Overview of 2 Chronicles 10:1–28:27

The reigns of David and Solomon brought about a magnificent temple, a prosperous Jerusalem through rich trade, peace that extended beyond the borders of the land of Israel, and international praise, all associated with God’s blessing as king and people worshiped God at the temple in accord with the commands through Moses and David. The next two hundred years would begin with division into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel and culminate in the northern kingdom’s destruction and, in the south, Judah’s experiencing the loss of all the success under Solomon; although there was still a son of David reigning in Jerusalem, “he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord” (2 Chron. 28:24).

The narrative is presented chronologically, the reign of each successive king of Judah providing the structure. While the Chronicler recognizes that division had been “brought about by God” (10:15), the continuity of God’s purposes for “all Israel” was through the “sons of David” (23:3) and worship centered in the temple. Absent in Chronicles are passages from 1 Kings 12–2 Kings 17 relating to the northern kingdom, unless the kings of Judah were involved. For example, from the account of the northern house of Omri and the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, which dominate 1 Kings 16:21–2 Kings 8:15, the Chronicler includes only the battle in which Jehoshaphat king of Judah participated (2 Chron. 18:1–34, from 1 Kings 22:1–4). Almost half of the material is unique to Chronicles.

The Chronicler continues by his examples to highlight the inclusion of “all Israel” and the grace of God who blesses his people as they “humble themselves,” while also showing his judgment as they “abandon/forsake” him (cf. Introduction: Theology of 1–2 Chronicles). The extensive unique material often describes positive actions by kings and people, whether faithfulness in worship of the Lord or “humbling” themselves and turning to God, and details the positive associations of prosperity, progeny, military success, and “rest” (e.g., 2 Chron. 11:5–23; 12:2–12; 14:1–15). Occasionally, instances in which “forsaking” God brings defeat or other disasters are added (16:7–10; 26:16–21). Other additions include situations in which people from the north move south and worship at the temple (11:13–17; 15:8–10). In a striking difference of emphasis from the lengthy explanation in Kings for the devastation of the north by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:7–23), Chronicles relates how in Samaria “men of Israel” responded to the words of Oded, a “prophet of the Lord,” and sought to avoid “guilt against the Lord” as they treated very favorably captives from Judah (2 Chron. 28:8–15), while it is Judah that is characterized by apostasy, defeat, and devastation under Ahaz (28:16–25).