2 Chronicles - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

The book of 2 Chronicles continues from where 1 Chronicles left off; it deals with the reign of Solomon and the subsequent kings of Judah up until the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The writer demonstrates that the line of kings of the house of DAVID was unbroken, and he evaluates each king according to how closely he followed in David’s footsteps.

The highlight of the book comes in the first nine chapters, which describe Solomon’s building of the temple and his gaining wide renown. But though the book has a wonderful beginning, it also has a terrible ending, as we read of Judah’s steady decline in spite of the efforts of several godly kings to reform it.

As in 1 Chronicles, the writer continues to emphasize the religious and ceremonial aspects of each king’s reign. In particular, the writer wants to help the newly returned exiles reestablish the temple worship and service as it existed during the time of David and Solomon and the other godly kings who followed.

For further information about the authorship and historical background of 2 Chronicles, see 1 Chronicles: Introduction.