2 Chronicles 36 is a parallel chapter to 2 Kings 25. It describes the decline of Judah as a nation leading up to their 70-year captivity in Babylon. God was so mad at His rebellious people, He allowed Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to destroy Jerusalem, the Temple, and to exile the people of Judah. But the end of the chapter leaves a glimmer of hope. Around 539 B.C., Babylon was conquered, and the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great, allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and begin the process of rebuilding.

In 2 Chronicles 35, Josiah and the people of God observe the Passover Feast in Jerusalem. The end of the chapter documents the death of Josiah during a battle between Judah and Pharaoh Neco of Egypt.

In 2 Chronicles 34, Josiah’s men find the Book of the Law during a restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. The words of the books strike fear into the people of Judah because they realize they haven’t been following God’s instructions. God warns the nation they will be punished for the neglect of His laws, but He delays the punishment until after the death of godly king Josiah.

In 2 Chronicles 33, Manasseh takes the throne of Judah. He was an exceptionally evil king, which led God to punish him by allowing the army of Assyria to take him prisoner. Astonishingly, while in his captivity, Manasseh repented, God forgave him, and God let him return to Jerusalem. Manasseh’s story is an incredible example of God’s grace and forgiveness.

In 2 Chronicles 32, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, set his eye on conquering Jerusalem. He sent servants to Jerusalem to mock their military, their king (Hezekiah), and their God. God was angry with the Assyrians for their pride, and He sent an angel which killed 185,000 of their men. Sennacherib returned to his land in shame. The end of the chapter briefly summarizes Hezekiah’s reign and documents his death.

After celebrating the Passover Feast in chapter 30, 2 Chronicles 31 documents how Hezekiah organized the priests and Levites who were to serve at the Temple in Jerusalem. He also reinstituted the tithe, which was a collection of money and possessions from the people that had been commanded by God in His law. These tithes/contributions were used to support the priests as they worked at the Temple.

In 2 Chronicles 30, King Hezekiah of Judah invited all the people of Israel and Judah to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. The feasts had been neglected for many years during the reigns of wicked kings. The people gathered in Jerusalem for a great celebration. They were so happy, they extended the typical 7-day feast to 14 days.

In 2 Chronicles 29, Hezekiah takes the throne of Judah and immediately begins reforming the nation, starting with Jerusalem and the Temple. After his father locked the Temple doors to serve idols, Hezekiah reopened them, renovated the Lord’s house, and reinstated the worship of the true God.

Ahaz led the nation of Judah into idolatry and ruin. He closed the Temple and replaced the worship of the true God with the worship of idols. Due to his wickedness, God allowed the Assyrians, Edomites, Philistines, and Syrians to oppress Judah. Ahaz ruled as king of Judah for 16 years. In his relatively short reign, he managed to spread sin far and wide throughout the borders of the southern kingdom.   

The short chapter of 2 Chronicles 27 records the reign of King Jotham in Judah. He was a righteous king who loved the Lord, and the Lord blessed him for his faithfulness. Jotham subjected the Ammonites and required them to pay a substantial yearly tribute. Jotham reigned 16 years in Judah.

2 Chronicles 26 documents the reign of Uzziah as king in Judah. God blessed Uzziah when he initially took the throne. Judah subjected their enemies and enjoyed prosperity. But Uzziah grew proud as his strength increased. This pride culminated in him entering the Temple of the Lord, which all but the priests were forbidden from doing. God punished Uzziah’s pride by afflicting him with leprosy.

In 2 Chronicles 25, Amaziah takes the throne of Judah after Joash’s death. God gives Amaziah a military victory against the Edomites, but Amaziah betrays the Lord by trading Him in for the God’s of the Edomites. As punishment for abandoning Him, God allowed the Israelite army to defeat Amaziah and plunder Jerusalem. Several years later, Amaziah was later assassinated.  

With the help of Jehoiada the priest, Joash became a strong king in Judah. 2 Chronicles 24 documents his restoration of the Temple, and how he collected money from the people to complete the repairs. Unfortunately, after Jehoiada’s death, Joash turned from the Lord. He became so evil that he murdered Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, for rebuking him. God punished Joash and he was assassinated by his own servants.

Queen Athaliah was reigning over Judah following her murder of the royal family, but unknown to her, one of the heirs to the throne survived. After being hidden for 7 years, Jehoiada the priest revealed Joash to the people of Judah and declared him king. The people accepted the coronation and had evil Athaliah executed. Jehoiada and Joash began reforms in Judah. They tore down the temple of Baal and made a covenant to serve the true God.

Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram of Judah, became king after his father’s death. He reigned for only one year, before the Lord removed him. He was wicked and followed the counsel of the evil house of Ahab. God used a man named Jehu to kill both Ahaziah and Jehoram (Joram) the king of Israel. After Ahaziah’s death, his mother, Athaliah, killed the royal family and seized power for herself. But she failed to kill one of Ahaziah’s sons, Joash, an oversight that would lead to her downfall 7 years later.

Wicked King Jehoram ascends to the throne of Judah in 2 Chronicles 21. He did not follow in the righteous footsteps of his father Jehoshaphat but introduced all kings of wickedness to God’s people. During his reign God permitted the Arabians and the Philistines to plunder Jerusalem. God punished Jehoram with a bowel disease that eventually killed him.

The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites marched against Judah. King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and cried out to the Lord, acknowledging their powerlessness against the vast army. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied that God would give Judah victory. When Judah met their enemies for battle, God caused their enemies to turn on each other. Judah found themselves victorious without ever having to draw their swords.

2 Chronicles 19 is a short chapter which documents two primary things. First, it records the rebuke that Jehu delivered to King Jehoshaphat after trying to help wicked King Ahab in a military battle to win control of Jabesh-gilead. Second, it tells us how Jehoshaphat appointed judges in all his cities to uphold justice and righteousness. In addition to these judges, the king appointed a council in Jerusalem to decide on disputed cases.

The 18th chapter of 2 Chronicles records a battle between Ahab of Israel and the king of Syria over the city of Ramoth-gilead. Against the advice of the prophet Micaiah, Ahab allied with Jehoshaphat of Judah to try to reclaim Ramoth-gilead. Despite disguising himself for the battle, Ahad was killed by an arrow during the fighting, just as Micaiah predicted. After Ahab’s death, Ahaziah, his son, ruled in his place over Israel.

In 2 Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat becomes king of Judah and begins reforming the nation. He sent Levites into the cities of Judah to teach the laws of God to the citizens. He tore down idols and high places, and his righteousness brought God’s blessing on the nation. Under Jehoshaphat, Judah grew strong and prosperous.