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The Bible Year

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 24.

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The Bible Year

Assignment for May 14 to 20

The Books of the Chronicles

“The title of the books is taken from the Hebrew, the title in the Septuagint being ‘The Things Omitted,’ implying that the books are intended to supply what was left out of the books of Samuel and the Kings. In the course of the books twelve other histories are named as the author’s source of information. This author may have been Ezra—a supposition made probable by the fact that the closing passage of Second Chronicles is identical with the opening passage of Ezra. There are four divisions of the books—genealogies, and the histories of David, Solomon, and the remaining kings of Judah. Everywhere a knowledge of the preceding books of the Bible is taken for granted, and many new and important facts are given. Scarcely anything is said about the northern kingdom or about the sinful acts of David and Solomon. The great number of genealogies is accounted for by the need of such records that would be felt after the exile, when the land came to be assigned to its hereditary owners, and the temple service to be taken up by those whose hereditary duty it was.”—Amos R. Wells.

The Second Book

“The second book of Chronicles is a continuation of the first book, and consists of two distinct portions. The first portion (chapters 1 to 9) relates to the same events as the first portion of the first book of kings (1 Kings 1 to 11); namely, the history of the undivided kingdom under Solomon, and the second portion to the history of Judah under its several kings, from the revolt under Jeroboam to the Babylonish captivity. The first portion alone comes now in chronological order. Note especially the building and furniture of the temple, with the dedication prayer and sacrifices, and the divine answer to Solomon’s prayer.”—Anderson.

Post-Davidic Psalms

The psalms given in this week’s assignment (47, 97-100, 135, 136) are “psalms written presumably by Solomon during his reign.”

The Song of Solomon

This book “was written by Solomon probably in the early part of his reign; a single composition rather than a collection of separate poems; a sublime and mystical allegory referring to the Lord Jesus Christ and his union with a pure church. Under the endearing figure of a bridegroom and bride, the affection of Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom, is set forth toward the bride, as well as the closeness and perpetuity of the union subsisting between them. The innermost spiritual experiences of a believing and loving soul are also represented under the figure of the earthly love of a king and his bride.”
“This book, like the rest of Scripture, is to be read with seriousness. The holiest and most spiritually minded have naturally delighted most in this book, in which they find most of their Beloved and their Friend.”—Homiletic Commentary.
“The church has ever in her days of earnestness and special devotion used the Song of Solomon. It has been the thermometer of her condition; when and where her energy and love were strong, then and there the Song of Songs became her mode and form of expression.”—E. Monroe.