The book of 2 Chronicles begins where 1 Chronicles ended. Chapters 1-9 chronicle the reign of Solomon, with six of the nine chapters describing the construction and dedication of the great temple Solomon built.
The rest of the book describes the reign of Judah's kings up to the fall of Jerusalem, to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. It gives special attention to the kings who patterned their lives and reigns after David. The highest commendation a king could receive was "he did right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done." (2 Chronicles 29:2)
What does it say?
Second Chronicles begins with these words: "Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great." The most significant of Solomon's works was building of the temple to God in Jerusalem. The author allocates six chapters to this task (chapters 2-7) and only two (8-9) for everything else, including his death.
Chapter 10 begins the account of all the remaining kings of Judah until the kingdom fell to the Babylonians in 586 B.C. No kings from Israel are mentioned at all. The focus is on David's line, to whom was given the Davidic Covenant and the future hope of Israel.
The book closes with the fall of Jerusalem and a clear ray of hope. The king who rules over the fallen exiles commands those who wish to return to do so and rebuild their temple!
Faces & Places
The main character in 2 Chronicles is Solomon, the third and last king of the united kingdom. After his death, the kingdom was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel, led by Jeroboam, and the southern kingdom of Judah, led by Solomon's son Rehoboam.
Jeroboam is one of the few northern kings mentioned in this book, and that is only to explain the breakup of the united kingdom. Kings from the rebel northern kingdom are mentioned only when their actions directly relate to the kings of Judah. The remainder of 2 Chronicles mentions only the kings of Judah. Nineteen kings follow Rehoboam to the throne of the southern kingdom of Judah. All of them are from the line of David, as promised by God. Noteworthy kings of Judah include Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah.
The vast majority of the book takes place in Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. The temple is built in this city upon Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David (3:1). Mount Moriah is another name for Mount Zion and is also the place where Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him to the Lord.
Key Verses & Themes
The Temple of God:
2 Chronicles 7:1 "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple."
Humble Repentance:
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who call upon my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Commitment to Obedience:
2 Chronicles 34:31 "The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book."
So what?
When 2 Chronicles was first written, the audience was the remnant which had returned from exile, resettled the land, and rebuilt the temple. This book, along with 1 Chronicles, taught these people lessons from the past (the glorious times of obedience and the distressing times of sin), illustrated God's faithfulness in the present (he had delivered them out of exile and they were back in their land), and looked forward to God's fulfillment of promises in the future (the covenant with David would yet be fulfilled in a glorious Israel).
What is true for this remnant is also true for you. Though the historical context is different (you are not an ancient Israelite returned from exile in Babylon), you do have a past, a present, and a future. What have you learned from the past about walking with God? How is God presently showing his faithfulness? As for the future, are you fixing your hope on what God will do or what you might be able to squeeze out of this world? Take a moment to check out 1 Peter 1:13. The hope of Israel's future is also yours.
