Heidegger's Bible Handbook: 2 Chronicles: Detailed Outline

2. There are two parts to the book: I. The History of the Israelite Kingdom, undivided and whole, under Solomon (2 Chronicles 1-9). II. The History of the divided Kingdom, even indeed of Judah alone, under the remaining Kings (2 Chronicles 10-36). A Synoptic Table, and the Interpreters of the book, Ancient, Reformed, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Hebrew.

Now, this latter book weaves together the progress and end of the Kingdom of Judah to the year of the return from Babylonian captivity. It is a certain Chronicle, as it were, of the former and latter books of Kings. And, since in this is described a history, first, of the Kingdom undivided and whole, of the twelve tribes under Solomon (2 Chronicles 1-9), and, second, divided, and so of the Kingdom of Judah alone under the remaining Kings (2 Chronicles 10-36); a distribution of the book into two parts is not incommodiously taken up.

I. The History of the Israelite Kingdom, undivided and whole, under Solomon, Chapters 1-9. See:

1. The piety of Solomon, worshipping God at Gibeon (verses 1-6), where, with an option granted to him of asked what he would, he, praying for wisdom, is furnished with wisdom (verses 7-13), and with riches and honors also (verses 14-17): chapter 1.

2. Solomon’s Ecclesiastical acts, the building of the Temple. See:

a. His efforts proper for building (verses 1, 2), and also the material agreed upon with Hiram (verses 3-18): chapter 2.

b. The description of the Temple’s place, time (verses 1, 2), parts, material, form (verses 3-17): chapter 3.

c. The Temple’s vessels and ornaments, altar, laver, bowls, lampstand, tables; and also courts, and lesser instruments (verses 1-17), and a summary of the edifice (verses 18-22): chapter 4.

d. The placing of the Ark in the innermost part of the Temple, and of the tabernacle and holy vessels in the treasury of the house of God (verses 1-10), with God giving a visible sign of His presence (verses 11-14): chapter 5.

e. The address of Solomon to the people (verses 1-11), and to God, wherein he consecrates the Temple to Him, and humbly commends to Him the future worship of the people in it (verses 12-42): chapter 6.

f. After the sending forth of the visible sign of the heavenly fire consuming the sacrifice (verses 1-3), the dedication of the Temple, numerous sacrifices offered, the feast of tabernacles celebrated (verses 4-11): and the approbation and sworn promises of God, appearing to Solomon (verses 12-22): chapter 7.

3. Solomon’s political and economic acts: the cities, which he built and subjugated to himself (verses 1-10): a separate house dedicated to his spouse (verses 11-16): a fleet sent to Ophir (verses 17, 18): chapter 8.

4. Solomon’s fame and authority among foreigners, moved by which, the Queen of Sheba comes to him, and honors him with admiration of his wisdom, and also with gifts (verses 1-12): more things are related concerning the gifts of foreign Kings, and the magnificence of Solomon (verses 13-28), and finally his death (verses 29-31): chapter 9.

II. The History of the divided Kingdom, even indeed of Judah alone, under the remaining Kings, Chapter 10-36. See:

1. The History of the Kingdom of Judah, standing and flourishing, from Rehoboam to Hezekiah: chapters 10-28. See:

a. The History of impious Rehoboam: chapters 10-12. See:

α. The proximate cause of the rending of the Kingdom, the harsh rule of Rehoboam (verses 1-15); exasperated by this, the ten tribes, falling from him, choose for themselves Jeroboam as King (verses 16-19): chapter 10.

β. The attempt of Rehoboam to attack Jeroboam, Divinely restrained. After which he, abstaining from war, strengthens the Kingdom with fortifications, supplies, arms, and people (verses 1-12): receives fugitive Priests and Levites (verses 13-17), takes wives (verses 18-21), and sets his sons over the provinces (verses 22, 23): chapter 11.

γ. The impiety of Rehoboam and the people, on account of which they are afflicted and spoiled by Shishak, King of Egypt (verses 1-5): nevertheless, repenting at the word of God, they are raised up and restored (verses 6-16): chapter 12.

b. The History of impious Abijah, who, nevertheless, trusting in God, fights with great success against Jeroboam (verses 1-17); and so the Israelites were humbled, but the tribe of Judah was strengthened (verses 18-22): chapter 13.

c. The History of pious Asa, chapters 14-16. See:

α. Asa’s piety, overthrowing idolatry (verses 1-5): and his fortitude, he, supported by fortified cities, slaughters the invading Ethiopians, with God invoked in prayer, and spoils those cut down (verses 6-15): chapter 14.

β. The reformation continued by Asa, and the restoration of worship (verses 1-11), and the covenant renewed with God (verses 12-19): chapter 15.

γ. The backsliding of Asa, who, seeking the help of the Syrian against Baasha, being reproved by the Prophet Hanani, thrusts the Prophet into prison, and afflicts the people (verses 1-11); then he, seized with disease, trusts in the physicians, and not in God (verses 12-14): chapter 16.

d. The History of pious Jehoshaphat, chapters 17-20. See:

α. The piety of Jehoshaphat, purging the Church after the confirmation of the Kingdom (verses 1-9), while the Lord at the same restrains some enemies, and subjects others to him. His troops are also reviewed (verses 10-19): chapter 17.

β. The backsliding of Jehoshaphat, unhappily joining himself with Ahab against Ramoth-Gilead (verses 1-3), in which war, Ahab, with the Prophecy of Micaiah despised, is killed (verses 4-34): chapter 18.

γ. The repentance of Jehosphat, who, having been reproved by Jehu the Prophet (verses 1-3), turns himself and his people to God, and strengthens public order, Ecclesiastical and political, in the whole Kingdom (verses 4-11): chapter 19.

δ. With the fasting and prayer of Jehoshaphat imploring divine aid, the victory reported over the Moabites and others (verses 1-34): nevertheless, Jehoshaphat is reproved and conducts affairs unsuccessfully, because he had entered into society with Ahaziah against the will of God (verses (35-37): chapter 20.

e. The History of impious Jehoram, who, with his brethren killed, and walking in the ways of Ahab (verses 1-7), is punished with the defection of Edom and Libnah (verses 8-11), war with the Philistine and Arabs, the slaughter of the members of his house, and the plundering of his goods; and, finally, he is killed with an incurable disease from Heaven (verses 12-20): chapter 21.

f. The History of impious Ahaziah, who, complying with the family of Ahab, together with it is killed by Jehu: chapter 22:1-9.

g. The History of impious Athaliah, who takes possession of the Kingdom of Judah, and destroys the Royal seed of Judah, with only one preserved and hidden, Joash: chapter 22:10-12.

h. The History of pious Joash, chapters 23; 24. See:

α. His inauguration promoted by the counsel and help of Jehoiada (verses 1-11): the slaughter of Athaliah (verses 12-15), and the worship of God restored by Jehoiada (verses 16-21): chapter 23.

β. The administration of the Kingdom, which he managed piously and happily while Jehoiada lived (verses 1-14), but, with him dead, unhappily, with the son of Jehoiada also killed, rebuking the idolatry of the people (verses 15-22); whence he is chastened by the Syrians, and is killed by conspiring servants, while lying on his bed (verses 23-27): chapter 24.

i. The History of impious Amaziah, who, at first embracing the worship of God, from a good man is afterwards made the worst, that is, lifted up by victory against the Edomites, he defects from God, is soon routed by the Israelites, is captured, and is afflicted with grievous punishment (verses 1-26); and finally, being driven away by conspiring servants, he is delivered to death (verses 27-29): chapter 25.

k. The History of Uzziah, who, being zealous for piety, is favored with Divine help, subdues his enemies, and strengthens the Kingdom (verses 1-15); but then he, invading the Priesthood, is smitten with leprosy, and kept from the company of men, with his son administrating the Kingdom (verses 16-23): chapter 26.

l. The History of pious Jotham, who successfully administrates the Kingdom, and makes the Ammonites tributaries (verses 1-8), and dies (verse 9): chapter 27.

m. The History of impious Ahaz, who, actively offering to Syrian idols, when pressed by the Israelites, Philistines, and Edomites (verses 1-15), has recourse to the King of Assyria: by whom being ill-treated, he falls into even greater idolatry (verses 16-27): chapter 28.

2. The History of the Kingdom of Judah, shaken and falling: chapters 29-36. See:

a. The History of the Kingdom of Judah, tottering, under Hezekiah, Manasseh, Ammon, Josiah: chapters 29:1-36:4. See:

α. The History of pious Hezekiah: chapters 29-32. See:

א. The piety of Hezekiah, who, having been made King, soon reforms the Church, and commands the sanctification of the Priests and the cleansing of the Temple (verses 1-19), together with the people offering by the Priests and Levites oblations with great joy (verses 20-36): chapter 29.

ב. The progress of the reformation, with both the Jews and the Israelites solemnly recalled to the worship of the true God by Hezekiah (verses 1-12), appointing the Passover for the second month; in the celebration of which the Levites discharge the courses of the unclean, to whom God, having been entreated by Hezekiah, is reconciled. Then the holy days of the seven days are celebrated with great joy (verses 13-27): chapter 30.

ג. The end of the reformation, with the people overthrowing all idolatry (verse 1), and with Hezekiah restoring the Priests and Levities in their offices and distributions, providing for their rations, and reviving the law of the firstfruits and tithes (verses 2-21): chapter 31.

ד. The political acts of Hezekiah, fortifying Jerusalem against Sennacherib, and outlasting the army of Assyria, blaspheming God, both by his prayers, and by those of Isaiah, and by the work of the Angel of Jehovah (verses 1-23): who, then falling into deadly disease and restored, abuses the blessings of God through pride; and, repenting, dies (verses 23-33): chapter 32.

β. The History of Manasseh, who, having been rebuked by the Prophets on account of his impiety, is taken captive to Babylon: and, having repented, he is restored to the Kingdom, in which he restores the worship of God in part: chapter 33:1-20.

γ. The History of impious Ammon, who is killed by conspiring servants: chapter 33:21-25.

δ. The History of pious Josiah: chapters 34; 35. See:

א. The piety of Josiah, reforming the Church (verses 1-13), and, with the book of the law found by Hilkiah, consulting Huldah the Prophetess concerning averting the wrath of God denounced in it (verses 14-28): and reading the book of the law before the whole people, and renewing the covenant with God (verses 29-33): chapter 34.

ב. The progress of the reformation, and the celebration of the Passover according to the institution of God, with Josiah attending to the same (verses 1-19), who at length dies in a war rashly undertaken against Egypt (verses 20-27): chapter 35.

ε. The History of impious Jehoahaz, whom the King of Egypt took captive into Egypt: chapter 36:1-4.

b. The History of the Kingdom of Judah falling, with Jehoiakim and the vessels of the house of God taken away into Babylon, and with Jehoiachin appointed, who also is removed unto Babylon, with Zedekiah succeeding, under whom the Kingdom falls on account of the universal corruption of the people. The Temple is burned, the fortifications/walls of Jerusalem are destroyed, a part of the people is smitten miserably with the sword, the remaining part is deported to Babylon, and there it suffers captivity until the first year of the Kingdom of Cyrus, King of Persia: chapter 36:5-23.

Dr. Dilday's Lecture: "Israelite Kingship, and the King of Kings"