Bible

Today in the Bible room, we begin the summary of the book of 2 Chronicles. There are 36 detail-filled chapters in this book, so we will read the book in four parts, beginning here with Part 1 of 4, chapters 1 through 9.

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2 Chronicles – Part 1 of 4

Introduction to 2 Chronicles:

Writer: See 1 Chronicles Part 1.

Scope: 2 Chronicles picks up where 1 Chronicles ends.

Chapter 1. Unprecedented

Everything about Solomon’s reign is unprecedented:

• Solomon begins his tenure as king with a worship service;
• At night, the Lord appears to him with a question:
• The question:  What can the Lord do for Solomon?
• Solomon’s answer:  He wants wisdom to govern Israel;
• And he needs more knowledge to accomplish this challenge;
• The Lord’s response:  Solomon has answered well:
• His request is granted, plus he will receive much more:
• His knowledge and wisdom will be unprecedented;
• His worldwide empire of untold riches will be unprecedented;
• He will have horses, chariots, gold, silver, all over the nation.

Chapter 2. Negotiation

Solomon begins planning for the temple and palace construction:

• He negotiates a contract with Hiram of Tyre for materials;
• His father, David, had worked with Hiram several years earlier;
• Solomon wants to make the same contract again;
• Hiram will ship cedar logs down the coast;
• He will also send men who are skilled in metal working;
• Solomon will pay with the produce from Israel’s land;
• Solomon rounds up all the foreigners in Israel;
• He puts them to work on building the temple and palace.

Chapter 3. Construction

Construction of Solomon’s projects begins:

• The temple is to be located at the place provided by David;
• The foundation is laid:  90 feet long, 30 feet wide;
• A colonnade extends across the entire front, 30 feet high;
• Inside, the walls are wood overlaid with ornate gold;
• Precious stones are used for ornamentation;
• The Most Holy Place is overlaid with gold;
• The cherubim wings are 30 feet wide, gold covered;
• The curtain (veil) is fine linen, blue, purple, crimson;
• Each color is embroidered with cherubim designs.

Chapter 4. Interior

The interior of the temple is cast bronze and gold everywhere:

• Much of the interior is built by the craftsmen from Tyre:
• The cast bronze is so great it cannot be weighed;
• The raised, metal washing pool holds 17,500 gallons of water;
• It is 15 feet across, and rests on twelve cast bull figures;
• Ten utensil washing basins are located on side walls;
• Ten lampstands, one hundred sprinklers are made of gold;
• Entry doors are made of bronze;
• All the design decorations are created by Solomon.

Chapter 5. Completion

Construction complete, the temple is ready for the Ark:

• Solomon brings the valuables from the old Tabernacle;
• No longer will the presence of the Lord be in a tent;
• The priests move the Ark of the Covenant from the tent;
• They install it in the Most Holy place beneath the cherubim;
• The priests withdraw, the celebration begins;
• Praises in song and instruments are lifted to the Lord;
• 120 priests sound trumpets with cymbals, other music;
• The praise: “God is good, his mercy endures forever.”
• Then the glory, presence, of the Lord fills the temple;
• The cloud is so thick the priests suspend their music.

Chapter 6. Forgiveness

Standing in front of the temple, Solomon blesses his people:

• He recounts the promise God made to David:
• God has chosen Jerusalem as the seat of his kingdom;
• He has chosen David’s family to be kings of Israel forever;
• Solomon prays a prayer of dedication of the temple;
• He prays for God’s forgiveness when Israel sins;
• He says ‘all have sinned’ and stand in need of forgiveness;
• He prays that God will continue to dwell in this, his house;
• He prays for all foreigners who come to worship.

Chapter 7. The Promise

God makes a promise to Solomon:

• Solomon leads his people in the dedication of the temple;
• A seven day festival brings all Israel to Jerusalem;
• At night, after prayer, the Lord appears to Solomon;
• The Lord assures Solomon of his continuous presence;
• When Israel needs God’s help, he will answer their prayer;
• “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  (v. 14, NKJV)
• But if Solomon forsakes the Lord’s ways there will be pain;
• This great temple will be reduced to ridicule in the future;
• Israel will be uprooted from the land the Lord gave them;
• Disaster will fall on Israel if they abandon the Lord’s way.

Chapter 8. Progress

Solomon completes construction of the temple and his palace:

• Solomon is twenty years in building the temple and his palace;
• Construction projects are in cities and towns all over Israel;
• He rebuilds wherever there is damage or repairs needed;
• Progress is evident in every area of Solomon’s kingdom;
• He puts all native Canaanites (non-Jews) into forced labor;
• He brings his wife from Egypt to their home in Jerusalem;
• He offers sacrifices to God twice a day at the temple;
• With ships from Hiram, he imports 17 tons of gold.

Chapter 9. Prosperity

Solomon prospers in all his activities.

• The Queen of Sheba comes calling with gifts and questions;
• She also brings tons of valuables, gold;
• Solomon answers all her questions, impresses her;
• She accepts gifts and leaves with more than she brought;
• Solomon builds a worldwide trading empire of wealth;
• He has revenue coming in from all kings, regions;
• His annual receipts of gold alone exceed 25 tons;
• He constructs a royal throne only Solomon could imagine;
• His wealth exceeds all the kings of the world combined;
• His wisdom is sought after by every king in the world;
• Solomon reigns for forty years in Jerusalem, where he dies;
• Rehoboam, his son, succeeds him as king.

END OF 2 CHRONICLES – PART 1 of 4