Revised by Nicholas Schaser (10/24)
SUMMARY
Second Chronicles continues the story begun in 1 Chronicles. Chapters 1-9 complete the Chronicler’s presentation of the reigns of DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. More and SolomonThird king of Israel who was known for wisdom and building the first Temple. More as a united monarchy in which the construction of the TempleThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged… More is the sole focus. Chapters 10-28 retell the story of the divided monarchy following the rebellion of the northern tribes. The focus here is upon the Southern KingdomThe Southern Kingdom consisted of two tribes of Israel, Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem was its capital, and the kingdom lasted from 931-586 B.C.E. As with the Northern Kingdom many of the kings were wicked, and prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel spoke their often judgmental… More of JudahJudah was the name of Jacob’s fourth son and one of the 12 tribes. More, so that the Northern KingdomThe Northern Kingdom consisted of ten of the twelve tribes of Israel and lasted for 200 years until it was destroyed by Assyria in 721 B.C.E. In the northern kingdom the kings were evil. Prophets like Elijah and Amos railed against them and their evildoing. More is mentioned only when it intersects with the south. These southern kings are evaluated in terms of their adherence to the ideal of David and Solomon. Chapters 29-36 relate the story of the monarchy reunited by HezekiahJudean king noted for his reforms in time of Isaiah. More following the destruction of the Northern Kingdom in the Assyrian invasion of 722 BCE. His religious reforms, as well as those of JosiahJudean king noted for his reforms of Israel’s worship in the time of Jeremiah. More, are recounted at great length. Second Chronicles closes with the collapse of Judah, the deportation of the people to Babylon, and the proclamation of CyrusPersian leader who allowed Jewish exiles to return home. More the Persian encouraging them to return to their homeland.
SO WHAT?
The Chronicler uses this history of the kings of Judah to recall Israel’s movement from being in the land, to exile, and then to restoration. Exile results from unfaithfulness, serving other gods, or failing to seek the Lord. But, from the Chronicler’s postexilic perspective, even if literal exile is not the current reality, there can be a loss of blessingBlessing is the asking for or the giving of God’s favor. Isaac was tricked into blessing Jacob instead of his firstborn Esau. At the Last Supper Jesus offered a blessing over bread and wine. To be blessed is to be favored by God. More or divine favor. Such situations can be restored through repentance and claiming God’s promise to Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:14). We, too, need to hear that a patient and merciful God awaits our response and listens to our prayers.
WHERE DO I FIND IT?
Second Chronicles is the 14th book in the Old Testament. It follows 1 Chronicles and comes before EzraScribe who helped establish Jewish practices in Jerusalem after the exile. More.
WHO WROTE IT?
One Jewish tradition identifies Ezra as the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and NehemiahThe governor of Jerusalem who rebuilt the city walls after the exile. More. Another says that Ezra wrote the majority of 1 and 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah finished it. Today, many scholars believe that 1 and 2 Chronicles come from a different hand than Ezra and Nehemiah and that various older traditions, including the books of SamuelThe judge who anointed the first two kings of Israel. More and Kings, have been compiled and redacted by a postexilic editor (or group of editors) that scholars call “the Chronicler”—a singular identifier that encompasses any of the authorial or editorial hands involved in the creationCreation, in biblical terms, is the universe as we know or perceive it. Genesis says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the book of Revelation (which speaks of end times) the author declares that God created all things and… More of 1 and 2 Chronicles. Based on the text’s preoccupation with the genealogical details of the priests/Levites and attention to Temple praxis, it is possible that the Chronicler was a priestA priest is a person who has the authority to perform religious rites. In New Testament times priests were responsible for daily offerings and sacrifices in the temple. More. At the very least, the author(s) exhibits a favorable view of the priests and priestly concerns.
WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?
Chronicles is notoriously difficult to date, though it is clearly later than Israel’s return from exile in Babylon. Since the list in 1 Chronicles 3:19-24 extends David’s genealogyGenealogy involves the study and tracing of families through the generations – in short, family history. One genealogy in Genesis traces the nations descended from Noah. In the New Testament Matthew traces the ancestry of Jesus back to Abraham, while Jesus’ genealogy in Luke goes… More to the sixth generation after ZerubbabelThe governor of Judah who helped rebuild the Temple after the exile. More, who is dated to 520 BCE (HaggaiProphet who urged rebuilding the Temple after the exile. More 1:1), this sixth generation would be sometime after 400 BCE. Thus, many scholars date Chronicles to the first half of the fourth century (ca. 350 BCE).
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Second Chronicles begins with the story of Solomon told from a religious perspective that omits his personal shortcomings and emphasizes his construction of the Temple. The rest of the book recounts the history of Judah to the Babylonian exile through an evaluation of Judah’s kings according to their attitude toward worship as established in the reigns of David and Solomon. The northern kings of Israel are omitted from this discussion since they do not worship at the Jerusalem Temple.
HOW DO I READ IT?
Second Chronicles looks like the history of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, already related in 1 and 2 Kings. While important historical information is presented, some of it is at odds with the earlier presentation. Second Chronicles should be read as a theological, rather than a historical, rewriting of the earlier history, designed to demonstrate the continuity of David and Solomon’s united monarchy with the struggling postexilic community to which the book was addressed.
