THE BOOK OF SECOND CHRONICLES
Introduction
The Division of the Second Book of the Chronicles
Originally the two books of the Chronicles formed one book and were undivided. The period of the history of the people, Israel, covered in this book is the same as in the books of the Kings. It begins with the Solomonic reign, the building and dedication of the temple, and ends with the captivity of Judah. The closing of Chronicles proves the post-exilic time of its composition, for it mentions Cyrus the King of Persia and his restoration proclamation. The history, however, is almost exclusively the history of the house of Judah. Israel's history is very briefly touched upon. Inasmuch as Chronicles is written from the priestly and the divine viewpoint, everything centers around the temple of Jehovah. There are most interesting descriptions of Solomon's reign, the temple and the worship, which we do not find in the parallel Chapter s in the first book of Kings. The reader should make use of the parallel passages given in connection with the introduction to the Chronicles and then read the annotations in Kings, as we shall not repeat, in the annotations of this second book of the Chronicles, what has already been given. We shall point out what is peculiar to Chronicles. We divide the book into four sections.
I. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON (2 Chron. 1-9)
1. The Beginning of His Reign and the First Vision (2 Chronicles 1:1)
2. The Building of the Temple (2 Chron. 2-4)
3. The Dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 5:1)
4. The Second Vision (2 Chronicles 7:11)
5. Solomon's Prosperity and Activities (2 Chronicles 8:1)
6. The Queen of Sheba and Solomon's Death (2 Chronicles 9:1)
II. THE REBELLION OF THE TEN TRIBES (2 Chronicles 10:1)
III. THE HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CAPTIVITY (2 Chron. 11-36:14)
1. Decline and Apostasy under Rehoboam and Abijah; Asa and his Reformation and Failure (2 Chron. 11-16)
2. Reformation under Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 17-20)
3. Decline and Apostasy under Jehoram, Ahaziah and Athaliah (2 Chron. 21-22)
4. Reformation under Joash, and Joash's Apostasy (2 Chron. 23-24)
5. Decline and Apostasy under Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham and Ahaz (2 Chron. 25-28)
6. Reformation under Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29-32)
7. Decline and Apostasy under Manasseh and Amon (2 Chronicles 33:1)
8. Reformation under Josiah (2 Chron. 34-35)
9. The Final Decline and Apostasy (2 Chronicles 36:1)
IV. THE CAPTIVITY AND THE EPILOGUE (2 Chronicles 36:15)