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The City of David ridge in Jerusalem

Era 6 · The First Kings1 Chronicles

Investigation: Two Histories of David

Samuel and Chronicles side by side

1 Chronicles 10–29; 1 Samuel 31 – 1 Kings 2 · Lesson 30 of 35 · 12 min story

EpisodeSamuel–KingsChroniclesKind of difference
Saul's death1 Samuel 311 Chronicles 10 + verdictAdded theological comment
David's rise and flight1 Samuel 16–30Omitted (12:1–22 lists allies)Selection
King at HebronOver Judah 7 years, then all Israel"All Israel" at onceDistinct narrative focus
Mighty men2 Samuel 23 (800 slain)1 Chronicles 11 (300; 16 more names)Numerical difference; additions
The ark2 Samuel 61 Chronicles 13; 15–16 (Levites, music, psalm)Expansion
Davidic covenant2 Samuel 7 ("rod of men")1 Chronicles 17 (no warning; "my kingdom")Theological wording
Bathsheba, Uriah, Nathan2 Samuel 11–12OmittedSelection
Amnon, Absalom, Sheba2 Samuel 13–20OmittedSelection
ElhananKilled Goliath (2 Samuel 21:19)Killed Lahmi, Goliath's brotherHarmonization or textual damage
CensusThe LORD moved David; 50 silverSatan; 600 gold; temple siteTheological and numerical
Succession1 Kings 1 (Adonijah's plot)1 Chronicles 23; 28–29 (orderly handover)Distinct focus
The City of David ridge in Jerusalem
Site or place photographThe City of David, the ridge south of the Temple Mount where Jebusite and Davidic Jerusalem stood (modern photograph).Image credit

Continue the journey

Journey of a Passage2 Samuel 24:1, 9: Who moved David to count the people?"The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David" (2 Samuel 24:1).
More from this lesson

Journey of a Passage

  • 2 Samuel 21:19: Who killed Goliath? →The Hebrew says Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, killed Goliath the Gittite. 1 Samuel 17 says David killed him; 1 Chronicles 20:5 says Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, Goliath's brother. The KJV adds "the brother of" in italics.
  • 2 Samuel 23:8: The chief of the Three: 800 or 300? →The Hebrew of 23:8 is difficult: "Josheb-basshebeth a Tachmonite… he was Adino the Eznite, over eight hundred slain at one time." 1 Chronicles 11:11: "Jashobeam a Hachmonite… lifted up his spear against three hundred." The library's Greek calls him "Ishbosheth the Canaanite."
  • 2 Samuel 24:1, 9: Who moved David to count the people? →"The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David" (2 Samuel 24:1). "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David" (1 Chronicles 21:1). The census totals also differ. These are two biblical histories, not two manuscripts.
  • 1 Chronicles 17:13–14: The covenant without the "rod of men" →2 Samuel 7:14–16 promises David's son discipline "with the rod of men" if he sins, and speaks of "thy house and thy kingdom." 1 Chronicles 17:13–14 omits the warning and reads "mine house and my kingdom."

Why this matters to the rest of Scripture

  • The sources named.