--- title: "1 Chronicles: Summary & All 29 Chapters · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/ description: "The First Book of Chronicles, a liturgical history in 29 chapters. Bp. Challoner’s summary of all 29 chapters, and the full text free." --- Old Testament # The First Book of Chronicles The First Book of Chronicles is the thirteenth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 29 chapters and 940 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 1 Paralipomenon. [Start reading: 1 Chronicles 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/1/) Chapters 1–29: [1](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/1/) … [29](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/29/) ## About 1 Chronicles About 1 Chronicles · Liturgical history The first book of Chronicles retells Israel's story from Adam to David, this time from the perspective of worship: genealogies that anchor the returned exiles in their past, and David recast as the great organizer of temple prayer and music. Its unknown author, working after the exile, is traditionally called the Chronicler, and the Douay-Rheims names the book Paralipomenon. He wrote to convince a small, discouraged community that their true glory had never been armies or borders but the worship of God — and that this glory was still theirs. *1 Chronicles in Bless* | | | |---|---| | Testament | Old Testament — book 13 of 46, 13 of 73 in the Bible | | Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) | | Chapters | 29 | | Verses | 940, as Bless numbers them | | In the Douay-Rheims | 1 Paralipomenon | | Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter | | Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 29 chapters · 25 notes | | Catechism | No references | Chapter by chapter ## All 29 chapters, *in brief.* Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text. 1. ### [1 Chronicles 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/1/) 54 verses The genealogy of the patriarchs down to Abraham: The posterity of Abraham and of Esau. 2. ### [1 Chronicles 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/2/) 55 verses The twelve tribes of Israel. The genealogy of Juda down to David. Other genealogies of the tribe of Juda. 3. ### [1 Chronicles 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/3/) 24 verses The genealogy of the house of David. 4. ### [1 Chronicles 4](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/4/) 43 verses Other genealogies of Juda and Simeon, and their victories. 5. ### [1 Chronicles 5](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/5/) 26 verses Genealogies of Ruben and Gad: their victories over the Agarites: their captivity. 6. ### [1 Chronicles 6](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/6/) 81 verses The genealogies of Levi, and of Aaron: the cities of the Levites. 7. ### [1 Chronicles 7](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/7/) 40 verses Genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Nephtali, Manasses, Ephraim, and Aser. 8. ### [1 Chronicles 8](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/8/) 40 verses The posterity of Benjamin is further declared down to Saul. His issue. 9. ### [1 Chronicles 9](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/9/) 44 verses The Israelites, priests, and Levites, who first dwelt in Jerusalem after the captivity. A repetition of the genealogy of Saul. 10. ### [1 Chronicles 10](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/10/) 14 verses Saul is slain for his sins: he is buried by the men of Jabes. 11. ### [1 Chronicles 11](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/11/) 46 verses David is made king. He taketh the castle of Sion. A catalogue of his valiant men. 12. ### [1 Chronicles 12](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/12/) 40 verses Who followed David when he fled from Saul. And who came to Hebron to make him king. 13. ### [1 Chronicles 13](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/13/) 14 verses The ark is brought from Cariathiarim. Oza for touching it is struck dead. 14. ### [1 Chronicles 14](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/14/) 17 verses David's house, and children: his victories over the Philistines. 15. ### [1 Chronicles 15](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/15/) 29 verses The ark is brought into the city of David, with great solemnity. Michol derideth David's devotion. 16. ### [1 Chronicles 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/16/) 43 verses The ark is placed in the tabernacle. Sacrifice is offered. David blesseth the people, disposeth the offices of Levites, and maketh a psalm of praise to God. 17. ### [1 Chronicles 17](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/17/) 27 verses David's purpose to build a temple, is rewarded by most ample promises: David's thanksgiving. 18. ### [1 Chronicles 18](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/18/) 17 verses David's victories. His chief officers. 19. ### [1 Chronicles 19](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/19/) 19 verses The Ammonites abuse David's ambassadors: both they and their confederates are overthrown. 20. ### [1 Chronicles 20](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/20/) 7 verses Rabba is taken. Other victories over the Philistines. 21. ### [1 Chronicles 21](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/21/) 30 verses David's sin in numbering the people is punished by a pestilence: which ceaseth upon his offering sacrifice in the thrashingfloor of Ornan. 22. ### [1 Chronicles 22](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/22/) 19 verses David having prepared all necessaries, chargeth Solomon to build the temple and the princes to assist him. 23. ### [1 Chronicles 23](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/23/) 32 verses David appointeth Solomon king. The distribution of the Levites and their offices. 24. ### [1 Chronicles 24](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/24/) 31 verses The divisions of the priests into four and twenty courses, to serve in the temple: the chiefs of the Levites. 25. ### [1 Chronicles 25](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/25/) 31 verses The number and divisions of the musicians. 26. ### [1 Chronicles 26](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/26/) 32 verses The divisions of the porters. Offices of other Levites. 27. ### [1 Chronicles 27](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/27/) 34 verses The twelve captains for every month; the twelve princes of the tribes. David's several officers. 28. ### [1 Chronicles 28](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/28/) 21 verses David's speech, in a solemn assembly: his exhortation to Solomon. He giveth him a pattern of the temple. 29. ### [1 Chronicles 29](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/29/) 30 verses David by word and example encourageth the princes to contribute liberally to the building of the temple. His thanksgiving, prayer, and sacrifices: his death. Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries Coming up ## Read at *Mass.* From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 1 Chronicles is read at the principal Mass on 0 days in the US calendar. The next 2 readings: | Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation | |---|---|---|---| | [Fri, Nov 19, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/11/19/) computed | Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Responsorial Psalm | [1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/29/) | | [Thu, Feb 3, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/02/03/) computed | Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | Responsorial Psalm | [1 Chronicles 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-chronicles/29/) | Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish. [Previous book The Second Book of Kings](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-kings/) [Next book The Second Book of Chronicles](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-chronicles/)