SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
2 Chronicles 33:1 through 36:23

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.” (2 Chronicles 34:21)

BACKGROUND

Today’s text describes the reigns of the last six kings of Judah and concludes the books of Chronicles. From his vantage point in the post-exilic period, the author reviewed the Israelite monarchy in order to encourage God’s people to keep their faith and traditions of worship alive. 

Second Chronicles summarizes the reigns of twenty kings of Judah, spanning from 970 B.C. to 586 B.C., when Judah was conquered by the forces of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and ceased to exist as an independent nation. The Northern Kingdom of Israel preceded Judah into captivity in 722 B.C. when the nation fell to Assyria. As in 1 Chronicles, the author’s focus in 2 Chronicles was on moral lessons from the reigns of Judah’s rulers, rather than a complete record of historical facts. For example, he devoted two entire chapters to the rule of righteous King Josiah, while the reigns of the final four evil kings of Judah are summarized in just sixteen verses. 

In today’s text, chapter 33 describes the reign of Manasseh, who followed his father Hezekiah in ruling Judah. Manasseh was a desperately evil king, but when he faced the bitter consequences of his sins, he humbly repented. God restored him to the throne of Judah, and he went on to institute spiritual reform in the nation. However, that reform was short-lived; Manasseh’s son and successor, Amon, was also evil and was killed by his servants after just two years on the throne. Chapters 34-35 are a record of the reign of King Josiah, who ruled for thirty-one years—a time of peace, prosperity, and reform in the nation. The concluding chapter of 2 Chronicles summarizes the reigns of the nation’s last four kings: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim (originally Eliakim), Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah (originally Mattaniah). The final, chaotic years of Judah are covered in verses 17-21, which describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the people to Babylon. 

The last two verses of 2 Chronicles record the decree of King Cyrus of Persia in 538 B.C., which allowed the Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple. In orchestrating their return, God reassured the people of His presence and reaffirmed that His promises would never fail.

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QUESTIONS

1. In any ranking of corrupt kings, Manasseh would be near the top. Several of the heinous sins of this fourteenth ruler of Judah are mentioned in chapter 33. Verse 2 states that he “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen . . .” Manasseh’s apostasy and evil actions influenced the people of Judah to turn away from the reforms of his father, Hezekiah. However, when Manasseh was carried away captive to Babylon, he “besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly” (verse 12), crying out to God for deliverance. What details provided in the text prove that Manasseh’s repentance was genuine? How did God respond? 2 Chronicles 33:13-16
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2. Even the brief description in chapter 33 of Manasseh’s actions before he repented is horrifying. He worshiped pagan gods, rebuilt the high places destroyed by his father Hezekiah, and offered his own sons as burnt sacrifices. His blatant sin could make one wonder how God could ever forgive such an individual. What does God’s response to Manasseh tell us about His nature?
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3. Amon, who followed Manasseh on the throne of Judah, was twenty-two years of age when he began to rule. The author of Chronicles described Amon’s reign only briefly, and characterized this king as being “evil in the sight of the Lord.” When Amon was assassinated by his servants, the people appointed his son Josiah as his successor. Although Josiah’s father and grandfather had set an example of wickedness, Josiah chose to follow God. What actions early in Josiah’s reign indicated his purpose to lead Judah in seeking the God of David? 2 Chronicles 34:3-7
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4. After Josiah’s energetic campaign to rid Judah of idolatry, he began cleansing the neglected Temple in Jerusalem, much as his predecessor Hezekiah had done (see 2 Chronicles 29). In the process, God’s Word was rediscovered. When it was read to Josiah, he was shocked and distressed to see how far his nation had departed from God’s commandments. What did Josiah do in response to what he heard from God’s Word? 2 Chronicles 34:19-22, 29-33
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5. Chapter 35 focuses on the celebration of the Passover called for by Josiah as part of the reforms he instituted in Judah. The last Passover of note had taken place in the days of Hezekiah (see 2 Chronicles 30:1-3) and Josiah knew that after so many years had elapsed, it would take an enormous amount of preparation to properly conduct this one. Verse 2 indicates that he “set the priests in their charges [duties], and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord.” The priests needed to be both “set” (appointed) and “encouraged” to accomplish the needed work. In verses 4 and 6, Josiah commanded the Levites to “prepare yourselves” and to “sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren.” In what ways can we prepare ourselves to serve God effectively and offer spiritual encouragement to others?
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6. The battle described in verses 20-24 of chapter 35 took place in 609 B.C. Three years earlier, forces of the growing Babylonian Empire had overthrown the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, and Pharoah Necho of Egypt had allied himself with the remaining Assyrians in an attempt to halt Babylon’s further expansion. Necho’s armies marched through Judah on their way to join the Assyrians. Verse 21 indicates that Josiah was warned not to interfere by a pagan king. Although this king was momentarily used as a messenger for God, this was an unusual source for counsel. As Christians, where do we go for counsel and instruction?
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7. Chapter 36 covers the final years of Judah by summarizing the reigns of the nation’s last four kings—all of whom were evil. Verses 14-16 indicate that the people “transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen.” They polluted the Temple, mocked God’s messengers, and despised His words. What judgment did God send upon them as a result? 2 Chronicles 36:17-20
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8. The concluding words of 2 Chronicles 36 (verses 22-23) are a brief appendix in which the author recorded the proclamation of Cyrus, King of Persia, and his request for volunteers to return to Jerusalem to build a house for God. What is indicated by the fact that Cyrus’ spirit was “stirred up” by the Lord seventy years after the enactment of God’s judgment?
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CONCLUSION

As we read the Books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, we are reminded that trouble comes when the laws of God are abandoned, and blessings come when the instructions of God are followed. This was an important message for the exiles at the end of their captivity in Babylon, and it is still an important message for us today.