This is the Bible Book Club, the book of First Chronicles.

Welcome to the club.

Last time in chapter 7 and 8, we discussed the genealogies of the last 12 tribes, including Ishikar, Naftali, the other half-trib of Manasseh, Ephra, Asher, and Benjamin.

A good deal of special mention went to women and foreigners because this author wants every tribe

and grafted in foreigner to feel included in the resettlement. The tribe of Benjamin was the most important tribe covered for two reasons.

One, their close tie to Judah, loyalty to God and royalty.

And two, the first king, King Saul, was a Benjaminite.

Up until this point, you guys have been really good hanging with us as we powered through

the history of Israel from the beginning of man until the exile and a lot and lots of genealogies.

We ended the last episode discussing the first verse of chapter 9. I want Heather to read it again.

All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

They were taken captive

to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. This is what became of all Israel captivity.

What will become of Israel now is the question that hangs over this verse. This is where the story

transitions from Israel's unfaithful past before the exile to what our

chronicler hopes will be Israel's faithful future after the exile. This remnant of returned

Israelites holds the key to hope for the future. And our chronicler is urgent in his desire to reach them,

engage them, and convert them to the faithful covenant-keeping people that God will bless the world

with. His task was monumental. But he is determined to teach them what they need to know to be different from

their ancestors. The chronicler begins with a list of the remnant of Israel that returned and

resettled. These are the people who link Israel's past to their future. For us, these post-exile Israelites are the link between Adam in the

beginning to Christ and his return in the end. Had these people never returned, where would the

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