.htm - 72k

Jachin (8 Occurrences)
... in Kings and Jeremiah affirm that the pillars before the porch were 18 cubits high
apiece (1 Kings 7:15 Jeremiah 52:21), while the Chronicler states that they ...
/j/jachin.htm - 12k

Tiglathpileser (3 Occurrences)
... This invasion is described by the Chronicler (1 Chronicles 5:25 f) rather differently,
to the effect that "the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king ...
/t/tiglathpileser.htm - 11k

Tiglath-pileser (6 Occurrences)
... This invasion is described by the Chronicler (1 Chronicles 5:25 f) rather differently,
to the effect that "the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king ...
/t/tiglath-pileser.htm - 12k

Boaz (25 Occurrences)
... in Kings and Jeremiah affirm that the pillars before the porch were 18 cubits high
apiece (1 Kings 7:15 Jeremiah 52:21), while the Chronicler states that they ...
/b/boaz.htm - 19k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... case of that king and Amon, of compounding royal names with that of Yahweh; perhaps
a hint of the time, when, according to the Chronicler, Manasseh realized ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... our fullest sources) about 300 BC, holding it to be a priestly reconstruction of
the national history wrought with great freedom by the "Chronicler." Upon this ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

How many brothers did King David have? | GotQuestions.org

Chronicler: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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