2 Chronicles

Solomon, strengthened in his kingdom with God's presence, gathered Israel's leaders at Gibeon, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar. God appeared to Solomon that night, offering to grant him a wish, and Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge God's people. God granted Solomon's request, also promising him riches, wealth, and honor. Solomon then returned to Jerusalem, reigned over Israel, and amassed great wealth and military power, including chariots, horsemen, and horses imported from Egypt.

Solomon determined to build a house for the Lord and a house for his kingdom, and he assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens, 80,000 to hew in the mountain, and 3,600 to oversee them. He sent a message to Huram, king of Tyre, asking for his help in building the house, including sending skilled craftsmen and cedar trees from Lebanon. Huram agreed to help, sending a skilled craftsman and offering to provide the necessary timber. Solomon also numbered the strangers in the land of Israel and assigned them to work on the building project.

Solomon began building the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah in the fourth year of his reign. The building's dimensions were 60 cubits in length and 20 cubits in width, with a porch that was 20 cubits long and 120 cubits high, overlaid with pure gold. The interior was adorned with precious stones, gold, and cherubim, including two large cherubim in the most holy house, each with 20-cubit-long wings. The temple also featured two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, each 35 cubits high, with chains and pomegranates.

Solomon made various items for the temple, including a brass altar, a molten sea supported by twelve oxen, ten lavers for washing, ten gold candlesticks, and ten tables. He also made a hundred gold basons, the court of the priests, and the great court with brass doors. Huram finished the work he was to make for the temple, including pots, shovels, and basons. Solomon made all the vessels for the house of God in great abundance, including a golden altar, tables for the shewbread, and gold candlesticks, flowers, lamps, tongs, snuffers, basons, spoons, and censers.

Solomon finished the work on the house of the Lord and brought in the silver, gold, and instruments dedicated by his father David. The elders of Israel and the heads of the tribes were assembled to bring the ark of the covenant from the city of David to the new temple. The priests and Levites brought up the ark, tabernacle, and holy vessels, and Solomon and the congregation sacrificed numerous sheep and oxen. The ark was placed in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubims, and the priests were unable to minister due to the cloud of the Lord's glory that filled the house.

Solomon blessed the congregation of Israel and acknowledged God's fulfillment of His promise to David, allowing Solomon to build the temple. Solomon then stood before the altar and prayed, praising God's uniqueness and faithfulness, and asking Him to hear the prayers of His people and forgive their sins. He also prayed for God's mercy on Israel when they sinned, and for God to hear the prayers of foreigners who came to the temple. Solomon concluded by asking God to maintain His cause and forgive His people, and to remember the mercies of David.

The glory of the Lord filled the house after Solomon finished praying, and the people worshipped and praised the Lord. Solomon and the people offered sacrifices, and the priests waited on their offices, accompanied by music and trumpets. The dedication of the house of God lasted for seven days, followed by a solemn assembly on the eighth day. The Lord appeared to Solomon, promising to hear the people's prayers and forgive their sins if they humbled themselves and turned from their wicked ways, but warning that if they turned away from God's statutes and commandments, He would pluck them up by the roots and cast the house out of His sight.

Solomon built and fortified various cities, including Tadmor, Bethhoron, and Baalath, and established a system of forced labor using the remaining descendants of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. He also organized the priests and Levites according to the order of his father David, and ensured that they followed the commandments and duties assigned to them. Solomon then went to Eziongeber and Eloth, and with the help of Huram's ships and sailors, obtained 450 talents of gold from Ophir.

The queen of Sheba visited Solomon, bringing gifts of gold, spices, and precious stones, and tested his wisdom with hard questions, which he answered fully. She was impressed by his wisdom and the grandeur of his kingdom, and praised God for setting him on the throne. Solomon gave her all she desired and she returned to her land. Solomon's wealth and wisdom surpassed that of all other kings, and he received tribute from many nations, including Arabia and Egypt. He reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam after his death.

Rehoboam, Solomon's son, went to Shechem to be made king, but Jeroboam, who had fled to Egypt, returned and led the people in asking Rehoboam to ease the heavy yoke his father had placed on them. Rehoboam rejected the advice of the old men to be kind to the people and instead followed the counsel of the young men, who advised him to increase the people's burden. The people, in response, rejected Rehoboam as their king and returned to their tents, with only the children of Israel in the cities of Judah remaining under his rule.

Rehoboam gathered an army to fight against Israel, but God told him through Shemaiah to stop and return home, which he obeyed. Rehoboam then fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites who had been cast out by Jeroboam joined him in Jerusalem. Many Israelites who sought to worship God also came to Jerusalem, strengthening Rehoboam's kingdom for three years. Rehoboam married many wives, including Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, and had many children, with Abijah, her son, being made the chief ruler among his brothers.

King Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord, and as a result, Shishak, the king of Egypt, invaded Judah with a massive army and took the fenced cities and the treasures of the house of the Lord. The prophet Shemaiah told Rehoboam and the princes of Judah that the Lord had left them in the hand of Shishak because they had forsaken Him, but when they humbled themselves, the Lord relented and did not destroy them. Rehoboam made shields of brass to replace the gold shields taken by Shishak, and although he did evil because he did not seek the Lord, the wrath of the Lord turned from him.

Abijah, king of Judah, went to war against Jeroboam, king of Israel, with an army of 400,000 men, while Jeroboam had 800,000 men. Abijah reminded Jeroboam that God had given the kingdom to David and his sons, and that Jeroboam's rebellion was against God. Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed because they relied on God, and 500,000 of Israel's men were killed. Abijah then took several cities from Jeroboam, who never recovered and eventually died.

Asa, the son of Abijah, became king and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, removing idols and high places and commanding Judah to seek the Lord. The land was quiet for ten years, and Asa built fortified cities and had a large and powerful army. When Zerah the Ethiopian attacked with a massive army, Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord smote the Ethiopians, allowing Asa and his people to defeat them and carry away great spoil.

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah, who told Asa and the people of Judah and Benjamin that the Lord would be with them if they sought Him, but would forsake them if they did so. Azariah noted that Israel had been without God, a teaching priest, and law for a long time, but when they turned to the Lord in trouble, He was found by them. Asa took courage from Azariah's words and removed idols from the land, renewed the altar of the Lord, and gathered the people to make a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. The people rejoiced at the oath and the Lord gave them rest, and Asa also removed his grandmother Maachah from being queen because she had made an idol.

Baasha, the king of Israel, built Ramah to restrict Judah's movement, but Asa, the king of Judah, formed an alliance with Benhadad of Syria, who then attacked Israel, forcing Baasha to stop building Ramah. Asa used the materials from Ramah to build Geba and Mizpah, but was rebuked by the prophet Hanani for relying on Syria instead of God. Asa became angry and imprisoned Hanani, and later, despite being diseased, he sought the help of physicians rather than God. Asa eventually died and was given a grand burial in the city of David.

Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened himself against Israel by placing forces in Judah's cities and garrisons in the land. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David and sought God, resulting in the establishment of his kingdom and abundance of riches and honor. Jehoshaphat removed the high places and groves from Judah and sent teachers to instruct the people in the law of the Lord, leading to the fear of the Lord falling upon surrounding kingdoms. Jehoshaphat's kingdom prospered, with many presenting him with gifts and tribute, and he built castles and cities of store in Judah.

Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, formed an alliance and planned to go to war against Ramothgilead. Ahab's prophets predicted victory, but Jehoshaphat requested a second opinion from Micaiah, a prophet of the Lord. Micaiah prophesied that Ahab would be defeated and that the Lord had put a lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets. Ahab ignored Micaiah's warning and went to battle, disguising himself to avoid detection. However, he was struck by a random arrow and died, while Jehoshaphat was mistaken for Ahab and narrowly escaped.

Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem after a battle and was met by Jehu, who rebuked him for helping the ungodly but commended him for removing idolatrous groves and seeking God. Jehoshaphat then set judges in the land, instructing them to judge with integrity and fear of the Lord, and established a system for resolving disputes in Jerusalem. He appointed Levites, priests, and leaders to handle matters of the Lord and to warn people against trespassing against God's laws. Jehoshaphat also assigned leaders to oversee the king's matters and encouraged the Levites to act courageously.

The children of Moab, Ammon, and others formed an alliance to attack Jehoshaphat, prompting him to seek the Lord and proclaim a fast throughout Judah. Jehoshaphat prayed to God, recalling His power and past deliverances, and asked for His help against the enemy. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied that the battle was God's, and that Judah would not need to fight. The next day, the armies of Moab, Ammon, and Seir were found dead, having destroyed each other. Judah then gathered the spoil and returned to Jerusalem, rejoicing and praising the Lord.

Jehoshaphat died and was succeeded by his son Jehoram, who killed his brothers and other princes of Israel, and then reigned in Jerusalem for eight years, walking in the evil ways of the kings of Israel. During his reign, the Edomites and Libnah revolted against Judah, and Jehoram was condemned by the prophet Elijah for his wickedness. As a result, the Lord afflicted Jehoram with a severe bowel disease that lasted for two years, and his people and family were also punished, with his sons and wives being taken captive by the Philistines and Arabians. Jehoram eventually died of his disease, and was buried in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Ahaziah, the youngest son of Jehoram, became king of Judah at 42 years old and reigned for one year, following in the wicked ways of the house of Ahab due to his mother Athaliah's counsel. He joined forces with Jehoram of Israel to fight against Hazael of Syria but was wounded and later killed by Jehu, who had been anointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab. Athaliah then attempted to destroy all the royal seed of Judah but her grandson Joash was hidden away by his aunt Jehoshabeath, allowing him to escape.

Jehoiada the priest formed an alliance with the captains of hundreds to overthrow Athaliah and establish the rightful king, Joash, on the throne. The Levites and people of Judah gathered in Jerusalem, and Jehoiada instructed them to secure the temple and protect the king. Athaliah was killed outside the temple, and Jehoiada then made a covenant with the people and the king to follow the Lord. The people destroyed the house of Baal, and Jehoiada restored the proper worship of the Lord in the temple, appointing the priests and Levites to their duties.

Joash, who was seven years old when he began to reign, did what was right in the sight of the Lord as long as Jehoiada the priest was alive. Joash decided to repair the house of the Lord and gathered money from the people to do so. The work was completed, and the house of God was strengthened. After Jehoiada's death, the princes of Judah turned to idolatry, and Joash followed their lead. The Lord sent prophets to bring them back, but they refused to listen, and Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, was stoned to death at the king's command. As a result, the Syrians defeated Judah, and Joash was left with great diseases. His own servants eventually conspired against him and killed him.

Amaziah, 25 years old, became king of Judah and reigned for 29 years, doing what was right in the Lord's sight but not with a perfect heart. He killed his father's murderers but spared their children, following the law of Moses. Amaziah gathered an army of 300,000 men from Judah and Benjamin and hired 100,000 more from Israel, but a man of God told him not to let the Israelites fight with him, as the Lord was not with them. Amaziah obeyed and sent the Israelites back, but they attacked Judah in anger. Amaziah then defeated the Edomites but brought back their idols and worshiped them, angering the Lord. A prophet warned Amaziah, but he refused to listen and was eventually defeated by the king of Israel, Joash, who took Amaziah captive and plundered Jerusalem. Amaziah was later assassinated in a conspiracy.

Uzziah, 16 years old, became king of Judah after his father Amaziah and reigned for 52 years, initially doing what was right in the sight of the Lord and prospering with God's help. He successfully warred against the Philistines and other enemies, strengthened his kingdom, and built towers and wells. However, when he became strong, his heart was lifted up, and he transgressed against the Lord by attempting to burn incense in the temple, resulting in him being afflicted with leprosy and cut off from the house of the Lord.

Jotham became king at 25 years old and reigned for 16 years in Jerusalem, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not entering the temple. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, cities in Judah, and castles and towers in the forests. Jotham fought against the king of the Ammonites and prevailed, receiving tribute from them for three years. He became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord, and his acts and wars are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Ahaz, the 20-year-old king of Judah, reigned for 16 years and did not follow God's ways, instead worshiping idols and sacrificing his children to false gods. As a result, God allowed the kings of Syria and Israel to defeat Judah, taking many captives. However, a prophet named Oded intervened, convincing the Israelites to release the captives and return the spoils. Meanwhile, Ahaz sought help from the king of Assyria, but was instead further distressed and continued to sin against God, eventually shutting down the temple and setting up altars to other gods throughout Judah.

Hezekiah, at 25 years old, began his 29-year reign in Jerusalem and did what was right in the sight of the Lord, following the example of his father David. He immediately set about restoring the temple, which had been neglected and desecrated, and instructed the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and cleanse the temple. The priests and Levites carried out the task, removing all uncleanness and sanctifying the temple and its vessels. Hezekiah then offered sacrifices and sin offerings for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah, and the Levites sang praises and played instruments as commanded by David. The people brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and the priests and Levites worked together to offer the burnt offerings, with the Levites helping the priests due to their insufficient numbers.

Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, which had not been done in a long time. The people were encouraged to turn back to the Lord and many from various tribes humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. A large congregation gathered to keep the feast of unleavened bread, and the priests and Levites sanctified themselves to perform the necessary rituals. Despite some not being properly cleansed, Hezekiah prayed for them and the Lord healed the people, and the feast was kept with great gladness for 14 days.

The Israelites destroyed all the idols and high places in Judah and Benjamin, then returned to their cities. Hezekiah appointed the priests and Levites to their duties and ordered the people to give them their portion, resulting in an abundance of offerings and tithes. The offerings were stored in the house of the Lord, and Hezekiah appointed officials to oversee them. Hezekiah also ensured that the priests and Levites received their daily portions and that the genealogies of the priests and Levites were maintained.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem, prompting Hezekiah to prepare the city's defenses and rally his people. Sennacherib sent his servants to taunt Hezekiah and the people, claiming that their God would not be able to deliver them from his hand. Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to God, who sent an angel to destroy the Assyrian army, forcing Sennacherib to retreat in shame. Hezekiah later became ill but was healed after praying to God, although he initially failed to show gratitude for his recovery. Hezekiah's reign was marked by great wealth and prosperity, but he was eventually tested by God through the visit of Babylonian ambassadors.

Manasseh, who became king at 12 years old, reigned for 55 years in Jerusalem and initially did evil in the sight of the Lord, building altars for false gods and worshipping them. He even set up a carved image in the house of God and caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. However, after being taken captive by the Assyrians and humbled, Manasseh repented and removed the idols from the house of the Lord, repairing the altar and commanding Judah to serve the Lord. Despite this, the people continued to sacrifice in the high places, but only to the Lord. Manasseh's son Amon succeeded him but continued in his father's earlier evil ways and was eventually killed by his servants, who were then killed by the people, and Amon's son Josiah became the new king.

Josiah became king at eight years old and reigned for 31 years, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord and purging Judah and Jerusalem of idolatrous practices. In his 18th year, he sent officials to repair the house of the Lord, and during the repairs, the book of the law was found. When the king heard the words of the law, he rent his clothes and sent officials to enquire of the Lord. The prophetess Huldah replied that the Lord would bring evil upon the place because of their idolatry, but Josiah would be spared because of his humility. Josiah then gathered the people and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after Him and keep His commandments.

Josiah kept a passover in Jerusalem, following the instructions of the law of Moses, and provided 30,000 lambs and kids and 3,000 bullocks for the offerings. The priests and Levites prepared the service according to the king's command, and the people kept the passover and the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. This passover was considered the greatest since the days of Samuel the prophet. Later, Josiah went to war against Necho, king of Egypt, despite Necho's warning that he was not fighting against Judah, and Josiah was fatally wounded in the battle. He was brought back to Jerusalem, where he died and was mourned by the people, and Jeremiah lamented for him.

Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, became king of Judah at 23 years old but reigned for only three months before being deposed by the king of Egypt, who then made Eliakim, Jehoahaz's brother, king and renamed him Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, and was eventually bound by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who also took vessels from the Lord's house to Babylon. Jehoiakim's son Jehoiachin succeeded him but reigned for only three months and ten days before being taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, who then made Zedekiah king. Zedekiah also did evil and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, leading to the Lord's wrath and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem by the king of the Chaldees. The people were taken captive to Babylon, where they remained until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, fulfilling the Lord's word through Jeremiah. The chapter ends with the proclamation of Cyrus, king of Persia, allowing the people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Lord's house.