The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV, page 220
30:1 Israel. These would be the remnant of the northern 10 tribes (vv. 6, 25) left in the land or escaped from the enemy after the northern kingdom was taken captive following the invasion by Assyria in 722 B.C. (2 Kin. 17:1–9). Ephraim and Manasseh were the leading tribes.
30:2 second month. This call to Passover was to unite the nation again in worship. Normally the Passover would be in the first month (Mar./Apr.). The rule of exception for individuals who were unclean or absent (Num. 9:9–11) was applied to the whole nation.
30:5 Beersheba to Dan. These two cities were at the extreme ends of the country, so this expression was a way of saying, “from S to N.”
30:6 return. The nation was required by law to annually celebrate 3 feasts in Jerusalem: 1) Passover; 2) Pentecost; and 3) Tabernacles (cf. Ex. 23; Lev. 23; Num. 28, 29; Deut. 16). God would have returned to bless the people of the northern apostate and idolatrous kingdom of Israel if they had returned to Him. Cf. 15:2; 20:20; 26:5; 31:21, where this recurring theme is affirmed.
30:8 stiff-necked. This is the same kind of language used by Stephen in Acts 7:51–53, which in effect says, “Don’t be obstinate.”
30:9 Not all the people of Israel had been taken captive in the invasion of the Assyrians during Hezekiah’s reign (cf. 2 Kin. 17:5–23; 18:9–12).
30:10 Scorn was the response of these tribes, showing their wickedness even after judgment on them had begun. Note v. 18 for the additional brazen sin of these tribes.
30:13 second month. Normally, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were held in the first month; however, at this special time it was better to be one month late, than not at all.
30:14 These altars had been erected to idols by Ahaz. See 2 Chr. 28:25; 29:16. Hezekiah was able to cleanse the city of idols and altars, something his predecessors failed to do.
30:18–20 The attitude of the heart was to prevail over their outward activity (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Jer. 7:22, 23; Hos. 6:6). Hezekiah reminded them that God forgives even the most heinous sins, and He did (v. 20).
30:23 This speaks to the authenticity of revival in that the people knew how sinful they had been and how desperately in need of cleansing they actually were. They doubled the time for the feast which pointed to God’s salvation and deliverance of the faithful.
30:26 nothing like this. A telling statement about the spiritual degeneracy of the divided kingdom since the time of Solomon over 215 years earlier.
2 Chronicles 31
31:1 Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. The first two referred to the southern kingdom; the last two represented the northern kingdom. The Passover had been a real revival and they carried the conviction of it back to their homes to “utterly destroy” all the idolatry. So the reign of idolatry ended, and the worship of God was restored. The people went home in hope of divine blessing and a future of peace and prosperity.
31:2–19 divisions of the priests and the Levites. The priestly service had not been supported by the government during the reign of the wicked kings, so Hezekiah restored that support as God originally ordained it (cf. 1 Chr. 24:1ff.; 2 Chr. 8:12–14).
31:6 tithe. Since the priests and Levites served the nation, they were to be supported by the people through the taxation of the tithe. According to Lev. 27:30–33 and Num. 18:21, 24, the people were to give the tenth (tithe) to supply all the needs of the Levites. Malachi 3:8 says they were robbing God when they did not give the tithe. Deuteronomy 12:6, 7 called for a second tithe that was to support the nation’s devotion to the temple by being used for the national festivals at the temple in Jerusalem. This was called the festival tithe. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29 called for a third tithe every 3 years for the poor. The sum of this tax plan totaled about 23 percent annually.
31:7 third…seventh month. From the time of the Feast of First Fruits or Pentecost in May/June until the Feast of Tabernacles in Sept./Oct.
31:11 rooms. These were stone houses, granaries, and cellars to replace the old decayed ones. In these places the Levites stored the tithes (v. 12).
31:16 three years old. Possibly, this refers to children of the priests who accompanied their fathers and received their portions in the temple. Under 3 they were probably still being nursed, so needed no food. The families of the priests were cared for (v. 18).
31:17 twenty years old. See notes on 1 Chr. 23:3. Cf. Num. 4:3; 28:24.
31:19 common-lands. This refers to the 48 Levitical cities (cf. Josh. 21:1–42). The tithes-taxes collected from everyone were used not only for festivals at the temple, but also for regular daily support of the priests living and leading throughout the Land (see note on v. 6).
31:20, 21 See notes on 2 Kin. 18:5–7.
2 Chronicles 32
32:1–23 Hezekiah’s dealings with Sennacherib, king of Assyria (ca. 705–681 B.C.). See notes on 2 Kin. 18:13—19:37; Is. 36, 37. The Assyrian king came because Hezekiah, determined to recover the independence of his nation, refused to pay the tribute his father had bound him to pay to Assyria. Sennacherib retaliated, and Hezekiah fortified the city (v. 5) and trusted God (vv. 8, 11), who delivered them (vv. 21, 22) and was glorified (v. 23).
32:24–26 See notes on 2 Kin. 20:1–11 and Is. 38.
32:27–31 See notes on 2 Kin. 20:12–20 and Is. 39.
32:30 A 1,700 ft. long tunnel cut through solid rock (below Jerusalem) redirected water from the spring Gihon outside of Jerusalem (to the E) toward the S of Jerusalem into the pool of Siloam within the city to provide water in time of siege. The tunnel was a remarkable feat of engineering and boring skill, often 60 ft. below the ground and large enough to walk through. It was discovered in 1838, but not until 1909 was it cleared of the debris left by the destruction of Jerusalem back in 586 B.C. This may not have been the first water shaft, since David may have entered Jerusalem 300 years earlier through a water shaft (cf. 2 Sam. 5:6–8).
32:31 Babylon. This empire was gradually gaining power as Assyria declined due to internal strife and weak kings. Assyria was crushed in 612 B.C. and Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, became the world ruler (cf. 2 Kin. 20:14).
32:32 Isaiah. Cf. Is. 1:1.
2 Chronicles 33
33:1–20 The reign of Manasseh (ca. 695–642 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 21:1–18.
33:1–10 See notes on 2 Kin. 21:1–10.
33:6 Hinnom. This valley to the S and E of the temple was where the worship of Molech involved burning children to death (Ps. 106:37). This was forbidden in Lev. 18:21; 20:2–5; Deut 18:10. Such horrible practices appeared in Israel from the time of Ahaz (cf. 28:3).
33:11–17 God’s retribution was swift. Manasseh apparently repented, but the spiritual damage was not easily reversed.
33:11 king of Assyria. Most likely Ashurbanipal (ca. 669–633 B.C.). Between 652 and 648 B.C., Babylon rebelled against Assyria. The city of Babylon was defeated temporarily, but Assyria may have felt Manasseh supported Babylon’s rebellion, so he was taken to trial in Babylon.
33:12, 13 Manasseh. This king was very wicked and idolatrous, a murderer of his children, and a desecrater of the temple. God graciously forgave this “chief of sinners” (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15) when he repented. He did what he could to reverse the effect of his life (vv. 15–17). Although the people worshiped God and not idols, they were doing it in the wrong place and wrong way. God had commanded them to offer sacrifices only in certain places (Deut. 12:13, 14) to keep them from corrupting the prescribed forms and to protect them from pagan religious influence. Disobedience to God’s requirements in this matter surely contributed to the decline under the next king, Amon (vv. 21–25), whose corruption his successor, Josiah, had to eliminate (34:3–7).
33:14 A wall running from S of the temple and Ophel (W of the Kidron Valley) SE/NW reaching to the Fish Gate, NW of the temple.
33:18–20 See 2 Kin. 21:17, 18.
33:21–25 The reign of Amon (ca. 642–640 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 21:19–26. See notes on 2 Kin. 21:19–24.
2 Chronicles 34
34:1—35:27 The reign of Josiah (ca. 640–609 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 22:1–23:30. Jeremiah prophesied during this reign (2 Chr. 35:24; Jer. 1:2) as did Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Zeph. 1:1), and Nahum.
34:1, 2 See notes on 2 Kin. 22:1, 2. At the age of 16, Josiah began to cultivate a love for God in his heart, and by age 20 his character was strong enough in devotion to Him that he went into action to purge his nation.
34:3–7 See notes on 2 Kin. 23:4–20.
34:8 repair the house of the LORD. During the 55-year reign of Manasseh (33:1) and the two year reign of Amon (33:21), the work of Hezekiah on the temple restoration was undone, which called for another extensive enterprise to “repair and restore” it (vv. 9–13).
34:8–13 See notes on 2 Kin. 22:3–7.
34:8–33 See notes on 2 Kin. 22:8—23:20.
34:33 All his days. This noble king had a life-long influence by the power of his godly life and firm devotion to God and His Word. The strength of his character held the nation together serving the LORD. It started because as a young man he “began to seek God” (cf. v. 3).
2 Chronicles 35
35:1–19 The chronicler, probably Ezra, gave much more attention to this Passover celebration than does 2 Kin. 23:21–23.
35:1, 2 Obviously, the temple’s contents had been disturbed and the sacrifices/festivals interrupted by lack of attention, idolatrous practices, and foreign intervention. As Hezekiah had restored the Passover in his time (30:1ff.), so did Josiah. This was the central feast in devotion to the LORD (Ex. 12, 13).
35:3 the holy ark. The ark of the covenant which was to remain in the Most Holy Place had been removed, probably by Manasseh who set a carved image in its place (cf. 33:7). The law for the carrying of the ark during the tabernacle days, when it was portable, called for poles to be place through rings on the sides, and Levites (Kohathites) to carry it by the poles without touching it (cf. Ex. 25:14, 15). Uzza(h) died for touching the ark while he was improperly transporting the ark on a cart (1 Chr. 13:6–10). Now that the temple was built and the ark had a permanent place, it no longer needed to be transported in the old way.
35:6 Moses. See notes on Ex. 12, 13. The prescribed pattern for the Passover in the temple was followed (vv. 7–17).
35:18 no Passover. Hezekiah’s Passover (cf. 2 Chr. 30) differed. It was not celebrated strictly according to Mosaic law in that: 1) it was celebrated in the second month (2 Chr. 30:2); 2) not all the people were purified (2 Chr. 30:18); and 3) not all of the people came (2 Chr. 30:10).
35:18, 19 since…Samuel. Ca. 1100–1015 B.C. It had been over 400 years, since before all the kings of Israel and Judah.
35:20–27 The details of Josiah’s tragic death are given. When compared with the account in 2 Kin. 23:28–30, the events become clearer. Toward the end of Josiah’s reign, the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho (ca. 609–594 B.C.) set out on a military expedition to aid the king of Assyria in a war at Carchemish, Assyria’s latest capital, 250 mi. NE of Damascus on the bank of the Euphrates River. Fearing such an alliance would present future danger to Israel, Josiah decided to intercept Pharaoh Necho’s army and fight to protect his nation. Coming from Egypt, likely by ship to Acco, a northern seaport in Israel, and by land up the coastal plain of Israel, the Egyptian army had landed and proceeded E to the Valley of Megiddo (v. 22), i.e., Jezreel on the plain of Esdraelon. This was the most direct way to Carchemish. There Josiah met him for battle and was wounded by an arrow. He made it back to Jerusalem (60 mi. S), where he died.
35:21 God commanded me. He is referring to the true God; whether he had a true revelation or not is unknown. Josiah had no way to know either, and it is apparent he did not believe that Necho spoke the Word of God. There is no reason to assume his death was punishment for refusing to believe. He probably thought Necho was lying and, once victorious with Assyria over Babylon, they would together be back to assault Israel.
35:25 There is no record of Jeremiah’s elegy. The people continued to mourn the loss of Josiah up to the writing of the Chronicles in 450–430 B.C., nearly 200 years after the event. In fact, the location of the battle, the town of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo, was part of a proverb lamenting Josiah’s death even in Zechariah’s day (Zech. 12:11), 90 years later.
2 Chronicles 36
36:1–4 The reign of Joahaz (ca. 609 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 23:31–33. Jeremiah continued to prophesy during this reign (Jer. 1:3).
36:5–8 The reign of Jehoiakim, a.k.a. Eliakim (ca. 609–597 B.C.; cf. 2 Kin. 23:34—24:7). See notes on 2 Kin. 23:34—24:7. Daniel was taken captive to Babylon in 605 B.C. Jeremiah prophesied during this reign (Jer. 1:3), and Habakkuk likely appeared on the scene at this time of kingly abominations.
36:9, 10 The reign of Jehoiachin (ca. 597 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 24:8–16. See notes on 2 Kin. 24:8–16. Ezekiel was taken captive to Babylon in 597 B.C. Jeremiah prophesied during this reign.
36:9 eight years old. Eighteen years old is preferable, as stated in 2 Kin. 24:8, because of the full development of his wickedness (see Ezekiel’s description of him in 19:5–9). See marginal note.
36:11–21 The reign of Zedekiah, a.k.a. Mattaniah (ca. 597–586 B.C.). Cf. 2 Kin. 24:17—25:21; Jer. 52:4–27. Jeremiah prophesied during this reign (Jer. 1:3) and wrote Lamentations to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C. Ezekiel received his commission during this reign (Ezek. 1:1) and prophesied from 592 B.C. to his death in 560 B.C.
36:11–20 See notes on 2 Kin. 24:17—25:21.
36:20 See notes on 2 Kin. 25:22–30 for the fate of those who remained behind in Jerusalem.
36:21 Sabbaths. This suggests that the every seventh year Sabbath which God required for the land (Lev. 25:1–7) had not been kept for 490 years dating back to the days of Eli, ca. 1107–1067 B.C. (cf. 1 Sam. 1–4). Leviticus 26:27–46 warns of God’s judgment in general if this law were to be violated. Jeremiah 25:1–11 applied this judgment to Judah from 605 B.C. at the time of the first Babylonian deportation until 536 B.C. when the first Jews returned to Jerusalem and started to rebuild the temple (cf. Ezra 3:8).
36:22, 23 See notes on Ezra 1:1–3. The chronicler ended with a ray of hope because the 70 years were completed (cf. Dan. 9:1, 2) and Abraham’s offspring were returning to the Land to rebuild the temple.
2 Chronicles 1
1:1 a 1 Kin. 2:46
1:1 b Gen. 39:2
1:1 c 1 Chr. 29:25
1:2 d 1 Chr. 27:1–34
1:3 e 1 Kin. 3:4; 1 Chr. 16:39; 21:29
1:3 f Ex. 25—27; 35:4—36:38
1:3 1 Place for worship
1:4 g Ex. 25:10–22; 2 Sam. 6:2–17; 1 Chr. 15:25—16:1
1:5 h Ex. 27:1, 2; 38:1, 2
1:5 i Ex. 31:2
1:5 2 Some authorities it was there
1:6 j 1 Kin. 3:4
1:7 k 1 Kin. 3:5–14; 9:2
1:8 l Ps. 18:50
1:8 m 1 Chr. 28:5
1:9 n 2 Sam. 7:8–16; 1 Kin. 3:7, 8
1:9 o Gen. 13:16; Num. 23:10
1:10 p 1 Kin. 3:9
1:10 q Num. 27:17; Deut. 31:2
1:11 r 1 Kin. 3:11–13
1:12 s 1 Kin. 10:23; 1 Chr. 29:25; 2 Chr. 9:22; Eccl. 2:9
1:13 3 Place for worship
1:14 t 1 Kin. 10:26; 2 Chr. 9:25
1:15 u 1 Kin. 10:27; 2 Chr. 9:27; Job 22:24
1:16 v 1 Kin. 10:28; 22:36; 2 Chr. 9:28
1:17 4 Lit. by their hands
2 Chronicles 2
2:1 a 1 Kin. 5:5
2:2 b 1 Kin. 5:15, 16; 2 Chr. 2:18
2:3 c 1 Chr. 14:1
2:3 1 Heb. Huram; cf. 1 Kin. 5:1
2:4 d 2 Chr. 2:1
2:4 e Ex. 30:7
2:4 f Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:8
2:4 g Ex. 29:38–42
2:4 h Num. 28:3, 9–11
2:4 2 Lit. incense of spices
2:4 3 appointed
2:5 i Ps. 135:5; (1 Cor. 8:5, 6)
2:6 j 1 Kin. 8:27; 2 Chr. 6:18; Is. 66:1
2:7 k 1 Chr. 22:15
2:8 l 1 Kin. 5:6
2:9 4 Lit. house
2:10 m 1 Kin. 5:11
2:11 n 1 Kin. 10:9; 2 Chr. 9:8
2:12 o 1 Kin. 5:7
2:12 p Gen. 1; 2; Acts 4:24; 14:15; Rev. 10:6
2:12 5 Heb. Huram; cf. 1 Kin. 5:1
2:13 6 Hiram, 1 Kin. 7:13
2:13 7 Lit. father, 1 Kin. 7:13, 14
2:14 q 1 Kin. 7:13, 14
2:15 r 2 Chr. 2:10
2:16 s 1 Kin. 5:8, 9
2:16 8 Heb. Japho
2:17 t 1 Kin. 5:13; 2 Chr. 8:7, 8
2:17 u 1 Chr. 22:2
2:18 v 2 Chr. 2:2
2 Chronicles 3
3:1 a 1 Kin. 6:1
3:1 b Gen. 22:2–14
3:1 c 1 Chr. 21:18; 22:1
3:1 1 Lit. He, following MT, Vg.; LXX the LORD; Tg. the Angel of the LORD
3:1 2 Araunah, 2 Sam. 24:16
3:3 d 1 Kin. 6:2; 1 Chr. 28:11–19
3:4 e 1 Kin. 6:3; 1 Chr. 28:11
3:4 3 The holy place, the main room of the temple, 1 Kin. 6:3
3:4 4 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Arab., some LXX mss., Syr. twenty
3:5 f 1 Kin. 6:17
3:5 g 1 Kin. 6:15; Jer. 22:14
3:5 5 Lit. house
3:8 h Ex. 26:33; 1 Kin. 6:16
3:9 i 1 Chr. 28:11
3:10 j Ex. 25:18–20; 1 Kin. 6:23–28
3:14 k Ex. 26:31; Matt. 27:51; Heb. 9:3
3:15 l 1 Kin. 7:15–20; Jer. 52:21
3:15 6 Lit. house
3:15 7 eighteen, 1 Kin. 7:15; 2 Kin. 25:17; Jer. 52:21
3:15 8 Lit. long
3:16 m 1 Kin. 7:20
3:17 n 1 Kin. 7:21
3:17 9 Lit. He Shall Establish
3:17 10 Lit. In It Is Strength
2 Chronicles 4
4:1 a Ex. 27:1, 2; 2 Kin. 16:14; Ezek. 43:13, 16
4:2 b Ex. 30:17–21; 1 Kin. 7:23–26
4:2 1 Great laver or basin
4:3 c 1 Kin. 7:24–26
4:4 d 1 Kin. 7:25
4:5 2 About 8,000 gallons; two thousand, 1 Kin. 7:26
4:6 e 1 Kin. 7:38, 40
