Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The books of Chronicles (originally one work) cover the same period as the books of Samuel and Kings, with 2 Chronicles summarizing the death of Solomon and the divided kingdom.
(If you want a deeper dive into this fascinating time period, take a look at our complete guide and chart for every king and prophet in the books of Kings and Chronicles.)
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Begins with Solomon and covers the same historical period as 1 and 2 Kings, while focusing exclusively on the kings of Judah, excluding the history of the northern kingdom, because of their complete wickedness and false worship.
- Category: History
- Theme: Heritage
- Timeline: Roughly 997-538 BC
- Written: Written around 450-400 BC, traditionally ascribed to Ezra
Key Verse
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Cycles of Sin
Obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings judgment. When the king obeyed and trusted the Lord, God blessed. But when the king disobeyed and put his trust in someone other than the Lord, God withdrew His blessing.
Three basic failures by the kings of Judah brought God’s wrath:
- Personal sin
- False worship
- Trust in man over God
7 Day Reading Guide
(See 30-day guide below.)
- Day 1: 2 Chronicles 1-5
- Day 2: 2 Chronicles 6-10
- Day 3: 2 Chronicles 11-15
- Day 4: 2 Chronicles 16-20
- Day 5: 2 Chronicles 21-25
- Day 6: 2 Chronicles 26-30
- Day 7: 2 Chronicles 31-36
Fun Fact
Over 55 percent of the material in Chronicles is unique, not found in 2 Samuel or 1 and 2 Kings.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
Chris Fann is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for Harper Christian Resources. He loves the smell ofa baseball glove, coffee, and old books. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, 2 teenage boys, and their dog, Freya.