OUTLINE OF SECOND CHRONICLES

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Part One: The Reign of Solomon (1:1-9:31)

I. The Inauguration of Solomon as King 1:1-17

A.  The Worship of Solomon     1:1-6

2Ch 1:6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

B.  The Petition for Wisdom     1:7-10

2Ch 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

2Ch 1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

2Ch 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

C.  The Provision of Wisdom     1:11, 12

2Ch 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

D.  The Wealth of Solomon     1:13-17

2Ch 1:15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

II. The Completion of the Temple........... 2:1-7:22

A.  Preparation to Build the Temple. . . 2:1-18

1.       Selection of the Temple Builders 2:1, 2

2Ch 2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

2.       Selection of the Temple Materials................ 2:3-18

2Ch 2:3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.

2Ch 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,

B.  Construction of the Temple     3:1-5:1

2Ch 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2Ch 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.

C.  Dedication of the Temple     5:2-7:22

1.   The Installation of the Ark    5:2-12

2Ch 5:2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

2.   The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple................ 5:13, 14

2Ch 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

2Ch 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

3.   The Sermon of Solomon    6:1-11

2Ch 6:3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.

4.   The Prayer of Solomon    6:12-42

2Ch 6:12 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

2Ch 6:14 And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

5.   The Fire of the Lord Consumes the Sacrifices............... 7:1-3

2Ch 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

6.    The Nation Offers Sacrifices    7:4-7

2Ch 7:4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.

7.    The Nation Celebrates the Feasts of Tabernacles............... 7:8-11

2Ch 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

8.    The Lord Confirms the Covenant............... 7:12-22

2Ch 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

III. The Glory of the Reign of Solomon. ....8:1-9:28

A.  Enlargement of Solomon's Territory   8:1-6

2Ch 8:3 And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.

B.  Subjugation of the Enemies of Solomon................... 8:7-10

2Ch 8:7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,

2Ch 8:8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.

C.  Religious Practices of Solomon . . . 8:11-16

2Ch 8:12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,

2Ch 8:13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

D.  Economic Operations of Solomon 8:17, 18

2Ch 8:18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.

E.  The Queen of Sheba Visits     9:1-12

2Ch 9:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

F.  Solomon's Wealth     9:13-28

2Ch 9:13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

2Ch 9:27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.

IV. The Death of Solomon. . ....... . . 9:29-31

2Ch 9:31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

 

Part Two: The Reigns of the Kings of Judah (10:1-36:23)

I. The Reign of Rehoboam............................... 10:1-12:16

A.   Division of the Kingdom     10:1-19

2Ch 10:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

2Ch 10:15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

2Ch 10:16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

2Ch 10:17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

2Ch 10:19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

B.   Kingdom of Judah Is Strengthened 11:1-23

2Ch 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

C.  Kingdom of Judah Is Weakened .. 12:1-12

2Ch 12:2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

2Ch 12:12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

D.  Death of Rehoboam     12:13-16

2Ch 12:16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

II. The Reign of Abijah............................. 13:1-22

A.   War of Abijah and Jeroboam     13:1-20

2Ch 13:19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

B.   Death of Abijah     13:21, 22

2Ch 13:21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

III. The Reign of Asa............................... 14:1-16:14

A.  Evaluation of Asa........................ 14:1-8

2Ch 14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

2Ch 14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

B.  Victory over the Ethiopians     14:9-15

2Ch 14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

2Ch 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

2Ch 14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

C.  Exhortation of Azariah     15:1-7

2Ch 15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:

2Ch 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

D.  Reforms of Asa     15:8-19

2Ch 15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

2Ch 15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

E.  Victory over the Syrians     16:1-6

2Ch 16:2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2Ch 16:3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

F.  Rebuke of Hanani     16:7-10

2Ch 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

G.  Death of Asa     16:11-14

2Ch 16:13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

IV. The Reign of Jehoshaphat............................ 17:1-20:37

A.  Evaluation of Jehoshaphat     17:1-6

2Ch 17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

2Ch 17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

B.  Instruction by the Priests and Levites................. 17:7-9

2Ch 17:7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

2Ch 17:9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

C.  Expansion of the Kingdom     17:10-19

2Ch 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.

2Ch 18:2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.

2Ch 18:34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

2Ch 19:1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

D.  Alliance with Ahab     18:1-19:4

2Ch 19:5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

E.  Organization of the Kingdom .... 19:5-11

F.  Victory over Moab and Ammon . . 20:1-30

2Ch 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2Ch 20:19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

2Ch 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

2Ch 20:30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.

G.  Summary of the Reign of Jehoshaphat................ 20:31-34

2Ch 20:32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.

H. The Sin and Death of Jehoshaphat................ 20:35-37

2Ch 20:35 And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:

2Ch 20:37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

V. The Reign of Jehoram........................... 21:1-20

A.   Evaluation of Jehoram     21:1-7

2Ch 21:1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

B.   Revolt by Edom and Libnah     21:8-11

2Ch 21:10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

C.  Warning of Elijah     21:12-15

2Ch 21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

2Ch 21:14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

D.  Invasion by Philistia and Arabia 21:16, 17

2Ch 21:16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:

2Ch 21:17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

E.  Death of Jehoram     21:18-20

2Ch 21:18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

VI. The Reign of Ahaziah............................ 22:1-9

2Ch 22:1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2Ch 22:2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

2Ch 22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

2Ch 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.

VII. The Reign of Athaliah............................. 22:10-23:15

2Ch 22:10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

2Ch 23:14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

2Ch 23:15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.

VIII. The Reign of Joash............................... 23:16-24:27

A.   Revival of Jehoiada     23:16-21

2Ch 23:16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.

B.   Evaluation of Joash     24:1-3

2Ch 24:1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2Ch 24:2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

C.  Repair of the Temple     24:4-14

2Ch 24:4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.

D.  Death of Jehoiada     24:15, 16

2Ch 24:15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

E.   Murder of Jehoiada's Son     24:17-22

2Ch 24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

2Ch 24:21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

F.   Destruction of Judah by Syria .. 24:23, 24

2Ch 24:23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.

2Ch 24:24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

G.   Death of Joash     24:25-27

2Ch 24:25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

IX. The Reign of Amaziah............................ 25:1-28

A.   Evaluation of Amaziah     25:1-4

2Ch 25:1 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2Ch 25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

B.   Victory over Edom     25:5-13

2Ch 25:11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

C.   Idolatry of Amaziah     25:14-16

2Ch 25:14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

D.   Defeat of Judah by Israel     25:17-24

2Ch 25:20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

2Ch 25:22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.

E.   Death of Amaziah     25:25-28

2Ch 25:25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

X. The Reign of Uzziah.......................... 26:1-23

A.   Evaluation of Uzziah     26:1-5

2Ch 26:1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

2Ch 26:2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

B.   Victories of Uzziah     26:6-15

2Ch 26:6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

C.  Sinful Offering of Uzziah     26:16-21

2Ch 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

D.  Death of Uzziah.................... 26:22, 23

2Ch 26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

XI. The Reign of Jotham.......................... 27:1-9

2Ch 27:1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

2Ch 27:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.

2Ch 27:9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

XII. The Reign of Ahaz........................... 28:1-27

A.  Evaluation of Ahaz     28:1-4

2Ch 28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:

B.  Defeat of Judah     28:5-21

2Ch 28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

C.  Idolatry of Ahaz     28:22-25

2Ch 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.

D.  Death of Ahaz     28:26, 27

2Ch 28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

XIII. The Reign of Hezekiah............................. 29:1-32:33

A.  Evaluation of Hezekiah     29:1, 2

2Ch 29:1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2Ch 29:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

B.   Reformation Under Hezekiah   29:3-31:21

1.       Purification of the Temple    29:3-19

2Ch 29:4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

2Ch 29:5 And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

2.       Restoration of Temple Worship.......... 29:20-36

2Ch 29:20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.

2Ch 29:21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.

3.       Celebration of the Passover    30:1-22

2Ch 30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

4.       Extra Feast Days    30:23-27

2Ch 30:23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.

5.       Destruction of the Idols    31:1

2Ch 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.

6.       Contribution for the Priests and Levites.......... 31:2-10

2Ch 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

7.       Reorganization of the Priests and Levites.......... 31:11-21

2Ch 31:11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

2Ch 31:12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

C.  Invasion by Assyria     32:1-22

2Ch 32:1 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

2Ch 32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

2Ch 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

2Ch 32:21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

D.  Restoration of Hezekiah     32:23-26

2Ch 32:25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

2Ch 32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

E.  Wealth of Hezekiah     32:27-30

2Ch 32:27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;

F.  Sin of Hezekiah     32:31

2Ch 32:31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

G.  Death of Hezekiah     32:32, 33

2Ch 32:33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

XIV. The Reign of Manasseh............................ 33:1-20

2Ch 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2Ch 33:2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

2Ch 33:20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

XV. The Reign of Amon........................... 33:21-25

2Ch 33:21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

2Ch 33:22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;

2Ch 33:24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

2Ch 33:25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

XVI. The Reign of Josiah............................ 34:1-35:27

A.  Evaluation of Josiah     34:1, 2

2Ch 34:1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

2Ch 34:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

B.  Early Reforms of Josiah     34:3-7

2Ch 34:3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

C.  Repair of the Temple     34:8-13

2Ch 34:8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

D.  Discovery of the Law     34:14-33

2Ch 34:14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.

2Ch 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

E.  Celebration of the Passover     35:1-19

2Ch 35:1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2Ch 35:18 And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

F.  Death of Josiah     35:20-27

2Ch 35:20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.

2Ch 35:23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.

2Ch 35:24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

XVII.  The Reign of Jehoahaz         36:1-3

2Ch 36:1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:2 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

XVIII.  The Reign of Jehoiakim           36:4-8

2Ch 36:4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.

2Ch 36:5 Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

2Ch 36:6 Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

2Ch 36:7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

2Ch 36:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

XIX. The Reign of Jehoiachin        36:9, 10

2Ch 36:9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

2Ch 36:10 And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

XX.  The Reign of Zedekiah       36:11-21

A.   Evaluation of Zedekiah     36:11, 12

2Ch 36:11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

B.   Destruction of Jerusalem     36:13-21

2Ch 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

2Ch 36:14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

2Ch 36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

2Ch 36:18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

2Ch 36:19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

2Ch 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

2Ch 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

XXI. The Proclamation by Cyrus to Return to Jerusalem................... 36:22, 23

2Ch 36:22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

2Ch 36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.