Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Book Overview - 2 Chronicles

by Arno Clemens Gaebelein

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 chapters 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 1:1-17)

2. The Building of the Temple (2 Chron. 2-4)

3. The Dedication of the Temple (2 Chron. 5:1-7:10)

4. The Second Vision (2 Chronicles 7:11-22)

5. Solomon’s Prosperity and Activities (2 Chronicles 8:1-18)

6. The Queen of Sheba and Solomon’s Death (2 Chronicles 9:1-31)

II. THE REBELLION OF THE TEN TRIBES (2 Chronicles 10:1-19)

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)