Too Pretty of a Picture?
I Chronicles seems to present a very neat and pretty picture of King David. For example, 11:1 & 12:38 argue that all Israel supported David. II Samuel seems to indicate that David gained the support of the various clans and tribes over time. Even under David, there were hints of tribal unrest.
Also, I Chronicles does not mention of David’s affair with Bathsheba or the forced imprisonment of Saul’s descendent Mephibosheth. David’s decision to take a census of the people (probably for the purpose of taxation and military conscription) was attributed to Satan.
The writer of Chronicles was looking back on Israel’s history from the other side of the exile. This is bound to lead to some level of romanticism and nostalgia as the writer describes the pinnacle of Israel. However, these writings are a reminder that history is always written from a certain perspective. It is also a reminder that my own view of history is slanted.