Class • 2 Chronicles • 2020-11

Date of Writing: Circa 430 B.C.

Author: Uncertain, but probably Ezra.

Theme: A history of Israel and Judah, from Solomon through the Babylonian exile of Judah.

Original Audience: Israel primarily, but also anyone who wanted to know details about the Jewish kingdom and about what led to the Babylonian captivity.

CHAPTERS

2 CHRONICLES 1

Solomon requests wisdom and builds the military and economy

The Outline Bible Section Outline One (2 Chronicles 1-5)

I. SOLOMON’S GREAT WISDOM FROM GOD (1:1–17)

A. The background (1:1–5): Solomon summons Israel’s leaders to Gibeon, where the Tabernacle is located.

B. The burnt offerings (1:6): Solomon sacrifices 1,000 burnt offerings on the bronze altar.

C. The blessing (1:7–17)

1. The announcement (1:7): In a dream God promises to give Solomon anything he desires.

2. The answer (1:8–10): Solomon asks for wisdom so that he might properly lead and govern Israel.

3. The approval (1:11–12): God is pleased with Solomon’s request and grants it, along with riches and honor.

4. The acquisition (1:13–17): Just as God promised, Solomon acquires great prestige and wealth (see also 8:1–10, 17–18; 9:10–11, 13–28).

The background (1:1–5): Solomon summons Israel’s leaders to Gibeon, where the Tabernacle is located.

The burnt offerings (1:6): Solomon sacrifices 1,000 burnt offerings on the bronze altar.

The blessing (1:7–17)

1. The announcement (1:7): In a dream God promises to give Solomon anything he desires.

2. The answer (1:8–10): Solomon asks for wisdom so that he might properly lead and govern Israel.

3. The approval (1:11–12): God is pleased with Solomon’s request and grants it, along with riches and honor.

4. The acquisition (1:13–17): Just as God promised, Solomon acquires great prestige and wealth (see also 8:1–10, 17–18; 9:10–11, 13–28).

2 CHRONICLES 2

Solomon, with Hiram’s help, prepares to build the temple

Arranging for the work (2:1–18)

1. The resources (2:1–2, 17–18): Solomon enlists a workforce of 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,600 foremen.

2. The request (2:3–10): Solomon asks King Hiram of Tyre to provide the materials necessary to build the Temple.

a. What he needs (2:3, 7–10): Solomon asks King Hiram for a master craftsman, a dyeing expert, and a skilled engraver. Solomon also wants cedar, cypress, and almug logs from Lebanon. Solomon offers payment of grain, wine, and olive oil.

b. Why he needs it (2:4–6): The Temple will serve as a worship center, allowing Israel to honor the Lord by burning incense and sacrificing animals.

3. The reply (2:11–16): King Hiram praises Solomon and agrees to fulfill his request.

a. The praise (2:11–12): Hiram commends Solomon for his wisdom and skill.

b. The promise (2:13–16): Hiram promises to send Huram-abi, a master craftsman, dyer, and skilled engraver, to work with Solomon’s craftsmen. Hiram also promises to send the timber that Solomon requested.

2 CHRONICLES 3-4

Solomon builds the temple

x

1. The facts (3:1–2): The Temple is built on Mount Moriah, where Araunah’s threshing floor is. Solomon begins construction in the spring of the fourth year of his reign.

2. The furnishings (3:3–4:22)

a. Foundation and foyer (3:3–4)

b. Main room (3:5–7)

c. Most Holy Place (3:8–13)

d. Curtain (3:14)

e. Two pillars (3:15–17)

f. Bronze altar (4:1)

g. Bronze Sea (4:2–5, 10)

h. Ten basins (4:6)

i. Ten lampstands (4:7)

j. Ten tables and 100 gold basins (4:8)

k. Courtyard for the priests (4:9)

l. Articles made of bronze (4:11–18)

m. Articles made of go

2 CHRONICLES 5

Solomon brings the ark of the covenant to the temple

2 CHRONICLES 6-7

Solomon’s speech and prayer; The dedication of the temple

2 CHRONICLES 8

Solomon’s additional achievements; His Egyptian wife

2 CHRONICLES 9

The Queen of Sheba praises Solomon; His great wealth; His death

2 CHRONICLES 10

Jeroboam leads a revolt against Rehoboam, Solomon’s son

2 CHRONICLES 11

Rehoboam sets up his administration and builds cities

2 CHRONICLES 12

Egypt attacks Judah; Rehoboam dies

2 CHRONICLES 13

Abijah’s reign in Judah; Abijah defeats Jeroboam

2 CHRONICLES 14-15

Asa’s good reign and reforms in Judah

2 CHRONICLES 16

Asa relies on Syria rather than God for protection; Asa dies

2 CHRONICLES 17

Jehoshaphat’s good reign in Judah

2 CHRONICLES 18

Micaiah’s true prophecy; Ahab, king of Israel, dies in battle

2 CHRONICLES 19-20

Jehoshaphat’s reforms and military victories

2 CHRONICLES 21

Jehoram’s evil reign in Judah; God strikes Jehoram; He dies

2 CHRONICLES 22

Ahaziah’s and Athaliah’s evil reigns in Judah

2 CHRONICLES 23-24

Athaliah’s death; Joash’s good and bad reign; Joash dies

2 CHRONICLES 25

Amaziah’s good and bad reign; Amaziah’s wars; He dies

2 CHRONICLES 26

Uzziah’s good and bad reign in Judah; Uzziah dies

2 CHRONICLES 27

Jotham’s good reign in Judah; Jotham dies

2 CHRONICLES 28

Ahaz’s evil reign in Judah; Syria and Israel defeat Judah; Ahaz dies

2 Chronicles 29-31

Hezekiah’s good reign and reforms in Judah

2 CHRONICLES 32

God defeats Sennacherib of Assyria; Hezekiah dies

2 CHRONICLES 33

Manasseh’s bad and good reign; Amon’s evil reign in Judah

2 CHRONICLES 34-35

Josiah’s good reign and reforms; Josiah dies in battle

2 CHRONICLES 36

The reigns and captivities of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin; The rebellion of Judah’s king Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem; Babylonian captivity; Cyrus’ decree concerning the rebuilding of the temple

 KEY VERSES

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 34:21 KJV 1900

21 Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.

2 Chronicles 36:20 KJV 1900

20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

LESSONS

The way of transgressors is hard (2 Chronicles 36:15-21; cf. Proverbs 13:15).

The plea to restore true religion—the “Restoration Plea”—is valid (2 Chronicles 34:8-35:19; cf. Romans 6:17).

Any sinner may repent and please the Lord (2 Chronicles 33:12-13; Acts 22:1-15).