The Second Book of Chronicles
Author	Unknown (possibly Ezra).
Date Written	Between 450 and 400 BC (compiled from earlier sources).
Time Span	430-440 years (period of time from Solomon's reign through the Babylonian captivity).
Title	The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are so named because they "chronicle" the entire history of God's people from Genesis through Kings. The title used in the Hebrew Bible means "the accounts of the days."
Background	The last book of the Hebrew Bible has been broken down into 1 and 2 Chronicles in modern translations. The Chronicles are different in perspective from the books of Samuel and Kings, even though they cover much of the same material, because instead of prophetic, moral, and political views, they are presented from a priest's point of view, evaluating the nation's religious history. 2 Chronicles is a sequel to the book of 1 Chronicles.
Where Written	Unknown (possibly Jerusalem).
To Whom	To the remnant of Judah returning from Babylon.
Content	2 Chronicles records the history of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, from the reign of Solomon to the conclusion of the Babylonian exile. The decline of Judah is disappointing, but emphasis is given to the spiritual reformers who zealously seek to turn the people back to God. Little is said about the bad kings or of the failures of good kings; only goodness is stressed. Since Chronicles takes a priestly perspective, the Northern Kingdom of Israel is rarely mentioned because of her false worship and refusal to acknowledge the Temple in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles concludes with the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Themes	Obedience is victory...disobedience is defeat. God desires to forgive and heal those who will humbly pray and repent. A nation's leaders are a reflection of a nation's people. No worthy project can be completed right without the help of Almighty God. God hates sin and will not tolerate it. Our personal efforts are worthless if done outside the will of God.
Key Words	"Temple"; "Revival." The "Temple" of God is repeatedly emphasized: its construction; consecration; service; worship; destruction; and, finally, Cyrus' edict to rebuild it. Great "revivals" take place under the direction of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah.
Outline	1:1-1:17  The reign of Solomon. 2:1-7:22  Solomon's building of the Temple 8:1-9:31  Latter years of Solomon's reign. 10:1-36:14  The reigns of the kings of Judah. 36:15-36:23  The fall of Jerusalem.
More	Audio of the Book of 2nd Chronicles

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