New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

17:1–6 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Chr.

18:1—19:3 This section gives an additional perspective on the events recorded in 1 Kin. 22:1–40.

18:16 Jesus uses this picture of sheep that have no shepherd in Mark 6:34.

18:23 On the spirit from the LORD, read the text and note on 1 Kin. 22:24.

19:4–11 Jehoshaphat not only sent out teachers (17:8, 9), but also established regional courts in individual cities and a central court of appeals in Jerusalem.

20:1–30 This is probably the most familiar and loved chapter in 2 Chr., for it explains how the Lord grants victory to those who trust in Him. Jehoshaphat was facing the greatest external threat of his reign. A great multitude (v. 2) of Moabites, Ammonites, and others from Syria were plotting to crush Judah. In the face of these incredible odds, Jehoshaphat humbled himself before the Lord; and the result was the greatest victory he had ever experienced. The promise of the Lord through the prophet Jahaziel is a comfort to believers of all ages who face hopeless situations: Do not be afraid nor dismayed … for the battle is not yours, but God’s (v. 15). However, the account reveals three key elements that put God’s people in the place where He could deliver them: 1) fasting (v. 3); 2) prayer (vv. 4–13); and 3) praise (vv. 21, 22).

20:1–4 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Chr.

20:3 Fasting was one of the keys to releasing the deliverance Judah experienced. This was a proclaimed fast in which the whole nation participated. Fasting is not a tool by which one manipulates God to accomplish something. Fasting is simply an outward indication of an inward sincerity, evidence of the urgency we feel when praying for special needs. See 1 Sam. 7:6 and Acts 13:2, 3.

20:4–11 A second key that was integral to Judah’s deliverance was prayer. The prayer of Jehoshaphat here is reminiscent of Solomon’s prayer in ch. 6 and in 1 Kin. 8. Perhaps it was based on the promise in 7:14. V. 12 gives the essence of this prayer of helplessness: For we have no power … nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. The cry of Christians in the darkest night of their experience is: “Lord, I do not know what to do, but I am counting on You.”

20:12–19 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Chr.

20:14 Spirit of the LORD: Read the text and note on 1 Chr. 12:18.

20:20 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Chr.

20:22, 23 These verses highlight the final key in Judah’s miraculous deliverance, that of praise (the name Judah means “Praise”). As they began to sing and to praise God with the expectancy that He would fight for them, their enemies were defeated. This activity is not unique to 2 Chr., but has parallels to other OT victories. See Josh. 6:10, 20; Judg. 7:18–22; 2 Kin. 7:3–16; 19:35. Ps. 22:3 explains that God is enthroned in the praises of His people. Whenever and wherever God’s people praise Him, He reigns among them and does miraculous things on their behalf.

20:22 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Chr.

21:1–20 Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 8:16–24 for a condensed version of the reign of Jehoram. He was Judah’s fifth king and, because of the evil influence of his wicked wife Athaliah, he unraveled much of the good accomplished by his father Jehoshaphat. It is a sad epitaph that no one was sorry that he died (v. 20).

21:12 From 2 Kin. 2:11 and 3:11 it would seem that Elijah had been translated either before or during the reign of Jehoshaphat.

22:1–9 For an even more abbreviated account of the reign of Ahaziah, Judah’s sixth king, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 8:25–29. Ahaziah was killed by Jehu when Jehu purged Israel of the descendants of Ahab (see 2 Kin. 9:27–29).

22:10—23:21 Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 11 for a similar accounting of the usurper Athaliah and her overthrow. She was Judah’s seventh ruler; Joash the rightful heir to the throne was to be Judah’s eighth ruler. In keeping with its purpose, 2 Chr. stresses the influence of the priests and the Levites in the placement of Joash.

24:1–27 The great reform of Joash with his restoration of the temple, as well as his downfall and death, are also set forth in 2 Kin. 11:21—12:21. However, 2 Kin. does not record how he killed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada (vv. 20–22). This incident is one of the great tragedies of Scripture and is referred to in Matt. 23:35.

24:20 Spirit of God: Read the text and note of 1 Chr. 12:18.

24:25 , 26 Read the note on 1 Kin. 12:20, 21 for a solution to the apparent contradictions between this account and the one in 1 Kin. 12.

25:1–28 Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 14 for a similar accounting of the reign of Amaziah. As the ninth of 20 rulers in Judah, he was a moderately good king. In his later years he succumbed to pride and picked a fight with the northern kingdom of Israel, which led to his eventual demise.

26:1–23 This chapter amplifies the very brief account of King Uzziah (or Azariah) in 2 Kin. 15:1–7. As Judah’s tenth ruler, Uzziah begins strong and well. He was a resourceful king, taking special care for the livestock (v. 10) and equipping his armies with the latest in military devices (vv. 14, 15). However, his toleration of idolatry and his pride set the stage for his undoing. Uzziah attempted to take the role of a priest (v. 16) and was stricken with leprosy (v. 19). This is the king mentioned in Is. 6:1.

27:1–9 A report of Jotham, Judah’s eleventh ruler, is also found in 2 Kin. 15:32–38. He was a politically astute ruler because he prepared [established] his ways before the LORD (v. 6), but he allowed for continued religious mixture.

28:1–27 Jotham was succeeded by his son Ahaz, who was Judah’s twelfth ruler. Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 16 and Is. 7 for more information on the reign of this wicked king. The king of Syria mentioned in v. 5 was Rezin.

28:24 The altars that Ahaz built here were to pagan gods, not to the Lord.

29:1–36 The impressive and godly reign of Hezekiah is also recorded in 2 Kin. 18—20. The first item on the agenda of this thirteenth ruler of Judah was to cleanse and restore the temple. This vital account is absent from the narrative of 2 Kin., but the chronicler gives a detailed account of these events because they exemplify the reason for Hezekiah’s success.

29:27, 28 An indispensable part of the worship of the Lord was the singing of praises and playing of instruments (even loudly, 30:21). This has been true of the worship of God throughout the ages. For further insight on the power of singing, read the text and notes on 20:22, 23.

30:1–27 The second item on Hezekiah’s agenda for reform was to celebrate the Passover with a vigor that had not been seen since the reign of Solomon (v. 26). He even invited the Israelites in the northern kingdom (vv. 5, 6) and extended the festivities another week (v. 23). To understand better the origin and meaning of the Passover, see notes on Ex. 12:1–11. This incident is also omitted by the author of 2 Kin. (2 Kin. 18—20), but for the chronicler this action by Hezekiah gives a further reason why he experienced the blessing of the Lord.

30:19 2 Chr. affirms that though proper form is important, it is primarily the attitude of the heart that matters to the Lord.

30:21 The priority and importance of worshiping the Lord with singing is again stressed (see 20:22, 23; 29:27).

31:1–21 Much of this chapter also is not to be found in the account of Hezekiah in the Books of Kings (2 Kin. 18—20). That the priests resumed their duties (vv. 2–4, 14–19) and that the people gave tithes and offerings were all part of the reason the reign of Hezekiah was so prosperous.

31:21 As clearly as any of the proverbs, the author of 2 Chr. outlines in the simplest terms the recipe for success: Seek God with all your heart and you will prosper.

32:1–23 Whereas 2 Chr. focuses its attention more on the reforms of Hezekiah (chs. 29—31), 2 Kin. gives more space to record Hezekiah’s encounter with and victory over Sennacherib. Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 18:17—19:37.

32:24–26 For a fuller account of Hezekiah’s prayer and the unique and miraculous sign of his cure, which happened through the ministry of Isaiah, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 20:1–11.

32:31 The visit of the ambassadors of … Babylon is described in greater detail in 2 Kin. 20:12–19. 2 Kin. explains how this incident inspires Isaiah to prophesy about the coming Babylonian captivity. The chronicler shows clearly that God did not approve of Hezekiah’s actions but was testing him. Pride, which had nearly cost Hezekiah his life, was surfacing again.

33:1–20 After the reign of King Hezekiah, Manasseh came to the throne as the fourteenth of Judah’s rulers. Of the 20 rulers in Judah’s history, Manasseh was the worst. For further insight on the wickedness of his reign, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 21:1–18.

33:10–17 The account of Manasseh’s change of heart is not mentioned in the description of his reign in 2 Kin. This section demonstrates the amazing grace of the Lord in listening and responding to even the worst of sinners. However, the damage of Manasseh’s wickedness had been done. Though he had changed his heart, the people had not (v. 17).

33:11 When the Assyrians captured foreign dignitaries, they had a cruel custom of humiliating them by driving hooks through their noses, much as one would capture an animal.

33:21–25 For a parallel description of Amon’s reign, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 21:19–26. As Judah’s fifteenth ruler, Amon followed the evil example of Manasseh until he was murdered by his servants.

34:1–33 Like 2 Kin., 2 Chr. devotes two chapters to outline the important reign of Judah’s sixteenth ruler. Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 22; 23. In a refreshing contrast to the corruption in the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, Josiah was one of Judah’s most godly kings. During his reign, idolatry was purged, the temple was repaired, the Book of the Law was found, and worship was restored. Nevertheless, in light of the people’s persistent wickedness, all of this was too little and too late to escape the impending judgment (see 2 Kin. 23:26, 27). Josiah’s reform was the last ray of light for Judah.

35:1–27 The celebration of the Passover was the climax of Josiah’s reforms. There had not been a Passover celebration to rival it since the days of Samuel (v. 18). For another perspective on this event and on the death of Josiah, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 23.

35:22 Megiddo was the site of many famous historical battles and will be the location of the climactic battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).

35:25 It is believed that the prophet Jeremiah played a significant role in the reforms of Josiah, for this was the time when he carried on his prophetic ministry.

36:1–4 The reign of Judah’s seventeenth ruler, Jehoahaz, is also set forth in 2 Kin. 23:31–34.

36:5–8 The eighteenth king in Judah was Jehoiakim. He began his reign as Egypt’s puppet and ended it as Babylon’s prisoner. For more information on Jehoiakim’s reign as Judah’s eighteenth ruler, read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 23:36—24:7.

36:9, 10 The nineteenth king of Judah was Jehoiachin. He began his short rule at age 18 (compare v. 9 with 2 Kin. 24:8). Read the text and notes of 2 Kin. 24:8–16 to discover more about his reign.

36:11–21 The last king of Judah was Zedekiah. Further details concerning this king and his reign can be found by reading the text and notes of 2 Kin. 24:18—25:30. In all, Judah had 20 rulers, and only eight of them were good.

36:22, 23 2 Chr. ends on the positive note of the release of Judah from captivity (see the Introduction for a discussion of the dates of these events). God had not forgotten His people. The Lord had punished them, yet He still loved them and had set Himself to do them good (read Jer. 24:4–7). Ironically, God used a pagan ruler to set in motion the release of His people. Note the repetition of these verses in Ezra 1:1–3. The Book of Ezra picks up where 2 Chr. leaves off and continues to record the redemptive work of God in the history of His people.