2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

דברי הימים ב

Reading 2,16 - 36 Chapters - 822 verses - 26,074 words

Vital Statistics

The Building of the Temple in Chronicles

    The Chronicler has used the Pentateuchal history as a model for his account of the reigns of David and Solomon. Similarly, the Pentateuchal record of the building of the tabernacle affects his account of the building of the temple:

    1. The building of the tabernacle was entrusted to Bezalel and Oholiab (Ex 35:30-36:7)), and they provide the Chronicler's model for the relationship of Solomon and Huram-Abi (2Ch 2:13). It is significant that the only references to Bezalel outside the book of Exodus are in Chronicles (1Ch 2:20; 2Ch 1:5).

    Solomon is the new Bezalel: (1) Both Solomon and Bezalel are designated by name for their tasks by God; they are the only workers on their projects to be chosen by name (Ex 31:2; 35:30-36:2; 38:22-23; 1Ch 28:6). (2) Both are from the tribe of Judah (Ex 31:2; 35:30; 1Ch 2:20; 3:10). (3) Both receive the Spirit to endow them with wisdom (Ex. 31:3; 35:30-31; 2Ch 1:1-13), and Solomon's vision at Gibeon (2Ch 1:3-13) dominates the preface to the account of the temple construction (2Ch 2-7). (4) Both build a bronze altar for the sanctuary (2Ch 1:5; 4:1; 7:7) - significantly, the bronze altar is not mentioned in the summary list of Huram-Abi's work (4:12-16). (5) Both make the sanctuary furnishings (Ex 31:1-10; 37:10-29; 2Ch 4:19-22).  

    Similarly, Huram-Abi becomes the new Oholiab: (1) In the account of the temple building in Kings, Huram-Abi is not mentioned until after the story of the main construction of temple and palace has been told (1Ki 7:13-45); in Chronicles he is introduced as being involved in the building work from the beginning, just as Oholiab worked on the tabernacle from the beginning (Ex 31:6; 2Ch 2:13). (2) Kings speaks only of Huram-Abi's skill in casting bronze (1Ki 7:14); in Chronicles, however, his list of skills is the same as Oholiab's (Ex 31:1-6; 35:30-35:2; 38:22-23; 2Ch 2:14). (3) Kings reports that the mother of Huram-Abi was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali (1Ki 7:14); Chronicles, estates that she was a widow from the tribe of Dan (2Ch 2:14), thus giving Huram-Abi the same ancestry as Oholiab (Ex 31:6; 35:34; 38:23). 

    2. The plans for both tabernacle and temple are given by God (Ex 25:1-30:37; see Ex 25:9,40; 27:8; see also 1Ch 28:11-19 - not mentioned in Samuel and Kings).   

    3. The spoils of war are used as building materials for both tabernacle and temple (Ex3:21-22; 12:35-36; see 1Ch 18:6-11 - not mentioned in Samuel and Kings).  

    4. The people contribute willingly and generously for both structures (Ex 25:1-7; 36:3-7; see 1Ch 29:1-9 - not mentioned in Samuel and Kings.)

    5. The glory cloud appears at the dedication of both structures (Ex 40:34-35; 2Ch 7:1-3).

God' character in 2 Chronicles

Christ in 2 Chronicles

    In 2 Chronicles, the line of David still remains protected by God. Solomon carries on David's preparation to build the temple to the Lord. In the New Testament, Christ likens Himself to the temple: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). The temple Solomon built was eventually destroyed. Yet, Christ promises believers an eternal temple in Himself. In Revelation 21:22, the New Jerusalem has no temple for "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."    

Notes