Editing Books of Chronicles (section)

==Structure==
[[File:Codex Sinaiticus Paralipomenon 9,27-10,11.JPG|thumb|left|Greek translation: Paralipomenon 9:27–10:11 in ''[[Codex Sinaiticus]]'' (1862 facsimile)]]
Originally a single work, Chronicles was divided into two in the [[Septuagint]], a Greek translation produced in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.{{sfn|Japhet|1993|p=2}} It has three broad divisions: 
# the genealogies in chapters 1–9 of 1 Chronicles
# the reigns of David and Solomon (constituting the remainder of 1 Chronicles, and chapters 1–9 of 2 Chronicles); and 
# the narrative of the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)#End|divided kingdom]], focusing on the [[Kingdom of Judah]], in the remainder of 2 Chronicles.

Within this broad structure there are signs that the author has used various other devices to structure his work, notably through drawing parallels between David and Solomon (the first becomes king, establishes the worship of Israel's God in Jerusalem, and fights the wars that will enable the Temple to be built, then Solomon becomes king, builds and dedicates the Temple, and reaps the benefits of prosperity and peace).{{sfn|McKenzie|2004|p=}}

1 Chronicles is divided into 29 [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|chapters]] and 2 Chronicles into 36 chapters. Biblical commentator [[C. J. Ball]] suggests that the division into two books introduced by the translators of the Septuagint "occurs in the most suitable place",<ref>Ball, C., J. (1905), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/2_chronicles/1.htm The Second Book of the Chronicles] in ''Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers''</ref> namely with the conclusion of David's reign as king and the initiation of Solomon's reign.

The [[Talmud]] considered Chronicles one book.<ref name="BB15a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.15a.2?ven=William_Davidson_Edition_-_English&vhe=William_Davidson_Edition_-_Vocalized_Aramaic&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=Bava Batra 15a:2}}</ref>