Introduction. 2 Chronicles

Transcription

1 1 Introduction to 2 Chronicles

2 2

3 3

4 4 Introduction to 2 Chronicles I. The New International Version of the Bible provides the following Introductory information regarding the book of 2 Chronicles: A. Second Chronicles continues the history of David s royal line. 1. The reign of Solomon (1:1-9:31). 2. Chapters 1-9 describe the building of the temple during Solomon s reign. B. Chapters follows the history of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to the final destruction of Jerusalem and the people s being taken captive to Babylon. 1. The kings of Judah (10:1-36:14). 2. The destruction of Jerusalem (36:15-23). C. This book, like 1 Chronicles, shows that the people s relationship to God was most important. 1. When the author wrote about the kings, he measured them on the basis of their faithfulness to God. a. Nothing else seems to have mattered. 2. The reigns of evil kings are reported by the author quickly, while the reigns of good kings are described in more detail.

5 5 II. Raymond B. Dillard in the Word Biblical Commentary provides the following information:... A. It is to be regretted that the First and Second Chronicles remain neglected book in the church. B. The Chronicles use hyperbole on occasion; and events are not always narrated in strict chronological sequence. III. Ronald F. Youngblood in the New Illustrated Bible Dictionary provided the following information:... A. Much of the material in 1 and 2 Chronicles is also found in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. 1. Other public records were also referenced. 2. The Holy Spirit inspired the author. B. The Chronicler evidently wrote his history to encourage the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. 1. The Chronicler s writings reminded those returning from Babylon of Israel s glory days and gave them hope for the future. 2. Originally 1 and 2 Chronicles were one book. 3. Little is said in 2 Chronicles about the Northern Kingdom as the author was mainly concerned with tracing the lineage of David and encouraging those returning to Jerusalem to restore the Temple and divine worship and conduct as prescribed by Moses at Sinai/Horeb.

6 6 a. The Northern Kingdom had in 722 B.C. been taken into Assyrian Captivity and never again were an independent nation. 4. While the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles is unknown, Ezra the priest and scribe may be their author. a. The last two verses of 2 Chronicles are repeated in the first three verses of Ezra. i. 2 Chronicles 26:22-23, The rest of the events of Uzziah s reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET) ii. Ezra 1:1-3, In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the Lord s message spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord stirred the mind of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict the following: Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Anyone from his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the Lord God of Israel he is the God who is in Jerusalem. (NET)

7 7 b. 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah may have originally been a single document. 5. Geoffrey W. Bromiley in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume One, places the writing of 1 and 2 Chronicles at circa 405 B.C. in view of the generational chronology found in 1 Chronicles 3:10-24, a. 1 Chronicles 3:10-24, Solomon s son was Rehoboam, followed by Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amon his son, Josiah his son. The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn; Jehoiakim was born second; Zedekiah third; and Shallum fourth. The sons of Jehoiakim: his son Jehoiachin and his son Zedekiah. The sons of Jehoiachin the exile: Shealtiel his son, Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed. The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah. The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat six in all. The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam three in all. The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani seven in all. (NET)

8 8 6. The Hebrew title of the Chronicles literally is the events of the days, used in the sense of a chronicle of events. Luther took from Jerome the title Chronicles, and henceforth this has always been used in Protestant Bibles, Bromiley wrote. C. Outline of 2 Chronicles (Youngblood): 1. Succession of Solomon to throne... 1: Completion of Temple...2:1-7: Glory of Solomon s Reign... 8:1-9: Solomon s Death... 9: Rehoboam s Reign... 10:1-12: Abijah s Reign... 13: Asa s Reign... 14:1-16: Jehoshaphat s Reign... 17:1-20: Jehoram s Reign... 21: Ahaziah s Reign... 22: Athaliah s Reign... 22:10-23: Joash s Reign... 23:16-24: Amaziah s Reign... 25: Uzziah s Reign... 26:1-23.

9 9 15. Jotham s Reign... 27: Ahaz s Reign... 28: Hezekiah s Reign 29:1-32: Manasseh s Reign... 33: Amon s Reign... 33: Josiah s Reign... 34:1-35: Jehoahaz s Reign... 36: Jehoiakim s Reign... 36: Jehoiachin s Reign... 36: Zedekiah s Reign... 36: Cyrus Proclamation to return to Jerusalem... 36: D. 1 and 2 Chronicles were written to give hope and comfort to those who were returning to Jerusalem from their 70 year Babylonian Captivity. (Youngblood) 1. Keeping their faith and traditions alive required continual struggle. (Youngblood)

10 10 2. Strong determination would be required and Chronicles was written to provide encouragement at this crucial historic time. 3. Because of this purpose for which 1 and 2 Chronicles were written, the apostate rulers of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were virtually ignored. (Youngblood)

11 11 Questions Introduction to 2 Chronicles 1. 2 Chronicles can be divided into two major sections: chapters - speak of and chapters - speak of 2. In evaluating kings, by what standard were they judged? 3. Why are the books of Chronicles so often neglected?... so seldom studied?

12 12 4. Where did the Chronicler get the material used in 1 and 2 Chronicles? 5. Why were 1 and 2 Chronicles written? What was the author s purpose? 6. Why is so little said in 2 Chronicles about Israel s Northern Kingdom? 7. Who is thought to have been the author of Chronicles? Give reasons for your answer. 8. When were 1 and 2 Chronicles written? Give reasons for your answer.

13 13 9. List in order the Kings of Judah as discussed in 2 Chronicles. 10. How did the Chronicler evaluate Judah s Kings? How do we evaluate our rulers? What is the best way to evaluate rulers? We would like very much to hear from you! We welcome questions and comments. Please write us by at: sewell6252@comcast.net We look forward to hearing from you!