1 & 2 Chronicles

King David’s reign is explained in a positive light (1 Chron), And the history of Israel from Solomon to the divided kingdom, ending with the exiled Jews returning home is detailed (2 Chron) 

Summary:
1 & 2 Chronicles was originally one book in the Hebrew, containing overlapping material from the Jewish history found in 2 Samuel to 2 Kings, but with a different perspective.  Second Samuel and Kings gives a political history, while Chronicles gives a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of Judah (the line of kings beginning with David that will eventually produce Messiah-Jesus Christ).  Much attention is given to priestly concerns such as the temple, the priesthood, the lineage of Messiah, and spiritual reforms.  Chronicles was written to those returning from Babylonian exile (God removed the Jews from the Promised Land because of their disobedience).  It was written to give them hope, revealing God’s faithfulness and His continuing purpose for His people.  Eventually the temple will be rebuilt by those returning to the Land.  Ultimately it is a reminder that God is still with them and He will be true to fulfilling the covenant He made with David (2 Sam 7 and repeated in Chronicles 7:11-14).  Despite their sin, they are still God’s special people, and God holds true to His promises.

Some important points to understand about the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles:

• The genealogies in 1 Chronicles chapters 1-9 cover the time of Adam to David, and chapters 10-29 focus on the thirty-three years of David’s rule over the united kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1004-971 B.C.).[1] Keep in mind that David’s son, Solomon will succeed him and the kingdom of Israel will split into two kingdoms after Solomon (Israel and Judah). 
• The genealogies in Chronicles are the most comprehensive in the Bible, although they are highly selective in manner.[2]  Remember that genealogies in the Bible are theological in nature and thus do not include every name in a genealogy, but rather names that further the story of God’s selection and preservation of a people for Himself from the beginning of history.[3]
• Chronicles relates a positive history of David and Solomon, omitting such embarrassing exploits such as David’s sin with Bathsheba, the ordered death of her husband Uriah, David’s son Absalom’s rebellion, the many wives of Solomon etc..
• The book of 2 Chronicles closely parallels 1 & 2 Kings, but leaves out mention of the northern kingdom of Israel because of its false worship, focusing instead on the southern kingdom of Judah and the lives and reigns of those kings who follow in the godly footsteps of David.  In scripture, David is considered the ideal or model good king to which all good kings will be compared.
• 2 Chronicles begins with the reign of Solomon and his building of the temple in Jerusalem and ends with Cyrus’ decree (538 B.C.) for the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple which has been completely destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

[2] Ibid,103.

[3] Ibid.