2 Chronicles

History · Old Testament · Traditionally Ezra · Late 5th to mid-4th century BCE

Second Chronicles continues the narrative of 1 Chronicles, beginning with the reign of King Solomon and the construction of the Jerusalem temple. It details the history of the southern Kingdom of Judah, evaluating each monarch based on their loyalty to God and the temple. The book concludes with the Babylonian exile and the decree of Cyrus the Great allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem.

36 chapters

• 12 Chronicles 1Solomon asks God for wisdom at Gibeon, receives both wisdom and wealth, and amasses chariots and horses.
• 22 Chronicles 2Solomon prepares to build the temple by requesting materials and skilled labor from King Huram of Tyre and conscripting workers.
• 32 Chronicles 3Solomon begins constructing the temple on Mount Moriah, detailing its gold-plated interior, the most holy place, cherubim, and two pillars.
• 42 Chronicles 4Huram-abi and Solomon craft the temple's furnishings, including the bronze altar, molten sea, golden lampstands, tables, and sacred vessels.
• 52 Chronicles 5Priests bring the Ark of the Covenant into the completed temple, and God's glory fills the house as a cloud.
• 62 Chronicles 6Solomon addresses the assembly of Israel and offers a lengthy prayer dedicating the newly built temple to God.
• 72 Chronicles 7God's glory fills the temple, the people celebrate, and God promises Solomon to bless obedience or judge rebellion.
• 82 Chronicles 8Solomon undertakes various building projects, organizes the nation's labor and worship, and establishes maritime trade networks.
• 92 Chronicles 9The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon, who displays unparalleled wisdom and wealth before his death and succession.
• 102 Chronicles 10Rehoboam rejects wise counsel and imposes harsher demands, causing the northern tribes to rebel against the Davidic dynasty.
• 112 Chronicles 11Rehoboam fortifies Judah, welcomes faithful Levites fleeing Jeroboam's calf worship, and establishes his royal family and succession.
• 122 Chronicles 12After Rehoboam abandons God's law, Shishak of Egypt invades Jerusalem, plundering the temple after the king and princes humble themselves.
• 132 Chronicles 13King Abijah of Judah defeats Jeroboam's massive Israelite army after declaring Judah's loyalty to the Davidic covenant and Levitical worship.
• 142 Chronicles 14King Asa institutes religious reforms, fortifies Judah, and defeats a massive invading Ethiopian army after praying to God for help.
• 152 Chronicles 15Spurred by Azariah's prophecy, Asa leads Judah in covenant renewal, destroys idols, and deposes his grandmother for making an Asherah image.
• 162 Chronicles 16King Asa allies with Syria, receives prophetic rebuke, imprisons the prophet Hanani, suffers a severe foot disease, and dies.
• 172 Chronicles 17Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa, fortifies Judah, sends teachers to instruct the people in God's law, and grows highly prosperous and powerful.
• 182 Chronicles 18Jehoshaphat allies with King Ahab of Israel, who ignores the prophet Micaiah's warning and dies in battle at Ramoth-gilead.
• 192 Chronicles 19A prophet rebukes Jehoshaphat, who then initiates judicial and religious reforms throughout Judah, appointing judges to rule righteously.
• 202 Chronicles 20Jehoshaphat leads Judah in prayer, God miraculously defeats invading allied armies, and Judah's subsequent trading fleet is destroyed.
• 212 Chronicles 21King Jehoram reigns wickedly in Judah, kills his brothers, suffers foreign invasions, and dies of a severe bowel disease as prophesied.
• 222 Chronicles 22Ahaziah rules briefly before being killed by Jehu, allowing his mother Athaliah to usurp the throne and slaughter the royal family.
• 232 Chronicles 23High priest Jehoiada leads a successful revolt to crown young Joash, execute the usurper Athaliah, and restore worship of Yahweh.
• 242 Chronicles 24King Joash repairs the temple, but falls into idolatry after Jehoiada's death, kills a prophet, and is assassinated by his servants.
• 252 Chronicles 25Amaziah defeats Edom but adopts their idols, leading to a disastrous defeat by Israel and his eventual assassination by conspirators.
• 262 Chronicles 26King Uzziah reigns successfully in Judah but is struck with leprosy after proudly trying to offer incense in the temple.
• 272 Chronicles 27Jotham reigns righteously in Judah, rebuilding infrastructure, defeating the Ammonites, and growing powerful because of his obedience to God.
• 282 Chronicles 28Wicked King Ahaz promotes idolatry, suffers catastrophic military defeats, shuts down the temple, and desperately seeks help from Assyria.
• 292 Chronicles 29King Hezekiah reopens and cleanses the temple, reinstating the priests, Levites, and formal sacrificial worship in Jerusalem.
• 302 Chronicles 30Hezekiah invites all Israel and Judah to Jerusalem to celebrate a grand, joyful Passover feast, reuniting the people.
• 312 Chronicles 31King Hezekiah organizes the temple priesthood and coordinates the collection of generous tithes and offerings from the people of Judah.
• 322 Chronicles 32King Hezekiah fortifies Jerusalem against Assyrian invasion, and divine intervention defeats Sennacherib's army, showcasing God's deliverance of Judah.
• 332 Chronicles 33King Manasseh promotes idolatry, is captured by Assyria, repents, and initiates reforms, followed by his wicked successor Amon's assassination.
• 342 Chronicles 34Young King Josiah purges idolatry, repairs the temple, discovers the Book of the Law, and renews Judah's covenant with God.
• 352 Chronicles 35King Josiah celebrates a magnificent Passover in Jerusalem before he is mortally wounded in battle against Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo.
• 362 Chronicles 36After Judah's last kings rebel, Babylon destroys Jerusalem and exiles the people, until Cyrus of Persia decrees their return.