Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

The Book of 2 Chronicles
 


Timeline of the Bible


God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---
 God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ----  David is Israel's greatest king. - This book of the Bible covers this time-- Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.--- The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---   The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia. --- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.---   The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.---Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. --  Paul write letters to Christians in other places.In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.


 


2 Chronicles

There are two books of Chronicles: 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles. They contain records from the time of Adam to the time when the Jewish people returned from the Babylonian captivity.

The book of 1 Chronicles starts with Adam and tells the family history (genealogy) of Saul and David.  The second part of 1 Chronicles tells about the time when David was the king of Israel.

The book of 2 Chronicles tells about the time when David's son, Solomon, was the king of Israel.  The second part of 2 Chronicles tells about the other kings who ruled Israel until the Jews were taken away to Babylonia.  The book ends with the Jews returning to Israel.

 




 


2 Chronicles 10- 13

Israel splits into 2 parts.

Shishak, the king of Egypt steals many treasures from Israel.
Rehoboam  dies and his son, Abijah takes over.
Israel and Judah fight a war.

 


 

2 Chronicles 10

 Israel splits into 2 parts

When Solomon was the king, he built many things.  That took a lot of money and a lot of people working.  The people were not happy about this.  So, 11 of the Israel tribes wanted to split and make a new country. Jeroboam was the leader of this. When Solomon heard about their plot, Jeroboam had to escape. He ran away to Egypt. 

Rehoboam went to Shechem.  All of the Israelites went to Shechem to make him the king. 
[1] And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.


The man named Jeroboam (his father was named Nebat) had left Israel when Solomon was king.  He left and went to Egypt. When he heard that Solomon died, he came back.  He talked to Rehoboam.

[2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
[3] And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

Jeroboam told Rehoboam that Solomon had made their lives hard.  He said that if Rehoboam would be easier on them,  they would serve him.  Rehoboam told him to come back in 3 days. So, Jeroboam and the people with him left.

[4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
[5] And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

King Rehoboam talked to some of the leaders. They were old men who had helped Solomon.  He asked them what they thought. They told him to be good to Jeroboam and his people. They said if he was good to them and talked good to them, they would work for him forever.

[6] And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
[7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

But Rehoboam didn't take their advice.  He went and talked to some younger men and asked their opinion.   The younger men said he should tell them that he will be tougher on them than Solomon. He should tell them he will beat them with scorpions.
[8] But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
[9] And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
[10] And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
[11] For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Jeroboam and his people came to see Rehoboam on the third day.  That is what the king had told them to do.

[12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

Rehoboam talked to them badly.  He told them he would beat them with scorpions and be tougher on them than his father was.

[13] And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
[14] And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Rehoboam did not listen to the people of Israel. God was doing this.  God told Ahijah, the prophet from Shilon, that Jeroboam would be king. When the people saw that Rehoboam was not listening to them,  they said that they did not have part of David's inheritance.   They left and said David should just take care of his own family. But Rehoboam was still over the Israelites who lived in Judah.
[15] So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
[16] And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
[17] But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

King Rehoboam set a man named Hadoram all over Judah.  He would collect the taxes.  But, the other Israelites threw rocks at him until he died.  Rehoboam hurried and got in his chariot.  They travelled back to Jerusalem very fast.   Israel and the house of David were fighting after that time.

[18] Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
[19] And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
 


2 Chronicles 11

The priests and Levites come to live in Judah.


After Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he got a group of soldiers.  They were from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah.   There were 180,000 soldiers. They were going to fight with Israel. If they defeated Israel, Israel could be put back together. 
[1] And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

God spoke to Shemaiah, a man of God.  He said, "Talk to Rehoboam and the people in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Tell them not to go fight the other tribes. They should not fight because I am the one who made Israel divide.  Everyone should go home." So they obeyed God and went home.
[2] But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
[3] Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
[4] Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
 

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem.  He built cities in Judah to defend them.   He built these cities: Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Shoco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adorain, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron.  These cities had fences around them.
[5] And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
[6] He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
[7] And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
[8] And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
[9] And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
[10] And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.


He made the cities stronger and put leaders in charge.  They stored food, oil, and wine.

[11] And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

He put shields and spears in several cities. He made them very strong.  The tribes of Judah and Benjamin helped.
[12] And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

The priests and Levites who were in Israel came to Jerusalem.  Jeroboam and his sons had sent them away.  Jeroboam would not let them do their priest duties.
[13] And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
[14] For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:


Jeroboam picked new priests to worship the idols he made. He made calves and devils to worship.
[15] And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

The people in Israel who worshiped only God left Israel and went to Jerusalem.  That is where they sacrificed to God.
[16] And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

They made Judah (the southern part) strong. They made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong for 3 years. For 3 years, they followed God's laws like David and Solomon did.
[17] So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam had many wives. He married Mahalath. Her father was David's son Jerimoth. Another wife was Abihail. Her father was Jesse's son, Eliab. Rehoboam and Abihail had these 3 children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

[18] And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
[19] Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

Then he married Maachah. Her father was Absalom.  Their children were Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

[20] And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines. He had 28 sons and 60 daughters. But, he loved Maachah the most.
[21] And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

Rehoboam made Maachah's son, Abijah, to be the leader of all the children. He wanted him to be king.

[22] And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

He sent his children to live in different towns in Judah and Benjamin. He gave them a lot of food and supplies.  He found them wives.

[23] And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.
 


2 Chronicles 12

The king of Egypt attacks Judah because Judah is sinning.

After Rehoboam made the kingdom stronger, he started to not obey God's laws.  All of Israel did the same as him.
[1] And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
 

In Rehoboam's 5th year of being king, the king of Egypt, Shishak, came to fight against Jerusalem.  Jerusalem had sinned against the Lord. That is why Egypt attacked them.
[2] And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

 

Shishak had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 soldiers who rode horses, and more soldiers than he could count.  They included the people named the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
[3] With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.


Shishak defeated some of Judah's cities with fences around them.  Then, he came to Jerusalem.
[4] And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

The prophet named Shemaiah came to Rehoboam.  The leaders of Judah were with him.  Shemaiah said, "This is what the Lord says. You have left Me so I have left you so that Shishak will defeat you."
[5] Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.

The leaders and King Rehoboam became humble and sorry. They said, "The Lord God is righteous."  When God saw that they were humble and sorry, He told Shemaiah, "They are humble and sorry. So, I will not destroy them.  I will help them. I will not let Shishak destroy them."
[6] Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
[7] And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

God continued, "But they will be Shishak's servants. Then, they will see how it is different to serve a king instead of me."

[8] Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.


So, Shishak, the king of Egypt came to Jerusalem. He stole the treasures out of the temple and out of the king's house.  He took it all.  He also took the gold shields that Solomon made.

[9] So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Rehoboam then made some shields with brass. He gave them to the guards of his house.
[10] Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.


Rehoboam repents of his sins.


Rehoboam went into the Lord's house. The guard was with him.  He got the shields and took them to the guards' room.

[11] And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.

God was not angry after Rehoboam was humble and sorry. He told him he would not destroy him totally.  Everything in Judah went well.
[12] And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
 

Rehoboam got stronger in Jerusalem.  He was 41 years old when he became king.  He was king for 17 years.  He ruled in Jerusalem. This was the city that God picked from all of the Israelites' land.  Rehoboam's mother's name was Nanamah  She was an Amorite.
[13] So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

Rehoboam did evil things because he didn't get his heart ready to seek God.
[14] And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

Everything that Rehoboam did is written in the book by Shemaiah the prophet and Iddo. Rehoboam and Jeroboam always were fighting.
[15] Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

Rehoboam died was buried in Jerusalem. Then, his son, Abijah, became the king.
[16] And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
 


2 Chronicles 13


When Jeroboam had been king of the northern kingdom of Israel for 18 years, Abijah became the king of Judah. He was king for 3 years and lived in Jerusalem.  His mother's name was Michaiah.  Her father was Uriel, and he came from Gibeah.  Abijah  and Jeroboam fought a war. |
[1] Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
[2] He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

Abijah's army had 400,000 soldiers. Jeroboam had 8,000 soldiers.
[3] And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.

Abijah gave a speech on Mt. Zemaraim.  That is another name for Mt. Ephraim.  Abijah said, "Listen to me, Jeroboam, and all Israel. Don't you know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David and his descendants? They made a covenant promise.  But Jeroboam (his father was Nebat) is rebelling against the people he used to work for.
[4] And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
[5] Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
[6] Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.


Jeroboam had a group with him.  They were vain and evil men. They planed to go have a war with Solomon's son, Rehoboam. That was when Rehoboam was young and not strong enough to defeat them.
[7] And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

Now, you think  you can defeat Israel.  You have many soldiers.  You have golden calves that Jeroboam made for gods.
[8] And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.


You have thrown out the Lord's priests who were descendants of Aaron and the Levites.  You have made priests for yourself like priests from other countries.

[9] Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.


But we say the Lord is our God.  We have not forgotten Him and the priests. The priests do the Lord's work. They are descendants of Aaron and the Levites. They offer burnt sacrifices to God every morning and every evening.  They burn sweet incense.  The shewbread is setting on the table.  The gold candlesticks are there, too.  We are loyal to God, but you have left Him.
[10] But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
[11] And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

You see that God is with us. He is our leader.  His priests blow trumpets to call us to war against you.  Oh Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers.  You will not win.
[12] And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

Jeroboam and his army attacked from behind.  Some of them were in the front, too. Judah was blocked from the front and back.  They cried to God.  The priests blew their trumpets.  The men gave a shout.  While they were shouting, God struck Jeroboam and defeated his army.

[13] But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
[14] And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
[15] Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

The children of Israel ran away from Judah and went back to their homes.  God had saved them.

[16] And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

Abijah and his army defeated the soldiers of Israel.  There were 500,000 soldiers who died that day.

[17] And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
 

The children of Israel were defeated at that time.  The children of Judah succeeded because they relied on God for help.  They asked God for help.
[18] Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

Abijah chased Jeroboam. He took cities from him They defeated these cities:  Bethel, Jeshnah, and Ephrain.
[19] And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshnah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

Jeroboam never did recover while Abijah was king.  The Lord struck Jeroboam, and he died.
[20] Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

Abijah married 14 wives and had 22 sons and 16 daughters.
[21] But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

The other things that Abijah did and things he said were written in a book by Iddo.
[22] And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.


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