Chronicles

The Chronicles, mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament, were historical records that documented the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. These records were likely maintained by official scribes or court historians and served as a source of information for the authors of the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles. <BR>The Chronicles are referred to in the context of the reigns of various kings, such as Jeroboam (1Ki.14.19), Rehoboam (1Ki.14.29), Abijam (1Ki.15.7), Asa (1Ki.15.23), Nadab (1Ki.15.31), Baasha (1Ki.16.5), Elah (1Ki.16.14), Zimri (1Ki.16.20), Omri (1Ki.16.27), Ahab (1Ki.22.39), Jehoshaphat (1Ki.22.45), Joram (2Ki.8.23), Jehu (2Ki.10.34), Joash (2Ki.12.19), Jehoahaz (2Ki.13.8), Jehoash (2Ki.13.12), Jeroboam II (2Ki.14.28), Azariah (2Ki.15.6), Zechariah (2Ki.15.11), Shallum (2Ki.15.15), Menahem (2Ki.15.21), Pekahiah (2Ki.15.26), Pekah (2Ki.15.31), Jotham (2Ki.15.36), Ahaz (2Ki.16.19), Hezekiah (2Ki.20.20), Manasseh (2Ki.21.17), Amon (2Ki.21.25), Josiah (2Ki.23.28), and Jehoiakim (2Ki.24.5). <BR>These references typically state that the rest of the acts of a particular king, along with details about his reign, are written in the Chronicles. This suggests that the Chronicles contained more extensive information about each king's life, accomplishments, and failures than what is recorded in the biblical narrative. <BR>The Chronicles are also mentioned in the books of Chronicles themselves (1Ch.29.29; 2Ch.33.18-19), as well as in the book of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:23) and Esther (Esther 10:2). These references further emphasize the importance of the Chronicles as historical records and sources of information for the biblical authors.