Dawn from the terraced slope of the Mount of Olives: across the misty Kidron valley, Jerusalem lies on its ridge, and at the top stands the new temple, a long, plain stone house with two bronze pillars before its porch catching the first sun, a thin thread of smoke rising from its altar into a calm, clear sky.

The Book of

2 Chronicles Intro

A temple filled with glory, kings who sought God or forsook Him, and a door opened home.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min36 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

The Chronicler

Unnamed; perhaps a Levite, writing after the exile

The book names no author; Jewish tradition named Ezra.Jewish tradition
It names its sources, like the records of Nathan the prophet.2 Chronicles 9:29
It ends with the decree of Cyrus king of Persia, about 538 BC.2 Chronicles 36:22
So it was written after the exile, probably about 450–400 BC.Most scholars

How it’s built

Temple, kings, exile, home

Whiteboard

Nine chapters on Solomon and the temple, then twenty-seven on the kings of Judah, each measured by whether he sought the LORD and cared for His house. It ends with the temple burned and a way home opened.

Big themes

Four threads to follow

Where it happens

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Judah’s land

Solomon sought the LORD at Gibeon and built the temple in Jerusalem. The northern kingdom ruled from Samaria; Assyria besieged Lachish; Josiah fell at Megiddo. Hezekiah called all Israel to Jerusalem, from Beersheba to Dan.

Meet the cast

Five people to know

Watch for

if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13–14

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Question

Quick question

2 Chronicles ends with the temple in ashes, but not with the last word.

Whose decree closes 2 Chronicles?

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