The books of 1-2 Chronicles will tell the story of Israel’s kings. This might seem unnecessary for us, after having just read the books of Samuel and Kings. But the Chronicler will do more than simply re-tell the same story. As he focuses his attention on the royal line of David (rather than the northern kingdom), he will preach the history he details. We might think of 1-2 Chronicles as a commentary on Samuel and Kings—or maybe better, a sermon. So far, you may not be impressed with this sermon. What kind of a preacher begins his sermon with multiple lists of long genealogies? Didn’t the author have any seminary classes instructing him that a good sermon introduction needs to capture the attention of a congregation? The more interesting narrative is about to begin (in chapter 10), but these extended introductory chapters are meant to show how the story of God’s people is something like the growth of a tree. Its roots are thrust down deep into the past. Its branches spread wide, to embrace an immense variety of people. And its fruit has born witness to the special relationship between God and Israel. This relationship required a king, governing the people with divine authority. And it required a priest, offering sacrifices for the people’s sin. 1 Chronicles 8 therefore, provides the lineage for Israel’s first king. And chapter 9 will give further historical details as background for Israel’s priests. Saul was the first king of Israel and he was of the tribe of Benjamin. So the descendants of Benjamin are now listed in greater detail (compare 7:6-12), tracing his lineage all the way to the end of Israel’s monarchy (about 587 BC), at which time this family disappears from the historical record (8:1-40). But as the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible says, “It should be shocking to discover the position of prominence allotted to the tribe of Benjamin in the genealogies of Chronicles, ranking third in length after Judah and Levi. In the book of Judges, the sinfulness of the tribe of Benjamin was so great that Israel was compelled to wage war against it, bringing this tribe to the brink of extinction (Judges 19-20). Then, in the books of Samuel, the tribe of Benjamin forfeited its royal status because of the sinful disobedience of King Saul, a Benjaminite. And so when we encounter in 1 Chronicles the prominence of the genealogy of Benjamin, the last in order and rank among Jacob’s sons, we are truly reminded of the good news of God’s abundant grace: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lam 3:22). For further meditation: