2 Chronicles 10-36 Divided Monarchy

IV. The Divided Monarchy (2 Chronicles 10:1-28:27)

Following Solomon’s death, the ideal of a united Israel ruled by a Davidic king and worshiping in the Jerusalem Temple is destroyed when the nation splits into two kingdoms: Judah in the south, comprised of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, which had remained loyal to David’s house; and Israel in the north, comprised of the ten northern tribes that broke away.

A. Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10:1-12:16)

After the death of his father Solomon, Rehoboam fails to win ratification from the ten northern tribes because of his arrogance (and, according to 2 Kings but not Chronicles, Solomon’s apostasy). These ten tribes break away from the south and form the Northern Kingdom of Israel with its capital in Samaria.

B. Abijah and Asa (2 Chronicles 13:1-16:14)

Two kings, Abijah and Asa, illustrate the necessity of reliance upon God for the Chronicler. Chronicles’ favorable view of Abijah is at odds with that of Kings, where Abijah is known as Abijam. His famous speech (2 Chronicles 13:4-12) is often seen as the clearest exposition of the Chronicler’s distinctive theology. Asa begins his reign trusting in the Lord and is successful. The closing portion of his reign, however, illustrates the dire consequences of Asa’s lack of trust.

C. Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:1-21:1)

Jehoshaphat, as one of the Chronicler’s favorite kings, embodies several of his desirable traits: piety, expressed in prayer and the removal of idols; establishment of the Law; and concern for the Levites. His willingness to form alliances with the north, however, is problematic and depicted as such.

D. Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:2-22:1)

The Chronicler deems Jehoram’s alliance with Ahab in the north responsible for the series of disasters that accompany his reign: defeat in war, plague, and personal illness culminating in an early death.

E. Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:2-9)

Ahaziah is completely controlled by northern influences, more so than any other king. Chief among those northern influences is his mother, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and granddaughter of Omri, the powerful king of Israel.

F. Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21)

After taking the throne by force, and during her six-year reign, Athaliah, Judah’s only non-Davidic ruler, attempts to destroy the house of Judah. God thwarts her attempts through the courage of Jehoshabeath, the half-sister of Ahaziah and the wife of the priest Jehoiada.

G. Joash (2 Chronicles 24:1-27)

Joash, under the tutelage of Jehoiada the priest, starts off well and even carries out needed Temple repairs. But following the death of his mentor, he lapses into apostasy and is assassinated in his bed by his servants (biographical content absent from the parallel narrative in 2 Kings 12).

H. Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:1-26:2)

Like his predecessor, Amaziah starts off as a pious king, but his reign ends in apostasy (again information not found in the report in 2 Kings 14).

I. Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:3-23)

The Chronicler suggests that Uzziah’s pride in taking priestly duties for himself accounts for his ignominious death while suffering from leprosy.

J. Jotham (2 Chronicles 27:1-9)

The brief reign of Jotham essentially reports his building activities. He is, however, a refreshing model of obedience and blessing.

K. Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1-27)

In Chronicles, Judah sinks to its lowest point with the reign of Ahaz (not Manasseh, as in 2 Kings).

VI. The Reunited Monarchy (2 Chronicles 29:1-36:23)

Following the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria in 722 BCE, the divided monarchy comes to a close. Hezekiah, as a new David and Solomon, unites the people once again around the Jerusalem Temple.

A. Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:1-32:33)

Hezekiah purifies the Temple, renews Temple worship, invites the defeated northern Israelites to a renewed celebration of the Passover, and defends Jerusalem against Sennacherib’s invading army.

B. Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-20)

In 2 Kings, Manasseh is portrayed as Judah’s worst king. In Chronicles, we hear of a startling repentance during his exile in Babylon, followed by extensive reforms.

C. Amon (2 Chronicles 33:21-25)

Amon undoes all the reforms of his repentant father, Manasseh.

D. Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:1-36:1)

Josiah is another of the Chronicler’s model kings. Much more space is allotted to his faithfulness in seeking God, his extensive reforms, and his Passover celebration than in 2 Kings.

E. Exile and Restoration (2 Chronicles 36:2-23)

The demise of Judah is rapidly related through reports of the continued apostasy of their last four kings, culminating in the Babylonian invasion. Following the exile, Cyrus issues a proclamation encouraging the exiles to go home.