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Book of 2 Chronicles
Pronunciation:
Authorship and Origin:
In the Hebrew Bible, the books of Chronicles are called 'dibre hayamim' which means 'The Affairs' or literally 'of the days'. The name signifies the annals or as suggested by Jerome (an early church father), "the Chronicles". Chronicles once existed as a single composition, but was divided into two parts with the Greek translation around 150 B.C.. In the original arrangement of the Old Testament canon, Chronicles was at the end of the Old Testament. So when Christ spoke of all the martyrs from Abel in the first book (Gen 4) to Zechariah (in II Chronicles 24), he encompased the entire Old Testament of that time.
The books of Chronicles do not state by whom they were written, or when, however the book records events as early as the Cyrus decree of 538 B.C.. This decree permitted the Jews to return from exile. This along with various genealogies, and the relation of these books to Ezra and Nehemiah, indicate that Chronicles (as well as Ezra and perhaps Nehemiah) were likely written by Ezra around the time of 450 B.C.. Chronicles and Ezra were probably one consecutive historical composition. Nehemiah may have been autobiographical.
Overview and Significant sections
Significant sections:
II Chronicles continues where I Chronicles left off, after the reign of David the king. It describes the reign of Solomon, his decline and the split of the Jewish nation into Judah and Israel. It dicusses in detail the various rulers of this time of whom some were good and some were not so good. It ends in the exile.
Section 1 - The reign of Solomon
- Solomon's inauguration
1:1-1:17
- Solomon's temple - preparations, construction, dedication
2:1-7:22
- Solomon's kingdom, achievements, splendor
8:1-9:31
Section II - The kingdom of Judah
- The division of the nation
10:1-11:19
- The rulers of Judah (17 specifically discussed)
12:1-36:16
- the Exile
36:17-36:23
For more detailed study:
Read Chapter 1. (the entire book is available starting here.)
The Concise Matthew Henry Commentary on this book.
bible.org introduction of this book.
the World Wide Study Bible has Dictionary, Commentary, Scripture and sermons available
on this book.
