2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles carries the Chronicler's history from Solomon and the building of the Temple through the kings of Judah to the exile and, in its final verses, the decree of Cyrus permitting the return. Unlike Kings, it follows only the southern line of David.

Its great theme is the Temple and true worship, and it highlights the reforming kings — Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah — and the principle that seeking God brings blessing while forsaking him brings ruin. Written for the post-exilic community, it ends on a forward-looking note of hope: the invitation to go up and rebuild.