Delve Into Covenant History Sample

DAY 4 – A SERIES OF CHRONICLES PART III

The last repetition of the chronicle pattern comes in the books we know as 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings, which are really one long book, Samuel–Kings. It describes how the monarchy was established in Israel and reports at various lengths the noteworthy events of each king’s reign down to the Babylonian exile. These reports are introduced (or sometimes concluded) by a standard formula. It names the king, states when he assumed the throne, and tells the number of years he reigned. The book then elaborates at various lengths on the events of each reign. Samuel–Kings is the final chronicle of the Covenant History, built out of the list of Israel’s kings. 

The end result of this narrative continuity (each book begins where the last one ended) and common literary patterning (most of the books are built from lists of people or places that are stocked with historical information) is an interweaving of books by different authors, written in different periods, into a unified whole. 

They were likely gathered together at the time of the last events they narrate— during the Babylonian exile. The message for the exiled Israelites was that they had an illustrious history and, despite their present situation, a bright future. 

The same God who had made such wonderful promises to their ancestors would fulfill those promises for them and their descendants, for the benefit of the whole world. 

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for keeping Your promises and blessing us through Your Son, Jesus.