2 Chronicles
Second Chronicles continues the history from Solomon to the exile and ends with Cyrus' edict allowing the return to Jerusalem.
AuthorThe Chronicler
DateWritten around the 4th century BC
AudienceThe Jerusalem community after the exile
🎯 Learning objective
Understand the message of 2 Chronicles, its historical setting and its place in the history of salvation.
🏛️ Historical context
It focuses only on the kingdom of Judah and the temple. Good kings are those who reform worship; bad kings are those who abandon it.
🔙 Background
It continues 1 Chronicles: Solomon inherits the kingdom and carries out David's project, the temple.
🧭 Structure of the book
Chapters 1-9: Solomon and the temple
Chapters 10-36: the kings of Judah until the exile and Cyrus' edict
⭐ Key events and teachings
- 1Dedication of the temple and God's glory filling it (ch. 5-7)
- 2"If my people humble themselves and pray... I will forgive their sin" (7:14)
- 3The reforms of Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah
- 4King Manasseh's conversion (ch. 33)
- 5Destruction of Jerusalem and Cyrus' edict (ch. 36)
🏷️ Main themes
📖 Verses to memorize
- 2 Chronicles 6:18Is it credible then that God should dwell with men on the earth? If heaven and the heavens of heavens do not contain thee, how much less this house, which I have built?
- 2 Chronicles 7:14And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15And he said: Attend ye, all Juda, and you that dwell in Jerusalem, and thou king Josaphat: Thus saith the Lord to you: Fear ye not, and be not dismayed at this multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God's.
- 2 Chronicles 36:23Thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.
💭 For reflection
- What does Manasseh's conversion tell me about God's mercy?
- What "reforms" does my life of faith need today?
It narrates the history of the kings of Judah from Solomon to the exile, judging each king by his faithfulness to God and the Temple. It ends with the edict of Cyrus that allows the return to Jerusalem.