1 Chronicles 1-9 A Case for Reading and Studying It

I. INTRODUCTION: Contents of 1 Chronicles Chapters 1-9

• PREMISE: Reading these chapters are a challenge partly because the names are hard to pronounce and the fact they are so dense with seemingly not enough context provided to make it meaningful or relevant to the reader.

• I Chronicles opens with nine chapters of lists and genealogies that trace the chronicler's generation's ancestors back to Adam and point to the importances of David and the Priesthood.

• Their challenges do tempt the Bible reader to just skip over or glaze over the reading of them. Beyond a) 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people..." (God's promise to Solomon) and b) 2 Chronciles 20:1-30 (the singers sent out before the army). remembering unique details about 1 & 2 Chronciles not already covered in 1 Samuel - 2 Kings is usually sparse.

• Additionally we can add:

  • c) 1 Chronicles 15:13 and David proclaimation and refocus on getting their worship fully in order, the proper way, God's way
  • d) 2 Chronicles 36:23 "Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up

II. Good for Discipline, Good Comes of Good Discipline

• We are risk and cost adverse. The natural thing more often is the easier thing. But doing hard stuff builds character.
• Treasures are uncovered through diligence and hard work. Proverbs 25:1 "the men of Hezekiah king of Judah (2 Chronicles 29-32) copied out" <-- this is pretty cool!

Proverbs 25:2 ¶ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing [kabowed: his weight, his honor]: but the honour [kabowd] of kings is to search out a matter [examine intimitely, probing a matter]. <-- vs. 3, 4,5 Royal Administration is to be done in RIGHTEOUSNESS (taking away the dross, the wicked)

MY BURIED TREASURE

1. THE UNEXPECTED INVITATION

Sense of adventure illustration: "Richard Harding Davis, of New York City (1800s), tells as his own true story the following. Richard received a message from Edgar that he wished to discuss something with him of mutual benefit. ... I have a tenant who on his deathbead ... His grandfather had given him a document that had been left him by his father. His grandfather said it contained an important secret, but one that was of value only in America, and that when he returned to that continent he must be very careful to whom he showed it. Edgar told Richard it was written in a kind of English he could not understand, and that he had been afraid to let any one see it. Edgar wanted Richard to accept the document as payment for his back rent he owed. The document claims to describe a buried pirate treasure. and Edgar declared "And I intend to dig for it. "

2. TWO RADICALLY DIFFERENT APPROACHES

Richard could help himself and laughed out loud, "You! search for buried treasure?" -- I see nothing amusing! I came to you because you seemed to be the sort of person that would be interested in a search for buried treasure. Oh, I am. I know much of searching for treasure. I am familiar with all the expeditions that have been tried for the one on Cocos Island, and I know all about the Peruvian treasure on Trinidad, and the lost treasures of Jalisco near Guadalajara, and the sunken galleon on the Grand Cayman, and when I was on the Isle of Pines I had several very tempting offers to search there. And the late Captain Boynton invited me... ---- BUT, do you have any experience in personally financing and organizating an expedition? .... Oh, that's the easy part, I can find vessels and a crew capable in any tight corner we might wind up in. --- That, Edgard Exclaimed is exactly what I feared. That's exactly what I DON'T want," said Edgar sternly. "I don't INTEND to get into any tight corners." (I want it and I want it easy).

Richard pointed out that "Any expedition after treasure is never without risk. You must have discipline, and you must have picked men. Suppose there's a mutiny? Suppose they try to rob us of the treasure on our way home? We must have men we can rely on, and men who know how to pump a Winchester. I can get you both. And Bannerman will furnish me with anything from a pair of leggins to a quick firing gun, and on Clark Street they'll quote me a special rate on ship stores, hydraulic pumps, divers' helmets----"

Edgar's eye glasses became frosted from the cold, condemnation of his scorn. he shook his head disgustedly. "I was afraid of this!" "I want YOU to understand," exclaimed Edgar indignantly, "there isn't going to be any danger. There isn't going to be any fun. This is a plain business proposition. I asked you those questions just to test you. And you approached the matter exactly as I feared you would. I was prepared for it. In fact," he explained shamefacedly, "I've read several of your little stories, and I find they run to adventure and blood and thunder..."

I've thought of everything ....

3. THE DISAPOINTING BARGAIN

Richard half spent in his mind 1/5th of the million dollars when ...

Edgar reveals that Richard will receive no portion of the treasure itself. His only compensation will be the opportunity to write about the expedition.

Other verses that encourage study, labor, work:

Proverbs 18:15 — The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

• Reading 1 Chronicles Chapters 1-9 carefully can be an excercise of "turning over rocks".

III. More than Meets the Eye (They are fascinating)

• These chapters contain geneology but is way more than a list of fathers and sons. They contain people, cities, nations, tribes/clans, occupations, military records, geographical information, and short historical narratives.

• A distinct name is not necessarily a distinct person. For example: The names Caleb, Benjamin and Saul can refer to different people or even a tribe identity. Individual people:Adam, David, Jabez, Ezra | Geographical places: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron | Nations and peoples: Philistines, Amalekites, Jebusites | Tribes and clans: Judah, Levi, Benjamin | Family founders: Caleb, Ephrathah, Machir | Names used for both people and places: Hebron, Ephrath, Bethlehem

• 9 Chapters, 407 verses, with Chapter 6's 81 being the longest

IV. As for the Chronicler's Generation these Passages Point to ROOTS (identity, family, land, messiah)

A. Abraham

• A. Adam to Israel (1:1–54) The first list traces the history of Israel from Adam to Israel.
• B. The Tribes of Israel (2:1-9:1) While all twelve of Israel’s tribes are represented in these lists, the lists have been carefully arranged to emphasize the royal tribes of Judah (David) and Benjamin (Saul) as well as the priestly tribe of Levi.
• C. The Restored Jerusalem Community (9:2-34) These lists from Nehemiah 11:3-24 help to identify the postexile generations as the continuation of the history just presented in chapters 1-8.
• D. Saul (9:35-44) Saul’s genealogy (9:35-44, repeated from 1 Chronicles 8:29-38) anticipates the Chronicler’s presentation of Saul’s death in chapter 10.

B. The Land - Geography

• "ite" descendant of, or belongs to: Jebusite, Hivite, Canaanite (300 ites in chapters 1-9)
• Jabez & His Prayer (1 Chronicles 4:9–10) "Jabez meaning sorrowful ... Oh that thou would bless me indeed!"
• SHEERAH (1 Chronicles 7:24) Sheerah’s lineage is framed by a highly unusual narrative of grief. Immediately before she is mentioned, the text notes that Ephraim’s older sons went down to raid livestock and were killed by the native inhabitants of Gath. Ephraim mourned for many days. He later had another son named Beriah, a name meaning "in tragedy," because of the disaster that had struck the family.
• Sheerah is introduced right after Beriah. Her name literally means "remnant" or "surviving portion". [Her naming seems to suggest, well she's all we got left!]
• Sherah (1 Chronicles 7:24), a woman highlighted for building towns "And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah" (3 towns) ... these titles were strategically important for TRADE and under Solomon even militarily .... Beth Horon gated the easiest natural ascent into the mountains and ultimately Jerusalelm. Whoever controlled the pass controlled access to the heartland. Flanked by UPPER (near the crest of the mountain) and LOWER (at the base of the mountain) cities.
• The Most Famous Biblical even tto take place here is during the conquest of Canaan in Joshua 10 when 5 Amorite kings besieged israel's allies at Gibeon. The Amorites flee Joshua's offensive descending the Pass of Beth-Horon during qhich a miraculous hail storm feel on themm killing more soldiers than the battle itself did.
• It was during this chase that Joshua prayed for the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Ajalon Valley so Israel could complete their victory before nightfall.
• Noting its strategic importance, Solomon fortified this during his reign in 2 Chronicles 8:5.
• Today the pass is roughly followed by Route 443 a major modern highway running from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Full Illustration: My Buried Treasure

https://short-stories.co/@richardhardingdavis/my-buried-treasure-4mjzwyxxlqgp

My Buried Treasure — Richard Harding Davis Outline of the Major Turning Points and Anecdotal Lessons Central theme: The contrast between romantic imagination and practical action, complicated by greed, selfishness, and the question of what makes a treasure truly valuable.

The story is humorous and ironic. Two men approach the same opportunity with completely different attitudes, and although they succeed in finding the treasure, the outcome raises questions about what success really means.

1 The unexpected invitation

Edgar Powell, a serious and cautious businessman, approaches an old college acquaintance about searching for buried pirate treasure. He has inherited a clue through a deceased tenant.

Turning point: An ordinary business relationship suddenly becomes an extraordinary opportunity.

Lesson: Remarkable opportunities sometimes come through unexpected and ordinary circumstances.

2 Two radically different approaches emerge

The narrator imagines a grand expedition full of excitement, danger, and exotic destinations. Edgar insists that treasure hunting should be treated as a straightforward business proposition.

Turning point: The central conflict between imagination and practicality becomes clear.

Lesson: People can pursue identical goals for entirely different reasons. Excitement and ambition are not substitutes for preparation.

3 The disappointing bargain

Edgar reveals that the narrator will receive no portion of the treasure itself. His only compensation will be the opportunity to write about the expedition.

Turning point: The narrator's dreams of sudden wealth collapse, but he agrees to participate anyway.

Lesson: Understand an agreement before committing. The prospect of great riches can distort our judgment about what we are actually being offered.

4 The expedition proves embarrassingly ordinary

Instead of traveling to a distant tropical island, the men take a train to the New Jersey coast. The narrator's romantic expectations are repeatedly frustrated.

Turning point: The adventure becomes an ordinary day's excursion rather than the dramatic voyage he anticipated.

Lesson: Real opportunities do not always arrive in impressive packages. We may overlook something valuable because it appears too ordinary.

5 The treasure is actually discovered

Following the map, they reach three pine trees. The narrator digs for hours while Edgar contributes little. Eventually the spade strikes an old wooden chest.

Turning point: What had seemed an improbable fantasy becomes a tangible discovery.

Lesson: Discovery requires action, not merely speculation. Even an unlikely possibility may prove real when someone investigates it.

6 Success reveals Edgar's selfishness

As soon as the chest is found, Edgar orders the narrator out of the hole and refuses to let him see its contents.

Turning point: The treasure, rather than uniting the companions in triumph, becomes a source of bitter conflict.

Lesson: Wealth can reveal character. A person may be disciplined, intelligent, and successful while still being selfish and ungrateful.

7 The narrator's conscience is tested

The narrator becomes furious at Edgar's treatment. Although he imagines taking revenge and claiming the treasure, his conscience restrains him.

Turning point: The adventure becomes a moral test for the narrator as well as a financial success for Edgar.

Lesson: Character is tested not only by temptation but also by unfair treatment. Feeling wronged does not justify wrongdoing.

8 The final irony: the treasure remains unseen

They transport the treasure to a bank. Edgar refuses to show the narrator even a glimpse of it, insists their agreement is fulfilled, and sends him away.

Edgar concludes: "There is only one way to get a buried treasure. That is to go, and get it!"

Turning point: The story ends with material success for Edgar but disappointment for the narrator.

Lesson: Taking action is essential to accomplishment, but obtaining something valuable does not necessarily make a person admirable or generous.