Read this book together with I Chronicles — originally the two were one book, and there is good reason to think Ezra and Nehemiah were part of it as well. The returning exiles needed literature that would show them their roots, and bring out the events that had been omitted or only touched on lightly in Samuel and Kings.

The title is misleading. A chronicle, by definition, records events without any thought of an ongoing purpose — whereas these books have a very definite purpose. The writer omits material and introduces material in order to show the rise of David and the ongoing history of his house. These books are the history of the family that is to bring Christ into the world.

Part one  ·  1:1 – 9:31  ·  Solomon’s reign

God’s gift of rulership to Solomon  1:1–17

Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people… God replied to Solomon, “I know this request is from your heart. You didn’t ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn’t even ask for a long life… So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you.”

II Chronicles 1:10–12  ·  God’s Word

God gave Solomon wisdom, and he followed through by using it in every area except where it touched his own walk with God. Despite his vast understanding of wisdom, he was a fool in Proverbs for trying to understand God by his own observation.

The building of the temple  2:1 – 5:1

Four chapters on a building, from a writer with limited space, addressed to people whose own temple was a fraction of the size. The detail is the argument.

The dedication of the temple  5:2 – 7:22

Take note of all the covenant implications in this passage, especially Solomon’s prayer. He prays for a future in which the people have already failed — defeat, drought, famine, exile — and asks that when they turn back from wherever they have been carried, God would hear. The people first reading this book had lived through every clause of it.

However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

II Chronicles 7:14  ·  God’s Word

The glory of Solomon  8:1 – 9:31

Wealth, trade, a visiting queen — and, unlike I Kings 11, no account of the wives and the idolatry that ended it. The omission is deliberate; Chronicles is following the promise, not writing the obituary.

Part two  ·  10:1 – 36:23  ·  The kings of the tribe of Judah

It should be noted that there is no history of the kings of Israel, for they are looked on as rejected.

How it ends — and where it goes next

The writer has shown us the infinite patience and longsuffering of God, because of His promises to Abraham. In spite of the apostasy of Israel and then of Judah, He would keep His covenant: Messiah would be born through the family of David.

The LORD God of their ancestors repeatedly sent messages through his messengers because he wanted to spare his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words, and made fun of his prophets until the LORD became angry with his people. He could no longer heal them.

II Chronicles 36:15–16  ·  God’s Word

That is the verdict on four hundred years, and it is why the book should end in silence. It does not.

The promise the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah was about to come true in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia… This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. And he has ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem… May the LORD God be with all of you who are his people. You may go.

II Chronicles 36:22–23  ·  God’s Word

The last words of the book are a door being opened. And they are the first words of the next one — Ezra opens by printing the same decree again, because the story simply carries on.

In a higher sense He keeps His covenant to us through Christ. We walk in His kingdom not by works of righteousness which we have done, nor by our own spiritual strength, but by the work of Christ and His life lived through us.