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About this book: 2 Chronicles

Second Chronicles continues the story from Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem and the edge of a new beginning. It opens with Solomon's wisdom and the building and dedication of the temple, where God's glory fills the house. After Solomon, the kingdom splits, and the book follows the line of Judah's kings from David's descendants. It pays special attention to the kings who sought God and led reform, such as Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah, and to the national revivals that followed, with temple worship restored and the Passover kept. It is equally honest about kings who turned away, and it shows repeatedly that turning back to God, even late, brings mercy. The book ends with Jerusalem destroyed and the people exiled, yet closes with the decree of Cyrus of Persia allowing them to return and rebuild. Hope rests on God's faithfulness, not on any one king, a hope Christians see fulfilled in Christ.

Author
Anonymous; Jewish tradition points to Ezra, and many scholars speak of an unnamed 'Chronicler'.
Date
Written after the exile, most often dated to the fifth or fourth century BC.
Audience
The Jews who returned to Judah from Babylon, needing assurance that turning back to God still matters.

Themes

The temple and true worshipSeeking God and being foundReform and revivalHope after exile

Outline

  1. 1:1–9:31Solomon and the temple
  2. 10:1–12:16The kingdom divides
  3. 13:1–20:37Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat
  4. 21:1–28:27Decline and unfaithful kings
  5. 29:1–32:33Hezekiah's reforms and deliverance
  6. 33:1–35:27Manasseh's repentance and Josiah's revival
  7. 36:1–36:23Exile and the decree of Cyrus

Key verses

About this chapterSolomon's reign begins with strength from the Lord, and he leads Israel to worship at Gibeon, where the bronze altar and the tabernacle still stand. He offers a thousand burnt offerings, and that night God appears and invites him to ask for whatever he wants. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people, and God, pleased that he did not ask for wealth or victory over enemies, grants wisdom and also gives him riches, possessions, and honor beyond any king. The chapter closes with Solomon's growing wealth, chariots, and horses from Egypt. It shows that seeking God's guidance for the good of others comes before personal gain.

Solomon's reign begins with strength from the Lord, and he leads Israel to worship at Gibeon, where the bronze altar and the tabernacle still stand. He offers a thousand burnt offerings, and that night God appears and invites him to ask for whatever he wants. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to lead the people, and God, pleased that he did not ask for wealth or victory over enemies, grants wisdom and also gives him riches, possessions, and honor beyond any king. The chapter closes with Solomon's growing wealth, chariots, and horses from Egypt. It shows that seeking God's guidance for the good of others comes before personal gain.

Themes

  • Asking for wisdom
  • Worship at Gibeon
  • God's generous answer

Key verses

Audio Bible · 2 Chronicles 1

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2 Chronicles 1

Berean Standard Bible17 verses · 2 min read

1Now Solomon son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and highly exalted him. 2Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the heads of the families. 3And Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon because it was the location of God’s Tent of Meeting, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. 6Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings. 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!” 8Solomon replied to God: “You have shown much loving devotion to my father David, and You have made me king in his place. 9Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or honor for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.” 13So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place in Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting, and he reigned over Israel. 14Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. 16Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

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Verses in 2 Chronicles 1

Chapters of 2 Chronicles

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