As to the time when the heads of the families mentioned in chapter ix. lived in Jerusalem, there is no internal mark of importance to guide us in determining it. We hold with Herzfeld, that the list in Chronicles was written somewhat later than that in Nehemiah. It would appear that in the interval between Neh. xi. and I Chron. ix., an important accession had been made to the inhabi tants of Jerusalem ; for of the tribe of Judah dwelt there, according to Nehemiah, 468 ; but 690 ac cording tor Chron. Of Benjamin there were 928 according to Nehemiah, 956 according to 1 Chron., etc. etc. Adong interval, however, should not be assumed, bedause the population would increase rapidly. Bertheau's attempt to invalidate this argument is unsuccessful.
In farther considering the relation of Chroni cles to the other historical books of the O. T., we shall now confine ourselves to their properly his torical portion, commencing with I Chron. ix. 35. Here more than forty parallel sections of greater or less compass come under review, side by side with others in Samuel and Kings. The agreement is often verbal ; but the deviations are also frequent and considerable. The differences between the parallels may be classed under three heads, viz.— Such as relate to the matter; such as concern the lan guage in which facts are narrated; and those which concern both matter and language.
I. Deviations in the matter of the narrative. Here there are omissions, additions, and a different order.
I. Omissions.
(a.) Of primary facts.
David's kindness to Mephibosheth and Ziba, 2 Sam. ix.
His adultery with Bathsheba and Uriah's mur der, z Sam. xi. 2-xii. 25. The surrender of Saul's seven sons to the heathen Gibeonites as an atone ment, 2 Sam. xxi. 1-14.
The large episodes respecting David's family his tory, including Absalom's rebellion and its conse quences, with Sheba's revolt, 2 Sam. xiii.-xx.
A war with the Philistines, 2 Sant xxi. 15-17.
David's song of thanksgiving and last words, 2 Sam. xxii., xxiii.
Adonijah's usurpation of the kingdom, and the anointing of Solomon as king, I Kings i.
The encounter between David and Michal, when the latter came forth to mock him, 2 Sam. vi. 20-23. David's last charge, 1 Kings ii. 1-9.
Solomon's deposition and banishment of Abia thar, and his putting to death Joab and Shimei, 2 Kings ii. 26-46.
Solomon's marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, Kings iii. 1.
His wise judgment, iii. 16-28.
His princes and officers, the peace and largeness of his kingdom, the daily provision of his house hold, his stables, etc., z Kings iv.
The building of his palace, I Kings vii. 1-12. His wives, concubines, idolatry, and threatened punishment, i Kings xi. 1-13.
His adversaries, I Kings xi. 14-40.
The copiously detailed transactions which hap pened at Hebron during the reign of David, 2 Sam. i. -iv.
Description of the ornaments and vessels of the Temple, 1 Kings vii. 13-39.
Prayer of Solomon, I Kings viii. 56-61.
The taking of Gath in war with the Syrians, and delivering up of the temple vessels to the Syrian king, 2. Kings xii. 17, 18.
There are also many omissions in the histories of Ahaz and Hezekialt 2 Kings xvi. 5- 8 ; xviii. 4-8. 2. Additions or interpolations.
(a.) Primary facts.
A list of those who attached themselves to David during Saul's life, and the number of the warriors who chose him king at Hebron, I Chron. xii.
David's preparations for building the temple, Chron. xxii.
The number and distribution of the Levites and priests, with the settlement of their employments, Chron. xxiii.-xxvi.
Accounts of David's army and officers, I Chron. xxvii.
His last directions and regulations in a soleirin assembly before his death, 1 Chron. xxviii.-xxix.
Arrangements of Rehoboam for strengthening his kingdom ; the reception of the priests driven out of Israel into Judah ; the wives and children of the king, 2 Chron. xi. 5-23.
Abijah's war with Jeroboam, 2 Chron. xiii. 2-20 ; his wives and children, 21-22.
Asa's victory over Zerah, an Ethiopian who in vaded Judah, 2 Chron. xiv. 8-14, Address of the prophet Azariah to Asa, in con sequence of which the king renounces idolatry, 2 Chron. xv. 1-15.
Address of the prophet Hanani, and how Asa re ceived his admonition, 2 Chron. xvi. 7-10.
Jehoshaphat's carefulness to secure his kingdom, his endeavours to extirpate idolatry, and to pro mote the knowledge of religion among the people, 2 Chron. xvii.
Jehu's opinion of Jehoshaphat's covenant with Ahab, and Jehoshaphat's arrangements for restor ing the due administration of justice, 2 Chron. xix.
The invasion of various eastern peoples, and how they destroyed one another, so that the arms of Jehoshaphat had no share in the victory, 2, Chron. xx. 1-3o.
His provision for his sons, and their slaughter by Jehoram, 2 Chron. XX1. 2-4.
Jehoram's idolatry and punishment, including a letter to him from Elijah, 2 Chron. xxi. 11-19.
Death of Jehoiada, and apostacy of the people ; the appearance of the prophet Zechariah and his death, 2 Chron. xxiv. 15-22.
Amaziah's equipments, and his hiring of soldiers out of the northern kingdom, whom he sent home again at the exhortation of a prophet, xxv. 5-10.
His introduction of Edamite idolatry, and cen sure by a prophet, xxv. 14-16.
Uzziah's fortunate wars, his buildings and armed force, 2 Chron. xxvi. 6-15.
Jotham's successful war with the Ammonites, 2 Chron. xxvii. 5-6.
Hezekiah's celebration of the passover, xxx. 1-27.. His arrangements for the regular worship of Jehovah and for the support of the priests and Levites, 2 Chron. XXXI. 2-21.
Manasseh's transportation to Babylon, his con version and restoration, 2 Chron. xxxiii. I I- I3.
His measures towards strengthening the king dom, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 14.
(b.) Short notices in the books of Samuel and Kings are here enlarged and completed. Compare Chron. xiii., xv., xvi., with 2 Sam. vi.
(c.) Insertions, consisting of reflections by the author, or his own views assigned to the persons described, as, ' But Amaziah would not hear : for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edam,' 2 Chron. xxv. 20 ; compare 2 Kings xiv.
3. The Chronicles also differ from the books of Samuel and Kings in the order in which several occurrences are placed.
Comp. 1 Chron. xi. 1-9 with 2 Sam. vi. /-so.
,, xi. „ xxiii. 8- to.