2 Chronicles

Solomon, established in his kingdom with God's presence, assembles Israel's leaders at Gibeon where he offers 1,000 burnt offerings; God grants him wisdom and unprecedented wealth. Solomon returns to Jerusalem, begins reign with divine endorsement, accumulating 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen; silver and gold become as common as stones, importing horses from Egypt and Kue.

Solomon plans the temple and palace, conscripting massive labor; requests materials and a master craftsman from Hiram, who praises God and sends Huram-abi with cedar, cypress, and algum logs in exchange for produce. Solomon's census of resident foreigners organizes 153,600 workers.

Temple construction begins on Mount Moriah in Solomon’s 4th year: 60 × 20 cubits sanctuary, 120-cubits portico, lavishly overlaid with gold and precious stones; 20 × 20 Most Holy Place dressed in 600 talents of fine gold with two huge cherubim; pillars Jachin and Boaz erected at the entrance.

Temple furnishings forged: bronze altar, 3,000-bath ‘molten sea’ on 12 oxen, ten lavers on stands, ten golden lampstands and tables, 100 basins; Huram completes all bronze work. Solomon fashions abundant golden utensils for service.

Solomon brings David’s dedicated treasures into the treasuries, assembles leaders to move the ark into the Most Holy Place; Levitical choirs and 120 trumpeters praise God—‘He is good; His mercy endures forever’—and the temple is filled with God’s glory cloud.

Solomon blesses God for fulfilling His promise to David, then prays dedicatory prayer: heaven cannot contain God yet asks Him to hear petitions directed toward this house—covering justice, forgiveness, drought, plague, warfare, exile, and foreigner prayers—so all nations know the Lord.

Fire falls from heaven consuming sacrifices; God’s glory fills the temple. A great two-week dedication feast and Tabernacles kept with vast offerings. God appears to Solomon, promising to hear humble repentance but warning that apostasy will bring temple ruin and exile.

After 20 years Solomon fortifies cities, builds Tadmor, stores, and chariot cities; enslaves remaining Canaanites, but Israelites serve as soldiers and officials. Pharaoh’s daughter housed outside David’s city. Sacrificial system and priestly divisions established per David’s order.

Queen of Sheba tests Solomon, is overwhelmed by his wisdom and prosperity, praises the Lord, and gives 120 talents of gold and rare spices. Solomon’s wealth: 666 talents of gold yearly, golden shields, ivory-and-gold throne, exotic imports. After 40-year reign he dies; Rehoboam succeeds.

Rehoboam ignores elder counsel, answers Israel harshly, fulfilling Ahijah’s word; ten tribes revolt under Jeroboam. Hadoram is stoned; Rehoboam flees to Jerusalem—the kingdom splits.

God forbids Rehoboam’s war against Israel. He fortifies Judah’s cities; priests and Levites migrate to Judah after Jeroboam’s idolatry. Faithful from all tribes strengthen Rehoboam three years; he fathers many sons, appointing Abijah heir.

Rehoboam and Judah forsake the Lord; Shishak of Egypt invades. After leaders humble themselves, God spares them but they become Shishak’s vassals; temple treasures lost. Rehoboam reigns 17 years but does evil, then dies; Abijah reigns.

Abijah, with 400 k troops, confronts Jeroboam’s 800 k, appealing to Davidic covenant and proper worship. Though ambushed, Judah cries to God; God grants victory—500 k Israelite casualties. Jeroboam weakened; Abijah prospers.

Asa removes idols, commands Judah to seek the Lord, fortifies cities during ten-year rest. Facing Zerah’s million-man Ethiopian force, Asa prays; God routes the enemy, Judah gathers immense spoil.

Prophet Azariah urges Asa to seek God; Asa renews reforms, repairs altar, gathers people into covenant to seek the Lord, deposes queen mother Maacah’s idol; high places remain but peace lasts to 35th year.

In 36th year Asa allies with Syria against Israel, rebuked by seer Hanani for relying on men; Asa imprisons the prophet. Stricken with foot disease, he seeks physicians not God, and dies in 41st year.

Jehoshaphat walks in God’s ways, sends officials and Levites to teach the Law; neighboring kingdoms fear, sending tribute. He builds defenses and fields a vast, well-organized army.

Alliance with Ahab: despite Micaiah’s warning, Jehoshaphat joins Ahab at Ramoth-gilead; Ahab is slain by a random arrow, Jehoshaphat saved when he cries to the Lord.

Prophet Jehu rebukes Jehoshaphat for aiding wicked Ahab; king institutes judicial reforms, appointing judges and Levites with charge to judge in the fear of God.

Moab, Ammon, and Seir invade; Jehoshaphat seeks God, prays publicly. Through Jahaziel God promises victory without fighting; as singers praise, enemies destroy one another. Judah gathers spoil three days; peace follows.

Jehoram murders his brothers, follows Ahab’s ways; Elijah’s letter predicts plague. Philistines and Arabs plunder, sons captured; Jehoram dies of painful bowel disease, un-mourned and unburied with kings.

Ahaziah rules one year under Athaliah’s evil counsel; killed by Jehu during purge of Ahab’s house. Athaliah kills royal seed but Joash is hidden in the temple.

Priest Jehoiada stages coup, crowns seven-year-old Joash; Athaliah executed; covenant renewed; Baal’s temple destroyed, proper worship restored.

Under Jehoiada, Joash repairs the temple. After Jehoiada’s death Joash turns to idols, kills prophet Zechariah. Syrians invade; Joash assassinated by servants.

Amaziah is partly faithful: defeats Edom but brings back their gods. Arrogantly challenges Israel, suffers defeat, Jerusalem’s wall breached. Later assassinated.

Uzziah prospers seeking God, develops powerful military and innovations; pride leads him to burn incense—struck with leprosy, lives isolated; Jotham governs.

Jotham rules righteously, builds extensively, prevails over Ammon who pays tribute; becomes mighty because he orders his ways before God; dies after 16 years.

Ahaz plunges into idolatry, sacrificing children; Judah defeated by Syria and Israel, rescued captives returned after Oded’s plea; seeks Assyrian help, worsens apostasy, shuts temple, dies dishonored.

Hezekiah begins reforms: opens, cleanses temple; priests purify themselves and sanctuary; large consecration sacrifices restore worship; joy returns.

Hezekiah invites all Israel to late Passover; many mock but a remnant comes. Despite some ceremonial irregularities, God heals; feast kept with unprecedented joy.

Idols destroyed nationwide; Hezekiah organizes priests/Levites, re-establishes tithes; heaps of provision testify to God’s blessing; faithful administration noted.

Sennacherib invades; Hezekiah prepares defenses, trusts God. Assyrian blasphemy answered by prayer; angel kills 185,000. Hezekiah healed of fatal illness, but pride later shown to Babylonian envoys; he humbles himself before death.

Manasseh’s extreme idolatry leads to Assyrian captivity; he repents, is restored, removes idols, fortifies city. Son Amon reigns wickedly two years, assassinated; people make Josiah king.

Josiah seeks God early, purges idolatry, repairs temple; Book of Law found—Huldah prophesies doom but postponement. Josiah renews covenant; people follow God.

Great Passover kept like no other since Samuel. Josiah fatally wounded opposing Pharaoh Necho; nation mourns, Jeremiah laments.

Rapid succession: Jehoahaz deposed by Egypt; Jehoiakim taxed by Egypt, later taken by Babylon; Jehoiachin exiled; Zedekiah rebels, Jerusalem destroyed, temple burned, people exiled 70 years. Cyrus later decrees return to rebuild the temple.