Week 23: 2 Chronicles 27 – 36, Ezra 1 – 6

[Vinna TanModerator]

2 CHRONICLES 27 – 36 AND EZRA 1 – 6   Study Guide

 

27:1-8 – Jotham reigned over Judah for 16 years and was a king who followed the ways of the LORD.   However, the people of the kingdom continued corrupt practices.

28:1-7 – King Ahaz also reigned 16 years, but took a totally different course, promoting worship of the Baals and even sacrificing his sons.

28:8-15 – As punishment the LORD allowed Aram and Israel to defeat Judah.  Israel took captive a large number of the people of Judah.  They were rebuked for this by the prophet Oded and then some Ephaimite leaders took charge of the prisoners, provided for them, then escorted them back to Judah.

28:16-21 – When King Ahaz was attacked by Edomites and Philistines he made an alliance with King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria for help, but such resulted instead in Judah becoming a vassal to Assyria.

 

28:22-27 – Ahaz went from bad to worse, worshiping pagan gods and setting up altars to them in Jerusalem, in addition to raiding the temple for treasure and closing its doors.

29:1-11 – Ahaz was succeeded by his son Hezekiah, who reigned over Judah for 29 years.   He moved to reverse the evil his father had done, opening the temple and charging the priests and Levites to sanctify themselves and the temple, removing the rubbish from it. Hezekiah purposed to make a renewed covenant with the LORD.

29:12-36 – The Levites and priests obeyed Hezekiah’s orders.  The temple was cleansed and consecrated and proper worship in it undertaken once again.

30:1-27 – Hezekiah led the people in a passover observance.  By this time the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians and many of it’s people sent into exile. Those left in the north were invited to the passover observance; some refused but others came (6, 10-11). Some adjustments had to be made as to the time of observance (2,3; see the provision for this in Numbers 9;10,11) and in allowing some to partake who had not had time to properly cleanse themselves (18-20).  Note that Hezekiah prayed in regard to the last exception and the LORD heard him (20). 

31:1– A campaign was undertaken to destroy idols and places of idolatrous worship not only in Judah but in parts of the former northern kingdom.

31:2-21 – Apparently provision for the priests and Levites and their family had been neglected under Ahaz.  Hezekiah led (3) and the people gave generously to correct this need.  Note the general statement (20,21) as to Hezekiah’s faithfulness.

32:1-23 – The seige of Jerusalem by King Sennacherib of Assyria and the insult of God by his spokesmen (15,19).  Hezekiah made wise preparation for the siege, blocking water access to an invading army and providing water for the city (2-4, 30, the latter probably referring to the Pool of Siloam we read about in John 9:7).  Sennacherib’s army did not take the city and he was assassinated back in his own land.

32:24-26 – Hezekiah’s illness and cure; but “he did not respond according to the benefit done to him” (see also 2 Kings 20).

32:27-33 – The greatness of Hezekiah.  He was succeeded by his son Manasseh. 

33:1-9 – King Manasseh reversed the good his father had done, even sacrificing one of his sons (6) and setting up an idol in the temple (7).

33:10-20 – After his capture and imprisonment in Babylon, Manesseh repented, and once restored to the throne in Jerusalem tried to correct the wrongs he had done.  His son Amon succeeded him on the throne of Judah.

 

33:21-25 – Amon’s reign was evil and lasted only two years.  He was assassinated by his servants, who were then executed by the people.  His son Josiah then came to the throne.

34:1-5 – Josiah reigned 31 years, beginning at the age of eight.  In his zeal for the LORD he began cleansing the land of the images and altars of idolatry, not only in Judah but also in what had been the northern kingdom.

34:8-28 – At the age of 26 Josiah ordered the repair of the temple, during which the book of the law was found.  When it was read to him, Josiah recognized that the failure of the people of Judah and Israel to keep God’s word had brought punishment from the LORD.  This was confirmed by the prophetess Huldah, who also brought encouraging words to Josiah.

34:29-33 – Josiah ordered a general assembly and himself read the book of the law to the people.  He pledged himself anew to the LORD and led the people in doing the same.

34:1-19 – Josiah led all Judah and those present from Israel in an observance of Passover.

34:20-27 – Josiah was tragically killed in battle against an Egyptian army.

34:1-14 – The people made Josiah’s son Jehoahaz king, but after a reign of only three months he was taken captive to Egypt.  The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim (also called Jehoiakim) king, but after a reign of 11 years he was taken in chains to Babylon and his son Jehoiachin put on the throne. Jechoiachin in turn was taken as a prisoner to Babylon after only a three month and ten day reign and his brother Zedekiah placed on the throne.  At the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians Zedekiah’s eyes were put out and he was taken to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6,7). Josiah had been a good king but his descendants on the throne were all evil and the nation corrupt.

34:15,16 – God had been patient, but now there was no remedy for the nation, only wrath.

34:17-21 – Jerusalem was taken, the temple looted and destroyed, the wall broken down, and the people taken into exile in Babylon. The captivity would be for 70 years, as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer. 25:11; 29:10).

34:22-23 – The edict of Cyrus, king of Persia, that would lead to the return of exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple ( c. 538 BC).

 

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah begin where Chronicles left off, with the return of Jews from exile to Jerusalem and area.  The first returnees rebuilt the temple (completed in 516 BC) and restored worship there.  Ezra himself returned in 458 or 457 BC, leading the second group of returnees.  He was a priest and a scribe of the law of Moses.

1:1-4 – The edict of Cyrus, king of Persia, allowing return of Jews and the rebuilding of the temple.  A return foretold by the prophet Jeremiah (see Jer. 29:10).

1:5-11 – The preparation for the return, aided by Cyrus with treasures intrusted to Sheshbazzar, identified as “the prince of Judah” and later as having been made governor (5:14). 

2:1-67 – A listing of the first returnees.  Not all Jews chose to return, some being comfortably settled in Babylon.   Notice the much larger number of priests than of Levites, contrary to what one would expect.  Perhaps the priests had a greater desire to establish proper worship in a new temple.  Some priests could not prove their descent through the genealogical records and so were prevented from serving as priests (59-63).

2:68-70 – Free-will offerings showed a desire to begin the rebuilding of the temple.  Note the “all Israel”(v. 70) – whom the writer sees these returnees as representing.

3:1-7 – A altar is built and regular burnt offerings begin.  Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel was of David’s line, being grandson of King Jehoiachin (1 Chr. 3:17,19).

3:8-13 – The foundation for the temple was laid with rejoicing and praise.  But those old enough to remember the former temple wept (because this temple was going to be less spectacular, or out of joy at the new beginning?).  Cf. Haggai 2:3.

4:1-5 – There were adversaries in the land (mixed race and mixed religion from Samaria) who offered to help but were refused.  Their activities intimidated the builders through fear and official obstruction.

4:6-23 – Inserted here is a letter illustrating disruption by enemies of the Jews of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.  The letter was written after the events of chapter 6 (the completion of the temple in 516).  The Artaxerxes mentioned in v. 7 is Artaxerxes I (465-423 BC).

4:24 – 5:1,2 – The work on the temple was stopped for some time, until 520 BC. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah speak for the LORD in urging the building to resume.

5:3-5 – The resumed work did not stop in the face of complaints by officials.

5:6-17 – A letter to King Darius asking for a search of official records re building the temple. 

6:1-12 – Darius replied, commanding the work be allowed, even financial assistance given.

6:13-15 – The second temple was completed March 12, 516 BC.  The Most Holy Place was empty of the ark of the covenant, apparently lost in the Babylonian invasion. This temple was enlarged and enhanced by Herod the Great but destroyed by the Roman army in 70 AD.

6:16-22 – The temple was dedicated and then the Passover kept.

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