THE SECOND BOOK OF THE
CHRONICLES

As for the appellation of this book, and the previous one, the reader may consult the Content of the first book of Chronicles. In this second is the history of the people of God, and their kings, as the same was left in the previous book, continued unto the Babylonian captivity. Now, although here is also mention made of the kings of Israel, who are so called in a special manner, after the ten tribes had separated themselves from the house of David, yet in this book is chiefly described by Ezra (as is perceived) the history of the kings of Judah. There were remarkable reasons for this. For, besides that Judah had still somewhat kept the true doctrine and the pure worship of God, from which the ten tribes had so far departed that God at length permitted them to be carried away captive out of their own land by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, without hope of deliverance, and that consequently Judah was then properly the only people of God, whose history Ezra especially intended. The MESSIAH was also to come of that tribe, even of the royal family of David according to the flesh. For which cause the history of His royal ancestors, from the beginning until His coming, was carefully to be recorded, in order that the promises of God might be found true. And forasmuch as the history of David is written in the previous book, therefore now this second begins with an account of the reign of Solomon, who succeeded in his father’s stead. He is extraordinarily endued with great wisdom, which he had desired of God, to which were added both riches, which he bestowed and laid upon the building of the temple and other buildings, and honor, which he received of the nations roundabout. His kingdom was nevertheless divided for his sins, when Rehoboam, his son, succeeded in his stead. Ten tribes revolted from Judah, making choice of Jeroboam for their king. After Rehoboam followed successively in order in the kingdom of Judah: Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah; many of whom were idolaters, some maintaining the true religion and the pure worship of God, as Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Hezekiah, Josiah; although they were unequal to one another in godly zeal and true piety. Likewise some of them either turned aside from good to evil, as Joash and Amaziah, or turned from evil to good as Manasseh. In the meanwhile the Lord never ceased to call as well the kings as the entire congregation to repentance, using for this end the ministry of the prophets, who all this time followed each other in great numbers, even from Elijah and Elisha, unto Ezekiel and Daniel. Since they were not hearkened unto, but contemned and derided by the greatest multitude, therefore God at length suffered this kingdom of Judah to be overpowered by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, who carried the Jews away captive into his land. There they remained seventy years, until Cyrus, who conveyed the monarchy of the Babylonians to the Persians, and gave them liberty to return home into their own country, as this further appears in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Now, there is in this book, according to the opinion of some, contained an history of 424 years.

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THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES

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THE SECOND BOOK OF THE
CHRONICLES