The Bible, King James version, Book 13: 1 Chronicles — Context and Discussion

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In Category - Theology

Authors: Anonymous Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2005 First Publication Year: Not confirmed

Key Word: Bible. Chronicles, 1st Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 23,528

Reading time 103 min

Text sections 4

The catalog record for The Bible, King James version, Book 13: 1 Chronicles — Context and Discussion provides practical reading context through 23,528 words, 1 hr 43 min estimated reading time, and 4 detected text sections.

The text analysis averages about 26.6 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Bible. Chronicles, 1st,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #8013

An editorial note on the King James Version of 1 Chronicles, focusing on its genealogical lists, shifts from catalog to narrative, and the rhythmic cadence of the prose.

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File: pg8013

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13:002:050 These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim.

13:002:051 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.

13:002:052 And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites.

13:002:053 And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites,

13:002:054 The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.

13:002:055 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

13:003:001 Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

13:003:002 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:

13:003:003 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

13:003:004 These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.

13:003:005 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

13:003:006 Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,

13:003:007 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

13:003:008 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.

13:003:009 These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

13:003:010 And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,

13:003:011 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,

13:003:012 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,

13:003:013 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,

13:003:014 Amon his son, Josiah his son.

13:003:015 And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.

13:003:016 And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.

13:003:017 And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,

13:003:018 Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

13:003:019 And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:

13:003:020 And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.

13:003:021 And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.

13:003:022 And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.

13:003:023 And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.

13:003:024 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.

13:004:001 The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

13:004:002 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.

13:004:003 And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:

13:004:004 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.

13:004:005 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

13:004:006 And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.

13:004:007 And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.

13:004:008 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

13:004:009 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

13:004:010 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

13:004:011 And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.

13:004:012 And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.

13:004:013 And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.

13:004:014 And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.

13:004:015 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.

13:004:016 And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.

13:004:017 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

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The King James Version of 1 Chronicles opens with an unbroken chain of names: Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered. The first nine chapters consist almost entirely of genealogies, a relentless catalog of generations from Adam to the post-exilic community. This is not a story in the conventional sense; it is a structure built from names, each one a link in a lineage that the text treats as sacred record. The prose is sparse, repetitive, and formulaic—'The sons of X; Y, and Z'—yet within this repetition, small variations emerge: a brief note on Nimrod, who 'began to be mighty upon the earth,' or the explanation that Peleg was so named 'because in his days the earth was divided.' These asides hint at a narrative impulse beneath the surface of the list.

The Rhythm of Genealogy

The genealogical sections of 1 Chronicles are dominated by a single syntactic pattern: a name followed by a list of descendants, often introduced by 'the sons of.' This creates a rhythmic, almost liturgical cadence. For example, 'The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.' The repetition of 'and' binds the names into a chain that feels both exhaustive and incantatory. The text rarely pauses for explanation; when it does, as with the note that 'Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth,' the shift in pace is striking. These brief expansions serve as anchors in the flow of names, drawing attention to figures of particular significance. The genealogies thus function not merely as records but as a kind of verbal architecture, building a sense of continuity from Adam to the Chronicler's own time.

From List to Narrative: A Shift in Pace

Beginning in chapter 10, the text abruptly shifts from genealogical lists to connected narrative. The story of Saul's death is told in a few verses, and then the focus moves to David. The pace changes dramatically: instead of a string of names, we get dialogue, action, and divine intervention. For instance, when David brings the ark to Jerusalem, the narrative slows to describe the procession, the music, and the people's response: 'And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.' The language becomes more varied, with imperatives ('Sing unto the LORD, all the earth') and poetic parallelism ('Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place'). This shift from catalog to story is one of the most notable features of 1 Chronicles, marking a transition from the recording of lineage to the recounting of covenant history.

The Voice of the Chronicler

Throughout 1 Chronicles, the narrator's voice is consistent: formal, reverent, and focused on divine action. The phrase 'and it came to pass' recurs as a narrative marker, signaling a new episode. The Chronicler frequently inserts theological commentary, such as the explanation that God 'suffered no man to do them wrong' and 'reproved kings for their sakes.' This interpretive layer distinguishes the work from a mere chronicle; it is a retelling shaped by a particular religious perspective. The prose is elevated but not ornate, with a preference for parallel structure and balanced clauses. The narrative sections, such as David's prayer or the installation of temple musicians, employ a more lyrical register, while the genealogies remain stark and functional. This contrast in voice—between the austere list and the engaged storyteller—gives the book its distinctive texture.

Readers approaching 1 Chronicles should be prepared for its unusual structure: the first nine chapters demand patience, but they establish the genealogical foundation on which the later narrative rests. Pay attention to the moments when the text breaks its own pattern—a brief explanation, a shift in verb tense, a sudden expansion—as these are the Chronicler's signals of significance. The book rewards those who read it as both a record and a reflection, a work where the act of naming is itself a form of praise.

I have always found that the long catalogues in 1 Chronicles, for all their bristling names, feel like a breath held before a story begins. When the rhythm breaks into narration, it reminds me of a quieter volume on my shelf, The Bible, King James version, Book 17: Esther — Context and Discussion, where the hidden hand of history works through silence and waiting, not lists.