1 Chronicles

If the last couple of chapters of 2 Samuel read like deleted scenes, then the whole of 1 Chronicles reads like a special edition.

It is the same story as 2 Samuel, but with a heap more names on the start, the plotline about King David going on the run from his son removed, and those pesky deleted scenes re-inserted where they apparently come. George Lucas would be proud.

In the census scene, God has actually been removed and replaced by Satan. Disappointingly, King David doesn’t walk around him and tread on his tail.

And also in this version, in a Greedo-ish moment, just before Saul tries to take his own life, there’s now a Philistine archer who shoots at him first...

Oooooohhhh, that’s going to be controversial with fans of the earlier version...

This is also the book that has the prayer of Jabez buried away in it too, famous now from Bruce Wilkinson’s extrapolatory book. (Is that actually a word? Sure, why not.) I pray it sometimes, so I’ll reprint it here:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!"

So God granted him what he requested.

- 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV-UK)

After that there are production photos, a “Making Of” featurette, and an easter egg, which was cutting-edge stuff for the Old Testament.