Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. – 1 Chronicles 15:11

Today's Scripture Reading (July 8, 2025): 1 Chronicles 15

Lists. The Books of Chronicles seem to be filled with them. And the narrative seems to be continually interrupted by yet another list. As the reader, it is tempting to skip over the lists so that we can get to the story. However, we need to recognize that these lists fulfill a need. Again, we need to be reminded that the Book of Chronicles emerged during the Second Temple Period. Officially, Chronicles is anonymous, but the likely author of Chronicles is Ezra, the same Ezra who was involved in the rebuilding of the Temple and the priest who called the returning Israelite exiles to repentance.

So, while the lists might be annoying to us, the reality is that Ezra had a reason for including these lists. One of the struggles was in finding people who knew and could document their lineage. Here, there is an interest in people who can trace their ancestry back to Zadok and other priestly families.

Zadok was the High Priest during the reigns of both David and Solomon. He is generally regarded as one of the most notable High Priests in Israelite history. Zadok was instrumental in winning the crown for David over all of Israel. When Absalom, David's son, rebelled against his father, attempting to seize the throne, Zadok's initial response was to gather the Levites and escort the Ark of the Covenant into Exile with David. However, David convinced this loyal priest and his colleague, Abiathar, to stay in Jerusalem and continue to exhibit God's presence in the City of David.

The descendants of Zadok held the High priesthood in Jerusalem from the reign of David until the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. It was the House of Zadok that played a crucial role in establishing the Temple during the Second Temple Period. Not that there weren't others who thought they might be allowed to be the High Priest. However, it was the House of Zadok that had ministered in the Temple until its destruction, and it was this same House that needed to pick up the mantle as the Second Temple era began. These men needed to minister Yahweh to the nation with the same integrity that David came to rely on from Zadok.

The first High Priest of the Second Temple era was Joshua, the son of Jehozadak. Joshua was of the House of Zadok, and he was instrumental as the first High Priest after the Exile. However, it is also important to note that Ezra was also of the House of Zadok. While officially Ezra was never a High Priest in Israel, there is a rabbinic tradition that he did serve as the Gadol Kohen or High Priest at some point before his death

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7