Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles

Introduction

For an explanation of the title, writer, date, scope, purpose, and distinctive characteristics of this book, see my comments in my notes on 1 Chronicles. Second Chronicles continues the historical narrative begun in 1 Chronicles.

OUTLINE

(Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)

III.    The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9

A.    Solomon’s wisdom and prosperity ch. 1

B.    The building of the temple 2Ch_2:1 to 2Ch_5:1

1.    Preparations for building the temple ch. 2

2.    The temple proper 2Ch_3:1-9

3.    The temple furnishings 2Ch_3:10 to 2Ch_5:1

C.    The dedication of the temple 2Ch_5:2 to 2Ch_7:10

1.    The installation of the ark 2Ch_5:2-14

2.    Solomon’s address 2Ch_6:1-11

3.    Solomon’s prayer 2Ch_6:12-42

4.    The celebration of the people 2Ch_7:1-10

D.    God’s blessings and curses 2Ch_7:11-22

E.    Solomon’s successes chs. 8-9

1.    Solomon’s political success 2Ch_8:1-11

2.    Solomon’s religious success 2Ch_8:12-16

3.    Solomon’s economic success 8L17-9:28

4.    Solomon’s death 2Ch_9:29-31

IV.    The reigns of Solomon’s successors chs. 10-36

A.    Rehoboam chs. 10-12

1.    The division of the nation ch. 10

2.    Rehoboam’s kingdom ch. 11

3.    The invasion by Egypt ch. 12

B.    Abijah 2Ch_13:1 to 2Ch_14:1

C.    Asa 2Ch_14:2 to 2Ch_16:14

1.    Asa’s Wis_14:2-15

2.    Asa’s reform ch. 15

3.    Asa’s failure ch. 16

 

D.    Jehoshaphat chs. 17-20

1.    Summary of Jehoshaphat’s reign 2Ch_17:1-6

2.    The strength of Jehoshaphat’s kingdom 2Ch_17:7-19

3.    Jehoshaphat and Ahab ch. 18

4.    Jehoshaphat’s appointment of judges ch. 19

5.    Victory over the Moabite-Ammonite alliance 2Ch_20:1-30

6.    Jehoshaphat’s failures 2Ch_20:31-37

E.    Jehoram ch. 21

F.    Ahaziah ch. 22

G.    Athaliah ch. 23

H.    Joash ch. 24

I.    Amaziah ch. 25

J.    Uzziah ch. 26

K.    Jotham ch. 27

L.    Ahaz ch. 28

M.    Hezekiah chs. 29-32

1.    The cleansing and rededication of the temple ch. 29

2.    Hezekiah’s Passover 2Ch_30:1 to 2Ch_31:1

3.    Re-establishment of proper worship 2Ch_31:2-21

4.    The invasion by Sennacherib 2Ch_32:1-23

5.    Hezekiah’s humility and greatness 2Ch_32:24-33

N.    Manasseh 2Ch_33:1-20

O.    Amon 2Ch_33:21-25

P.    Josiah chs. 34-35

1.    Josiah’s reforms ch. 34

2.    Josiah’s Passover 2Ch_35:1-19

3.    Josiah’s death 2Ch_35:20-27

Q.    The last four kings 2Ch_36:1-21

1.    Jehoahaz 2Ch_36:1-4

2.    Jehoiakim 2Ch_36:5-8

3.    Jehoiachin 2Ch_36:9-10

4.    Zedekiah 2Ch_36:11-21

R.    The edict of Cyrus 2Ch_36:22-23

Conclusion

The writer of Chronicles built his history around the records of David and Solomon’s reigns. He flanked these with a long introduction and a longer sequel that span history from Adam to Anani, who was apparently the eighth generation after Jehoiachin. The Chronicler, or perhaps a later editor, himself lived after Cyrus’ edict that dates to 538 B.C. Chronicles is really a long sermon intended to point all of its readers into the future and to give them hope.

In view of what God promised David, there must be a great King coming. History shows that God blessed all of David’s descendants who followed Him faithfully-in proportion to their obedience. Consequently, the coming King’s reign must be greater than anything history has yet seen, since He will carry out God’s will completely.

The responsibility of every reader is to follow the example of David. He realized that he was the recipient of great grace. He responded to that grace by submitting to the authority of the Giver. He put the interests of his Benefactor before his own selfish ambitions and desires. This was his heart for God. God responded by blessing him and by making him a channel of blessing to God’s people and to the nations of the world.

"The great theological burden of Chronicles is the assertion that Yahweh, through covenant establishment with the Davidic dynasty, has offered to all peoples a model of His dominion and a means of their participation in it. David, the royal priest and son of God, was chosen both to reign over Israel, ’a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,’ and to typify that messianic sovereign of his descent whose dominion would be forever. Every effort is bent, therefore, to the task of centralizing this integrating theme. The genealogies provide for David by linking him to creation and the patriarchal promises; the campaigns and conquest of the king validate his election to his redemptive role; the establishment of an elaborate cultus witnesses to the priestly nature of that calling; and the promises of historical and eschatological restoration of the nation and its Davidic kingship attest to the permanency of God’s saving purposes. The people of the covenant might (and did) fail in Old Testament times, but Yahweh has reserved a day when, as He said, ’I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be’ (Amo_9:11). This is the message of Chronicles." [Note: Eugene H. Merrill, "A Theology of Chronicles," in A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament, p. 187.]

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