2 Chronicles 1-3

Key Themes (2 Chronicles)

The book of 2 Chronicles continues the historical narrative from where 1 Chronicles leaves off, focusing on the reign of Solomon, the kings of Judah, and the eventual fall of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon. Like 1 Chronicles, this book emphasizes the religious and spiritual aspects of Israel’s history, with a particular focus on the temple and worship. The key themes include:

1. The Reign of Solomon and the Temple: A central theme in 2 Chronicles is the reign of Solomon, particularly his role in building and dedicating the temple in Jerusalem. The temple is portrayed as the physical and spiritual center of Israel, where God’s presence dwells and where the people gather for worship. This theme emphasizes the importance of the temple as the focal point of Israel’s religious life and the fulfillment of David’s plans.
2. The Centrality of Worship and the Temple: Throughout 2 Chronicles, the temple and proper worship remain central. The book highlights the importance of maintaining the temple, following the prescribed rituals, and ensuring that worship is conducted according to God’s instructions. This theme reflects the Chronicler’s concern for the purity and centrality of worship in maintaining a proper relationship with God.
3. The Role of the Kings in Spiritual Leadership: 2 Chronicles places significant emphasis on the role of the kings of Judah in leading the nation spiritually. The book portrays the kings as responsible for the spiritual well-being of the nation, with their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God directly impacting the nation’s fortunes. This theme highlights the importance of godly leadership in guiding the people toward obedience and worship.
4. Covenant Faithfulness and Divine Retribution: The book repeatedly emphasizes the connection between the faithfulness of the kings and the people to the covenant and the blessings or consequences that follow. Kings who lead the nation in covenant faithfulness, like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, bring about periods of peace, prosperity, and religious reform. In contrast, unfaithful kings lead the nation into idolatry and apostasy, resulting in divine judgment and disaster. This theme underscores the principle of divine retribution, where obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings punishment.
5. Religious Reforms and Revival: 2 Chronicles highlights the religious reforms undertaken by several kings of Judah who sought to restore proper worship and eliminate idolatry. These reforms, particularly those of Hezekiah and Josiah, are portrayed as crucial for renewing the covenant relationship between God and His people. This theme emphasizes the need for continual reform and revival to maintain faithfulness to God.
6. The Prophetic Voice: The role of prophets in 2 Chronicles is significant, as they serve as God’s messengers, calling the kings and the people to repentance and warning them of the consequences of their actions. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others provide guidance, encouragement, and rebuke, demonstrating the importance of the prophetic voice in maintaining covenant faithfulness. This theme highlights the necessity of heeding God’s word delivered through His prophets.
7. The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile: The book culminates with the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah to Babylon, a consequence of persistent covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry. Despite repeated warnings from the prophets and opportunities for repentance, the people’s continued disobedience leads to the destruction of the temple and the loss of the Promised Land. This theme emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of turning away from God.
8. Hope and Restoration: Despite the tragic end of the book with the exile, 2 Chronicles concludes on a note of hope with the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, allowing the exiles to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This theme reflects the enduring hope of restoration and God’s faithfulness to His promises, even after judgment.

2 Chronicles is a theological and historical narrative that emphasizes the centrality of worship, the importance of godly leadership, and the consequences of covenant faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Through its detailed accounts of the kings of Judah, their religious reforms, and the eventual fall of Jerusalem, the book highlights the ongoing need for repentance, reform, and reliance on God. It ultimately points to the hope of restoration and the enduring covenant relationship between God and His people.

What I Noticed Today (2 Chronicles 1-3)

2 Chronicles 1-9

The reign of Solomon.

2 Chronicles 1

Solomon asks God for wisdom.

In verses 1-13, the first thing we see in 2 Chronicles 1: 1 is that the Lord was with Solomon, and it was the Lord who made Solomon exceedingly great.

• As Solomon established his reign, he journeyed to Gibeon where the tent of meeting had been left when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
• The bronze altar that Bezalel made for Moses (Exodus 38:1-3) was there, and Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.
• That night God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he desired and Solomon, only about 20 years old, wisely asked for wisdom in governing the Lord’s people.
• God was so impressed with Solomon’s answer that he granted him wisdom, and promised him riches and honor beyond all kings as well.

In verses 14-17, Solomon may not have been known as a man of war like his father David, but Solomon amassed a huge army of chariots and horsemen which he stationed strategically around Israel.

2 Chronicles 2

In 2 Chronicles 2, Solomon began the process of securing additional materials and specialized workmen from Hiram, king of Tyre to build the temple.

In verses 1-10, Solomon decided to build the temple for the Lord and his own royal palace.

• He assigned 70,000 men as porters, 80,000 men as stonecutters, and 3,600 men as supervisors.

• 
  Solomon sent a letter to Hiram, king of Tyre asking him to send craftsmen skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, iron, and yarn. He also asked Hiram to supply timber (cypress and algum wood).
• In return, Solomon promised to send Hiram 100,000 bushels of barley, 110,000 gallons of wine, and 110,000 gallons of oil.

In verses 11-16, Hiram responds to Solomon’s request:

• Hiram wrote a letter back to Solomon agreeing to supply the workers and timber.
• In his letter, Hiram referred to the Lord God of Israel who loves His people and set Solomon over them as having created the heavens and earth.

In verses 17-18 Solomon completed a census of the men assigned to work on the Lord’s temple and his royal palace.

• A total of 153,600 resident aliens (non-Israelites) living in Israel were assigned to build the temple under the supervision of Israelites.

2 Chronicles 3

Solomon begins to build the Lord’s temple.

In verses 1-14, it took time to assemble all the people and materials to begin construction of the temple. In the second month of Solomon’s fourth year, the construction of the temple began. The temple was constructed according to the plans given to him by his father, David.

• The foundation was set in place first. The portico was built across the front entrance to the temple.
• The larger room was paneled with cypress and overlaid with gold.
• The Holy of Holies was built next. The entire room, including the ceiling, was overlaid with 45,000 pounds of gold. Even the nails were made of gold.

• Two cherubim were made and overlaid with gold. Each of the cherubim had a wingspan of 15 feet. They stood on their feet facing the larger room.
• The veil between the Holy of Holies and the larger room of the temple was made of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen with cherubim woven into it.

In verses 15-17, two pillars were placed on either side in front of the temple.

• These pillars were 35 cubits tall (approximately 52.5 feet), and on top of the pillars were capitals five cubits tall (7.5 feet).

• He named one pillar 'Jachin,' which means 'He will establish,' and the other 'Boaz,' which means 'Strength is in Him.'

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• Solomon’s heart was devoted to God as he began his reign. He saw his role as a servant to God, charged with the responsibility of leading and caring for God’s people. His request to God for wisdom in governing makes this very clear.
• It seems, though, that Solomon’s wisdom did not extend to all aspects of his reign. He began amassing great numbers of chariots and horses from the Egyptians, a decision that was in direct violation of God’s command. This raises a concern-was Solomon relying on his wisdom alone to protect the people, rather than on trusting in God? This is a question that invites us to reflect on the implications of our own actions.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or comment.

Tomorrow: 2 Chronicles 4-6