Overview of 2 Chronicles 1:1–9:31
David’s plans for the temple have been put in place; Solomon now brings them to fulfillment. The close pairing of David and Solomon seen in 1 Chronicles (e.g., 22:2–19; 28:5–21; 29:22b–25) continues in the account of Solomon’s reign. The linkage is affirmed from the start (“the son of David” is added in 2 Chron. 1:1; cf. 1 Kings 2:46).1 In particular, the temple and its ongoing worship is a joint project of David and Solomon (2 Chron. 2:3, 7, 14; 3:1; 6:7–10, 42; 7:6, 10; 8:14).2
The temple dominates and is central to the account of Solomon’s reign (2:1–7:22), divided into two sections: physical aspects and then ceremony. First come preparing (ch. 2), building (ch. 3), and furnishing (ch. 4), with a concluding summary that all is ready (5:1). Ceremonial aspects commence with the bringing of the ark and the “glory of the Lord” filling the temple (5:2–14), followed by Solomon’s blessing and prayer and fire from heaven (6:1–7:3), culminating in the dedication, with offerings and a weeklong feast (7:4–10). A concluding summary (7:11) is followed by the Lord’s response as he appears to Solomon (7:12–22).
The temple account (chs. 2–7) is framed by matching topics (cf. table 3.6).
TABLE 3.6: Topics Framing 2 Chronicles 2–7
| 1:1 | Solomon to be “exceedingly great” | 8:1–11 | Expanded territory and building |
| 1:2–6 | Burnt offerings at the altar at Gibeon | 8:12–16 | Offerings at the altar in the temple |
| 1:7–13 | God appears to Solomon, with promises of wisdom and wealth | 8:17–9:24 | Solomon’s wisdom acclaimed among the nations, bringing wealth |
| 1:14–17 | Brief summary of wealth (including chariots and horses) | 9:25–28 | Repetition of details of wealth, horses and chariots, and extended territory |
Another structural feature is the parallel between 1:2–13 (at Gibeon) and 5:2–7:22 (at the temple in Jerusalem). In both Solomon gathers together national leaders for worship, followed by God’s appearing at night to Solomon. This serves to show king and people together in the transition from Gibeon to Jerusalem, with God’s blessing.3 The structure matches David’s involving the people in bringing up the ark from Kiriath-jearim and installing it in Jerusalem (1 Chron. 13:1–8; 15:1–16:43), followed by God’s word to David through Nathan (1 Chron. 17:1–15). The process of bringing ark and altar together at Jerusalem in the temple is an action of all the people, endorsed by God with both “fire from heaven” (1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1) and his words to David and Solomon that look to the future.
At times the Chronicler’s account of Solomon’s reign follows closely the text of 1 Kings 3–10, although even in matched passages omissions and additions point to the Chronicler’s focus on the temple and its worship, including music.4 Larger omissions include both positive and negative aspects of Solomon’s reign (e.g., his ruthless removal of potential opponents, 1 Kings 2; his exercise of wisdom in ruling, 1 Kings 3:16–4:34; details of palace building, placed in the center of the temple block, 1 Kings 7:1–12; and his marriage to foreign women and the rise of adversaries, 1 Kings 11), and some features are muted (e.g., Pharaoh’s daughter is mentioned only in 2 Chron. 8:11; contrast 1 Kings 3:1; 7:8; 9:24; 11:1). An example of significant addition is in God’s warning after the temple dedication: in addition to exile and destruction of the temple, other disasters and the way to restoration are included as well (2 Chron. 7:13–15). See table 3.7.
TABLE 3.7: Comparison of 2 Chronicles 1–9 and 1 Kings
| 2 Chronicles | 1 Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon’s prayer for wisdom | 1:1–13 | 2:46b–3:15 |
| Solomon’s wealth | 1:14–17 | 10:26–29 |
| Temple preparations | 2:1–18 | 5:1–8; 7:13–14; 5:9–18 |
| Temple construction and furnishings | 3:1–5:1 | 6:1–3, 20b–32; 7:15–26, 38–51 |
| Dedication of the temple | 5:2–7:10[5:11b–13a; 6:13, 40–42; 7:1–3][—] | 8:1–66[—][8:50b–61] |
| The Lord’s appearance to Solomon | 7:11–22[7:13–15] | 9:1–9[—] |
| Solomon’s accomplishments | 8:1–18[8:11b, 13–16][—] | 9:10–28[—][9:13–17a] |
| Visit of the queen of Sheba | 9:1–12 | 10:1–13 |
| Solomon’s wealth | 9:13–28 | 10:14–26; 4:21; 10:27–28 |
| Solomon’s death | 9:29–31 | 11:41–43 |
Note: Brackets indicate major additions and omissions.
Throughout, the Chronicler’s main interest is not on the temple edifice itself (he shortens those details from Kings) but on God and his worship. The first words of Solomon about the temple speak of God’s greatness and the temple as a place for offerings (2:4–6), which continue thereafter as commanded by Moses and organized by David (8:12–15).5
The Chronicler is aware of the excesses of Solomon’s reign (he retains the subsequent complaint made to Rehoboam; 10:4; cf. 1 Kings 12:4), but he writes for a different audience than that of Kings. Whereas the writer of Kings shows how behavior that led to the exile was evident even in Solomon’s reign, the Chronicler draws attention to the Lord’s blessing and the centrality of temple worship in light of God’s promise to those who turn to him. The Chronicler has more to say on the temple as continuing the worship established at the time of Moses (thus predating kingship). At a time of Persian rule, his account of David and Solomon’s reign provides a positive description of the past that not only encourages contemporary temple worship but also foreshadows in hope a messianic king.6
1 “Son of David” is used in 2 Chronicles only five times, four of Solomon (1:1; 13:6; 30:26; 35:3); the other is in the line of Rehoboam’s wife (11:18). It does not occur in Kings.
2 Roddy L. Braun highlights the Chronicler’s portrayals of David and Solomon as equals before both the Lord and Israel, emphasizing Solomon’s involvement with the temple (“Solomonic Apologetic in Chronicles,” JBL 92/4 [1973]: 503–516). See also Boda, 1–2 Chronicles, 224–231.
3 Allen, “First and Second Books,” 470.
4 Some differences between Chronicles and Kings match the LXX of Kings (3–4 Kingdoms), suggesting that occasionally the Chronicler uses a different Kings text than the current MT (cf. notes 232, 238, 250, and 256).
5 Jacob M. Myers, II Chronicles, AB (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1965), 16; Steven S. Tuell, First and Second Chronicles, IBC (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 2001; repr., Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2012), 122. Citations refer to 2012 paperback edition.
6 Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 197.