About This Book
Second Chronicles continues from Solomon's accession, focusing on Judah's kings and temple worship while largely ignoring the northern kingdom. Solomon's reign begins with his request for wisdom and God's generous response. The building and dedication of the temple receives detailed attention, with God's glory filling the completed structure. Solomon's prayer at dedication emphasizes God's faithfulness and the temple as a place where prayers are heard and sins forgiven.
God appears to Solomon, promising blessing for obedience but warning that disobedience will result in temple destruction and exile. Solomon's wealth and wisdom bring international fame, but his spiritual decline through foreign marriages is briefly mentioned. After Solomon's death, Rehoboam's foolishness divides the kingdom, with Chronicles following only Judah and Benjamin's southern kingdom. The narrative alternates between righteous and wicked kings, showing patterns of blessing and judgment.
Righteous kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash (initially), Hezekiah, and Josiah institute religious reforms, repair the temple, and experience divine deliverance from enemies. Wicked kings neglect or pollute the temple, practice idolatry, and face military defeats and internal strife. Hezekiah's reign receives extensive coverage, highlighting his Passover celebration that reunites remnants from the north with Judah and God's miraculous deliverance from Assyria. Josiah's reforms following discovery of the law book bring temporary revival.
However, persistent idolatry, especially under Manasseh, seals Judah's fate. The book concludes with Babylon destroying Jerusalem and the temple, exiling the people, fulfilling prophetic warnings. Yet it ends hopefully with Cyrus's decree permitting return, demonstrating God's mercy endures.