History
2 Chronicles
Solomon’s temple, the kings of Judah, the exile, and Cyrus’s decree that lets the people return.
Second Chronicles tells of Solomon and the temple and then follows only the kings of Judah, drawing on prophets’ records (2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15). It ends with the exile and the invitation, “Let him go up” (36:23), a call to rebuild.
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 100%
Key verses
Will God dwell with people on earth?. “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!”
2 Chronicles 6:18 (World English Bible)
If my people humble themselves. if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (World English Bible)
Yahweh's eyes search the whole earth. For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (World English Bible)
The battle is God's. and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 (World English Bible)
Cyrus lets the people go up. “Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.’”
2 Chronicles 36:23 (World English Bible)
People
SolomonRehoboamAsaJehoshaphatJoashHezekiahManassehJosiah
Places
JerusalemMoriahRamoth-gileadMegiddoBabylon
On the timeline
The temple is dedicatedThe kingdom dividesAthaliah's coup; young Joash crownedHezekiah reopens the templeManasseh taken to Babylon; he repentsThe Book of the Law found in the templeJerusalem falls; the temple is burnedCyrus decrees the return
Dating notes
Some scholars date it after 400 BC. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.