1 Chronicles 9:1—What happened to the missing “Book of Kings”?

Problem: The Books of Chronicles often refer to other missing books on which the inspired record in Chronicles is based in part (cf. 1 Chron. 9:1; 27:24; 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 13:22; 16:11; 25:26; 27:7; 28:26; 32:32; 33:19; 35:27; 36:8). Some of these books were written by prophets (1 Chron. 29:29). How could books that were written by prophets of God, or were the basis of prophetic books, perish? Why did not God preserve His Word?

Solution: Prophets as a class were usually an educated group able to read and write. Samuel even led a “group of prophets” (1 Sam. 19:20, niv). It was only natural that as moral educators in Israel they would keep a record of events in addition to whatever prophecies God may have given them. Thus, the records of Iddo the Seer may have been normal (uninspired) records which he kept (1 Chron. 29:29). It is noteworthy that they are not referred to as “visions” or “prophecies.”

Further, it is not unusual for inspired books of the Bible to cite uninspired ones. The Apostle Paul even cited pagan poets (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12). This does not mean that they were inspired, but simply that they uttered a truth on that occasion which a prophet or apostle incorporated into his inspired book.

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.