At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Same as 1 Chronicles |
| Date | ~450-400 BC |
| Genre | Historical narrative |
| Purpose | Solomonic + Judean monarchy from theological perspective |
| Chapters | 36 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon's reign | 1-9 | Temple-focused account |
| Davidic line of Judah | 10-36 | Southern kings only (omits northern kingdom) + exile to Cyrus's edict |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Temple-centered worship | Heart of Israel's life |
| Faithful kings as positive examples | Hezekiah, Josiah featured prominently |
| Repentance + restoration | 2Ch.7.14, "if my people…" |
| Persistence of Davidic line | Through exile |
| Closing hope | Cyrus's edict permitting return (2Ch.36.22-23) |
Key passages
- 2Ch.6-7, temple dedication + 7:14 promise
- 2Ch.20, Jehoshaphat's victory through worship
- 2Ch.29-32, Hezekiah
- 2Ch.34-35, Josiah's reform
- 2Ch.36, exile + Cyrus's edict