Answer
Like the books of Samuel and Kings, the book of Chronicles was initially a single work before its division in the Greek Septuagint. In modern Bibles, Chronicles is split into two books, and 1 Chronicles is placed after 2 Kings. In the Hebrew Tanakh, the book of Chronicles concludes the Jewish Scripture. No one knows for sure who wrote 1 Chronicles.
First Chronicles starts with a genealogy from Adam through King Saul. From there, the book of 1 Chronicles records events of Israel’s history beginning with Saul’s death and tracing David’s reign as king. The book ends with King David’s death.
The author of 1 Chronicles, often called the Chronicler, is anonymous. Jewish tradition attributes the book to Ezra, and this is indeed a likely candidate. The text suggests a single author in the post-exilic period. The author drew from diverse sources—including other books of the Old Testament—and was both knowledgeable and meticulous. Scholars agree that the author of 1 Chronicles was a skilled, theologically solid scribe. Ezra answers to all the above and remains the most plausible choice of author (see Ezra 7:6, 10; Nehemiah 8:1–2). Furthering the idea that Ezra is the Chronicler are the language similarities between Chronicles and Ezra and Nehemiah.
Is there absolute certainty that Ezra wrote and compiled 1 Chronicles? No. The Chronicler did not deem it essential to reveal his identity, and some questions linger. Regardless of who the author of 1 Chronicles was, we can appreciate the skill, competence, and meticulous nature of the Chronicler, used by God to convey His Word to us. As the author recorded the history of God’s people, we see God’s faithfulness to His promises to the family of David, and we are reminded of the ultimate fulfillment of those promises in Jesus.
