The kingdom is yours, Yahweh, and you are honored as head of all things.

12 Riches and honor are in front of you.

You rule everything.

You hold power and strength in your hands, and you can make anyone great and strong.

13 "Our Elohim, we thank you and praise your wonderful name.

14 But who am I and who are my people that you enable us to give so generously?

Everything comes from you.

We give you only what has come from your hands.

15 To you we are all like our ancestors- foreigners without permanent homes.

Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.

There's no hope for them.

16 "Yahweh, our Elohim, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17 I know, my Elohim, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I've been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18 Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people's deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19 Make my son Solomon completely committed to you so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned."

Solomon Is Made King 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise Yahweh your Elohim !" So the whole assembly praised Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors and knelt in front of Yahweh and the king.

21 The next day they sacrificed to Yahweh. They sacrificed burnt offerings to Yahweh: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22 That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of Yahweh. For the second time they made David's son Solomon king. On Yahweh's behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.

23 Then Solomon sat on Yahweh's throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David's sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25 Yahweh made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.

David's Reign-1 Kings 2:10-12 26 David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27 He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28 He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.

29 Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seera Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30 It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.

a 1:32 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

b 1:36 Genesis 36:12, Greek; Masoretic Text "Kenaz, and Timnath, and Amalek."

a 2:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Kings 5:11, Greek, Syriac, Targum, Egyptian "Darda."

a 2:46 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

a 3:9 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

b 3:21 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts "and Jeshiah, the sons of Rephaiah."

c 3:21 Greek, Latin; Masoretic Text "the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah."

d 4:13 Greek; Masoretic Text omits "and Meonothai."

a 6:1 1 Chronicles 6:1-81 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 5:27-6:66 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 6:78 The last part of verse 79 has been moved to verse 78 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.

b 7:14 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

a 7:15 Or "sister's."

a 8:14 Greek; Masoretic Text "Ahio."

b 8:29 Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Targum, Latin, 1 Chronicles 9:35; Masoretic Text omits "Jeiel."

a 9:22 A seer is a prophet.

a 11:8 The exact place referred to as "the Millo" is unknown.

a 11:11 2 Samuel 23:8, Greek; Masoretic Text "thirty."

a 12:4 1 Chronicles 12:4b-40 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 12:5-41 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 12:33 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

a 13:2 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

b 13:6 Or "cherubim."

c 13:9 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

a 15:18 Greek; Masoretic Text adds "Ben," or "son."

a 15:20 Unknown musical term.

b 15:21 Unknown musical term.

c 15:27 Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest's clothing. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.

a 16:15 Or "covenant."

a 17:17 Hebrew meaning of this sentence uncertain.

a 18:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, 2 Samuel 8:17, Greek, Syriac, Latin, Arabic "Ahimelech."

a 20:3 One Hebrew manuscript, 2 Samuel 12:31; other Hebrew manuscripts "saws."

b 20:4 Or "a descendant of Hushah."

c 21:9 A seer is a prophet.

a 21:15 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.

b 21:23 Threshers are devices used to separate grain from its husks.

a 23:10 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Latin "Ziza" (see verse 11).

a 23:28 "Clean" refers to anything that Moses' Teachings say is presentable to God.

a 24:23 Greek, 1 Chronicles 23:19; Masoretic Text lacks "for Hebron's descendants."

b 25:5 A seer is a prophet.

a 26:18 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

b 26:28 A seer is a prophet.

a 27:25 The last part of verse 32 has been moved to the beginning of verse 25 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.

a 28:18 Or "cherubim."

a 29:10 Or "May you be praised forever and ever, Yahweh Elohim of our ancestor Israel."

a 29:29 A seer is a prophet.

Introduction to 2 CHRONICLES.

In 1 Chronicles, we read about David's detailed plans for the temple. In 2 Chronicles, Solomon builds the temple and God fills it with his glory, renewing his solemn covenant with David. If Solomon is faithful, God promises him an eternal dynasty. But if Solomon or his descendants turn away and serve other gods, Israel will be uprooted. Obedience begins with orthodoxy, literally "right worship," submission to the God of Abraham, Moses, and David.

This has been the message of all the historical books so far. But while 1 and 2 Kings traced the repeated cycle of disobedience and disaster through the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, 2 Chronicles focuses exclusively on Judah. And while the books of the Kings concentrated on the people's sins, the chronicler spotlights God's abundant mercy to those who repent and return to him.

This is what the book's first readers, recently returned refugees from Babylon, need to hear. They already know about punishment: their homeland is a shambles and their temple no longer exists. The work of rebuilding is beginning. Can they hope to succeed? Yes! says the chronicler, recalling God's message when Solomon's temple was dedicated: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country" (7:14).

God repeatedly shows mercy in 2 Chronicles. Solomon's unwise son, Rehoboam, eventually humbles himself and avoids destruction. Even the incredibly vile Manasseh-a man who put an idol in God's temple, practiced witchcraft, and burned his own son as a pagan sacrifice-desperately prays to the God of Israel from his prison in Babylon, and God grants his request. Manasseh then returns to Judah and spends the rest of his life fortifying Jerusalem, destroying idols, and encouraging his people to worship God alone.

The theme of 2 Chronicles is as valid today as it was twentyfive hundred years ago. Worship the God who revealed himself to your ancestors. Like the good kings of old, serve him and him alone, and he will abundantly bless you. But if you sin, humble yourself and return to him, and he will forgive you. God's mercy has no limits.

Key Names of God in 2 Chronicles Yahweh LORD Elohim God Ruach Elohim the Spirit of God Ruach Yahweh the LORD'S Spirit 2 CHRONICLES.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30.

31 32 33 34 35 36.

God Appears to Solomon-1 Kings 3:1-15; 10:26-29 1 1 Solomon, son of David, strengthened his position over the kingdom. Yahweh his Elohim was with him and made him very powerful.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel-to the commanders of regiments and battalions, judges, every prince, and the heads of Israel's families. 3 Then Solomon and the entire assembly went to the place of worship in Gibeon because Elohim's tent of meeting was there. Moses, Yahweh's servant, had made the tent in the desert. 4 (However, David had already brought Elohim's ark from Kiriath Jearim to a place he had prepared for it. He had put up a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 The bronze altar that Bezalel, son of Uri and grandson of Hur, had made was in front of Yahweh's tent. There Solomon and the assembly worshiped Yahweh. 6 In Yahweh's presence Solomon went to the bronze altar in front of the tent of meeting and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

7 That night Elohim appeared to Solomon. He said, "What can I give you?"

8 Solomon responded to Elohim, "You've shown great love to my father David, and you've made me king in his place. 9 Now, Yahweh Elohim , you've kept the promise you made to my father David. You've made me king of people who are as numerous as specks of dust on the ground. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?"

11 Elohim replied to Solomon, "I know this request is from your heart. You didn't ask for riches, fortunes, honor, or the death of those who hate you. You didn't even ask for a long life. Instead, you've asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge my people, over whom I made you king. 12 So wisdom and knowledge will be given to you. I will also give you riches, fortunes, and honor like no other king before or after you."

13 Solomon went from the tent of meeting at the place of worship in Gibeon to Jerusalem. And he ruled Israel.

14 Solomon built up his army with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed some in chariot cities and others with himself in Jerusalem.

15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.

16 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue for a fixed price. 17 They imported each chariot from Egypt for 15 pounds of silver and each horse for 6 ounces of silver. For the same price they obtained horses to export to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

Solomon Assembles the Labor and Materials for the Temple-1 Kings 5:1-18; 7:13-14 2 a1 Solomon gave orders to begin building the temple for Yahweh's name and a royal palace for himself.

2 Solomon drafted 70,000 men to carry heavy loads, 80,000 to quarry stones in the mountains, and 3,600 foremen. 3 Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre by saying, "Do what you did for my father David. You sent him cedar so that he could build a palace to live in. 4 I want to build the temple for the name of Yahweh my Elohim. I want to dedicate it to him, burn sweet-smelling incense in his presence, and have rows of bread there continually. I want to sacrifice burnt offerings every morning and evening, on weekly worship days, New Moon Festivals, and during the annual festivals appointed by Yahweh our Elohim. (These festivals are always to be celebrated by Israel.) 5 The temple I am building will be great because our Elohim is greater than all other gods. 6 But who is able to build him a temple when heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold him? Who am I to build him a temple except as a place to sacrifice in his presence?

7 "Send me a man who has the skill to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron as well as purple, dark red, and violet cloth. He should know how to make engravings with the skilled men whom my father David provided for me in Judah and Jerusalem. 8 Send me cedar, cypress, and sandalwood from Lebanon. I know that your servants are skilled Lebanese lumberjacks. My workers will work with your workers. 9 They'll prepare plenty of lumber for me, because the temple I want to build will be large and astonishing. 10 I will give your lumberjacks 120,000 bushels of ground wheat, 120,000 bushels of barley, 200,000 gallons of wine, and 200,000 gallons of olive oil."

11 Then King Huram of Tyre responded to Solomon by sending a letter that said, "Because Yahweh loves his people, he made you their king." 12 Huram added, "May Yahweh Elohim of Israel be praised. He made the heavens and the earth and has given King David a wise son who has insight and intelligence and can build Yahweh's temple and a royal palace. 13 And now, I'm sending a man with skill and intelligence-Huram Abi. 14 He was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan, and his father is a native of Tyre. Huram knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, purple, violet, and dark red cloth, and linen. He also knows how to make all kinds of engravings and follow any set of plans that will be given to him. He can work with your skilled workmen and the skilled workmen of His Majesty David, your father. 15 Your Majesty may now send the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised the workers. 16 We will cut all the lumber you need in Lebanon. Then we will make rafts out of it and send them to you in Joppa by sea. You can take it from there to Jerusalem."

17 Solomon counted all the men who were foreigners in the land of Israel, as his father David had counted them. Solomon counted 153,600 foreigners. 18 He made 70,000 of them carry heavy loads, 80,000 of them quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 of them supervise the work as foremen.

The Temple Built and Furnished-1 Kings 6:1-38; 7:13-51 3 1 Solomon began to build Yahweh's temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh appeared to his father David. There David had prepared the site on the threshing floora of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.

3 This is how Solomon laid the foundation to build Elohim's temple. It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. (They used the old standard measurement.) 4 The entrance hall in front of the main room was 30 feet wide (the same as the width of the temple) and 30 feet high. He covered its inside walls with pure gold. 5 He paneled the larger building with cypress, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with designs in the form of palm trees and chains. 6 He covered the building with gems to beautify it and used gold from Parvaim. 7 He also overlaid the building, the rafters, the threshold, the walls, and the doors with gold, and he carved angelsb into the walls.

8 He made the most holy place. It was as long as the temple was wide, 30 feet long. It was also 30 feet wide. He overlaid it with 45,000 pounds of fine gold. 9 The gold nails weighed 20 ounces. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.

10 In the most holy place he made two sculptured angels and covered them with gold. 11 The combined length of the angels' wings was 30 feet. A wing of one of the angels was 7 feet long and touched the wall of the building. Its other wing was 7 feet long and touched one wing of the other. 12 The wing of the other one of the angels was 7 feet long and touched the other wall of the building. Its other wing was 7 feet long and touched the wing of the first. So the angels' combined wingspan was 30 feet. 13 They stood on their feet and faced the main hall. 14 Solomon made the canopy of violet, purple, and dark red cloth and of linen and decorated it with angels.

15 He made two pillars for the front of the temple. They were 53 feet long, and the capital on each pillar was 7 feet high. 16 He made chains for the inner room and also put them on the capitals. He made 100 pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin [He Establishes] and the one on the left Boaz [In Him Is Strength].

4 1 He made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.

2 Huram made a pool from cast metal. It was 15 feet in diameter. It was round, 7 feet high, and had a circumference of 45 feet. 3 Under the rim were two rows of figurines shaped like bulls all around the 45-foot circumference of the pool. They were cast in metal when the pool was cast. 4 The pool was set on 12 metal bulls. Three bulls faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The pool was set on them, and their hindquarters were toward the center of the pool. 5 The pool was three inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, shaped like a lily's bud. It held 18,000 gallons.

6 Huram also made ten basins for washing and put five on the south side and five on the north side. The priests rinsed the meat prepared for the burnt offerings in them. They used the pool to wash themselves.

7 Huram made ten gold lamp stands according to their specifications and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. 8 He made ten tables and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north side. And he made 100 gold bowls.