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Books of the Bible |
Originally written as a part of first Chronicles, so the same comments apply. The books seem to have been compiled from a variety of sources, so the actual writing was probably done by a number of different individuals. Jewish tradition names Ezra the scribe as the editor who compiled the books.
Chronicles was probably written between 450 and 425 B.C. Second Chronicles covers from the reign of Solomon to the Babylonian exile, to the conquest of Babylon by the Persians, a time period from 970 B.C. to about 539 B.C.
Again, the purpose of Second Chronicles is similar to that of First Chronicles, mainly to be an encouragement to the people who have returned to Jerusalem after the exile who are in the process of rebuilding the city and the temple.
The reign of Solomon (1-9)
Solomon becomes king (1)
Solomon builds the temple (2-7)
Solomon's rule over Israel (8-9)
The kingdom is divided (10-11)
20 kings of Judah (12-36:14)
Judah taken into exile(36:15-23)
The time frame is similar to that of II Kings, so the historical background is the same. Assyria, Babylon and Egypt are vying for supremacy in the region and Israel, falling into apostasy and under divine judgement for it, is crushed in the middle.
Solomon requests wisdom, Solomon builds the temple, the Ark is brought into the temple, death of Solomon, Rehoboam becomes king and Jeroboam revolts, the kingdom is divided, Judah comes under the influence of the Egyptians, Uzziah is punished for burning incense to the Lord, Hezekiah restores worship of God and cleans the temple, Josiah becomes king and restores true worship, the Book of the Law is found, Judah is conquered by Babylon, Jerusalem falls, the people taken into exile, the decree of King Cyrus to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Solomon, Queen of Sheba, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Josiah, Joash, Jehoiada, Athaliah, Uzziah, Hilkiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus king of Persia
Perhaps the greatest theological contribution of II Chronicles is the repeated example that falling away from God leads to disaster, but that God is ever ready to forgive us when we humble ourselves before Him and seek his will again.