Leslie C. Allen, an Old Testament professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, brings his expertise in Chronicles to this insightful study guide. This volume offers a clear and accessible introduction for newcomers while providing advanced insights for seasoned scholars. As a successor to Gwilym H. Jones’s 1993 entry in the Old Testament Guides series (Sheffield Academic Press), Allen’s work incorporates recent scholarship and delivers his unique perspective on Chronicles.

This guide consists of four core chapters exploring Chronicles’ content, particularly its adaptation and expansion of earlier literary sources (chs. 3–6), framed by two introductory chapters and a conclusion.

The first chapter explores the standard topics of authorship, dating, and sources. Allen posits that “the Chronicler” wrote during the last years of the Persian period, from the mid-fourth century BC onward (p. 6). The chapter also delves into the subject of spiritual exhortation, with Allen suggesting that the Chronicler has repurposed material from Samuel-Kings to construct a comprehensive program aimed at encouraging his audience to “seek the Lord” (p. 2).

The second introductory chapter outlines how the Chronicler conveys his message. Allen adopts a macrostructural rhetorical-critical approach influenced by the works of James Muilenburg (“Form Criticism and Beyond,” JBL 88 [1969]: 1–18) and Rodney K. Duke (The Persuasive Appeal of the Chronicler: A Rhetorical Analysis, JSOTSup 88 [Sheffield: Almond, 1990]). He views Chronicles as consisting of two major sections, both ending with postexilic references: 1 Chronicles 1:1–9:34 and 1 Chronicles 9:35–2 Chronicles 36:23. Along with the macrostructure, Allen identifies rhetorical markers indicating smaller “kerygmatic units” within the text (p. 19).

Chapter 3 examines the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1:1–9:34. Entitled “Israel: Elect, Inclusive, and Resilient,” it provides a concise overview of the genealogies’ shape and content. It also explores potential sources for these genealogical accounts, including Genesis, Joshua, 1 Kings, and Ruth, among others.

Chapter 4 highlights how David and Solomon function as “models for seeking God” in their respective roles of preparing for and building the temple (1 Chr 9:35–2 Chr 9:31; p. 39). A feature of this guide is Allen’s identification of keywords and their relation to the key themes of Chronicles, such as דרש, “to seek” (pp. 42–44, 49, 52–53, 56).

Chapter 5 shows how subsequent kings are evaluated against the models established by the reigns of David and Solomon, beginning with Judah’s kings in the Divided Kingdom (2 Chr 10:1–28:27). Following Sara Japhet (The Ideology of the Book of Chronicles and Its Place in Biblical Thought, trans. A. Barber, 2nd ed. [Frankfurt am Main: Lang, 1997], 161–64), Allen applies the generational options in Ezekiel 18 to the kings in Chronicles. The evaluations are sometimes applied to phases within reigns, such as Rehoboam’s, which shifts from bad to good and from bad to relatively good, and finally bad because “he did not set his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chr 12:14; pp. 64–66).

Chapter 6 continues with Judah’s kings in the Single Kingdom (2 Chr 29:1–36:23). The evaluations allow Allen to view reigns as larger rhetorical units. For instance, Amon’s negative reign and Josiah’s positive reign parallel the two phases in Manasseh’s reign to form a cohesive rhetorical unit (2 Chr 33:1–36:1; pp. 85–89).

The final chapter discusses the spirituality and theology of Chronicles. Spirituality is defined as “believers’ commitment to an established religion” (p. 91), which is expressed through the act of seeking the Lord in worship (p. 92). This worship is to align with the practices of the Jerusalem temple and adhere to the Torah, along with its “Davidic and Solomonic supplementation” (p. 96). In Chronicles, seeking God results in blessings, while forsaking him brings negative consequences, both attributed to God’s direct response (pp. 93–94). The repeated failures of Judah’s kings functioned to warn the Chronicler’s generation in Yehud to take the opportunity to turn back to God after sinning (p. 103).

Readers of Themelios will appreciate Allen’s rhetorical approach, particularly those interested in how Chronicles impacts its audience. Though some may question his division of exegetical and rhetorical units, these divisions provide a helpful starting point for teaching larger groups of chapters and sections. His focus on keywords adds further cohesion to his analysis.

However, Themelios readers may find areas of disagreement. Allen’s significant discussion of how the Chronicler modified or expanded sources, especially Samuel-Kings, might try the patience of those who prefer final form readings. Nevertheless, Allen defends his focus as integral to biblical scholarship, which requires “assessment of later contributions to the final, canonical form of a book” (p. 55). Some readers may also question Allen’s views on historicity, such as interpreting large numbers as “dramatic hyperbole” (p. 67) or seeing Elijah’s letter as “ghostwritten in the Chronicler’s style” (2 Chr 21:12–15; p. 73). Yet, these points underscore challenging aspects of the text that demand further investigation.

Finally, although Allen draws some connections with the New Testament, Themelios readers may desire more robust biblical-theological links. For a deeper dive into Allen’s hermeneutic method, readers can explore his other works on Chronicles (1, 2 Chronicles, The Preacher’s Commentary [Nashville: Nelson, 1987]; and “The First and Second Books of Chronicles,” in 1 Kings–Tobit, ed. Leander E. Keck, NIB 3 [Nashville: Abingdon, 1999], 297–659). For pan-canonical biblical-theological themes, resources like Graeme Goldsworthy’s 1 and 2 Chronicles: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Reading the Bible Today (Sydney South: Aquila, 2021) and John W. Olley’s “1–2 Chronicles,” in 1 Samuel–2 Chronicles, ed. Iain Duguid, James M Hamilton Jr, and Jay Sklar, ESV Expository Commentary 3 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 899–1294 offer additional insights.

This book will be especially valuable to seminary students and biblical scholars beginning their study of Chronicles. Those interested in the intersection of rhetorical and redaction criticism, literary analysis, and theological themes will find Allen’s approach thought-provoking and enriching.