II Chronicles

Second Chronicles is the 14th book of the Old Testament. Its final verses indicate that it was probably written after the release of the exiles from Babylon in 538 BC. However the absence of Hellenistic (that is devotion to the Greek language through written style) influence might suggest that Second Chronicles was written before the Alexandrian period (before 331 BC). The majority of interpreters have dated Second Chronicles during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Indeed, the traditional Jewish view is that Ezra wrote I and II Chronicles.

This book was written for historical and theological reasons. The Chronicler makes extensive use of historical documents and devotion to numerical and chronological detail such as in II Chronicles 14:1-9 and 16:12-13 where it is evident he wished his readers to have a keen knowledge of the historical record. The Chronicler also wrote to convey a relevant theological message, namely, to encourage and guide the reader as he sought the full restoration of the kingdom.

One of its most famous passages, often quoted by American Christians as a call to nationwide repentance, is II Chronicles 7:14 (KJV translation):

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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

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