Week 22: 2 Chronicles 9 – 26

[Vinna TanModerator]

2 CHRONICLES chapters 9 to 26 Study Guide

9:1-12 – The visit of the Queen of Sheba.
9:13-28 – The wealth and wisdom of Solomon.
9:29-30 – Solomon is succeeded as king of Judah by his son Rehoboam.
10:1-19 – King Rehoboam accepted the wrong advice regarding response to the people for relief from heavy burdens Solomon’s lavish lifestyle had laid on them. The result was a division of the kingdom, with Jereboam ruling the northern kingdom of Israel and Rehoboam ruling the southern kingdom of Judah.

From this point 2 Chronicles is primarily a history of the southern kingdom of Judah, which is ruled by kings of David’s line. The history of the northern kingdom of Israel is ordinarily only mentioned when it impacts the kingdom of Judah.

11:1-12 – Rehoboam was forbidden by God to fight Israel, and built fortress cities for defense.
11:13-7 – King Jeroboam set up an alternate form of worship in Israel, with its own priesthood. Priests and Levites of the LORD in the north chose to continue to serve in Jerusalem and those who lived in the north moved to Judah.
11:18-23 – Rehoboam followed his father Solomon in practicing polygamy.
12:1-16 – In punishment for apostasy the LORD allowed King Shishak for Egypt to invade Judah, to take Judah’s fortified cities and loot the temple and palace. But because Rehoboam humbled himself before God, Jerusalem was spared destruction. After a reign of 17 years he was succeeded by his son Abijah.
13:1-22 – Abijah boasted before Israel of the faithfulness of the kingdom of Judah to the LORD. King Abijah and Judah soundly defeated King Jereboam and Israel in battle.
14:1-8 – King Asa of Judah led in a recommitment to the LORD.
14:9-15 – The LORD gave Asa and Judah victory over the Ethiopians.
15:1-19 – Bolstered by the words of the prophet Azariah, Asa led a second stage of reformation and a renewal of covenant with the LORD.
16:1-6 – King Baasha of Israel attacked and blockaded Judah. Asa entered into an alliance with King Benhadad of Aram and the two armies forced withdrawal by Baasha.
16:7-14 – The prophet Hanani voiced God’s displeasure at Asa forming a foreign alliance rather than trusting in God. Asa had Hanani put in stocks in prison. Asa’s last years were spent in severe illness and he died in his 41st year of reign.
17:1-9 – Jehosphaphat was a godly king in Judah. In the third year of his reign he sent officials, priests and Levites to teach the book of the law of the LORD throughout Judah.
17:10-19 – Jehosphaphat’s prosperous reign.
18:1-3 – Jehosphaphat entered a marriage alliance with King Ahab of Israel (a godly king with an ungodly one). His son Jehoram was married to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and the result was almost the extermination of David’s line (see chapters 21-23).
18:4-11 – The false prophets who served Ahab (400 of them) were in agreement, but Jehoshaphat was not convinced by these “Yes men”.
18:12-27 – The prophet Micaiah, who was reluctantly summoned by Ahab, told the bitter truth about the coming battle. His reward was prison on a ration of bread and water.
18:28-34 – In the ensuing battle, Jehosphaphat, in royal clothing, barely escaped death, while Ahab, disguised as an ordinary soldier, was killed (in fulfillment of Micaiah’s prophecy).
19:1-3 – Jehosphaphat was reproved for the alliance with Ahab.
19:4-11 – Organization for justice in the land, with no perversion of justice, no partiality, and no bribes.
20:1-12 – The kingdom of Judah was attacked by an alliance of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. Jehosphaphat turned to God in prayer.
20:13-19 – Jahaziel the prophet urged them not to fear but to trust in the LORD, “for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
20:20-30 – The enemy armies destroy one another in the confusion of battle.
20:31-37 – A summary of Jehosphaphat’s reign. Another disastrous alliance with evil.
21:1-7 – The evil eight year reign of Jehoram, who killed his own brothers (4). Yet, even then, the LORD would be true to His covenant (7).
21:8-10 – Edom (located south of the Dead Sea) and Libnah (located to the west between Judah and Philistine territory) lost to Judah.
21:11-15 – A letter from the prophet Elijah stated that Jehoram’s faithlessness would be punished with a severe bowel disease.
21:16-20 – Judah was invaded and Jehoram’s possessions taken along with his sons and wives, except for his youngest, Jehoahaz (also called Ahaziah). Jehoram died a painful death.
22:1-9 – King Ahaziah of Judah, under the powerful evil influence of his mother Athaliah and counselors from the house of Ahab, formed an alliance to go to war with King Jehoram (also called Joram) of Israel. King Joram was wounded and Ahaziah went to visit him at Jezreel. Ahaziah was caught up in Jehu’s mission to destroy the house of Ahab and killed.
22:10-12 – Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah assumes the throne in Judah and kills all of the royal family of Judah (i.e. her grandchildren) she can find. But Joash, a son of Ahaziah, is hidden in the temple for six years. If Joash had been killed the line of David on the throne of Judah would have been wiped out.
23:13-21 – The priest Jehoiada arranged to bring Joash out to be crowned king of Judah, and Athaliah was put to death. Jehoiada led the people in a renewed covenant with the LORD, ending the worship of Baal and restoring worship in the temple of the LORD.
24:1-3 – Joash began his reign as king of Judah at seven years of age and reigned for 40 years. While under the influence of the priest Jehoiada he was a righteous king.
24:4-14 – Under Joash the temple was cleaned up and restored after the abuse it had suffered under Athaliah. But take special note of v. 14b.
24:15-16 – When the priest Jehoiada died he was buried among the kings as a tribute to his faithful service to Israel and to God.
24:17-19 – After the death of Jehoiada there was a radical change in Judah away from God, even though God sent prophets to urge them to turn back from evil.
24:20-22 – Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, bravely called the people back to God, and was ordered killed by King Joash.
24:23-27 – Judah and Jerusalem were invaded by Aram and King Joash was severely wounded. He was killed in his bed by servants.
25:1-4 – Amaziah, son of Joash, was crowned king of Judah, and executed his father’s killers.
25:5-13 – King Amaziah hired soldiers from Israel to join in an attack on Edom. But when rebuked for doing this by a prophet of God, he dismissed them and won the battle with the army of Judah. The disappointed soldiers of Israel took their anger out on cities of Judah.
25:14-16 – Joash brought foreign gods back to Judah and worshiped them, refusing to listen to prophets sent from the LORD.
25:17-28 – King Amaziah challenged King Joash of Israel to battle and was soundly defeated, Jerusalem was taken, part of the walls destroyed, the temple looted, hostages taken. Amaziah was assassinated by some of his subjects.
26:1-15 – King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) began his rule at 16 years of age and ruled for 52 years. The early part of his rule was God-fearing and successful.
26:16-23 – With success Uzziah turned proud and intruded into the priests domain to burn incense in the temple and was punished with leprosy.

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