Ralph Porter

© 2002

AUTHOR AND DATE

    These books were originally written as one single volume.

    Although the book doesn't identify the author, the Talmud attributes the book to

         Ezra.

    It was written from a priestly perspective; the temple is central.

          Ezra was a priest and demonstrated the same perspective (Ezr. 7:1-5, 11).

         The genealogies include the days of Ezra and support an author contemporary

              with him.

         A comparison of the introduction to Ezra with the conclusion of 2 Chronicles                     

            indicates that Ezra is a deliberate continuation of Chronicles.

    The author used other historical records.

         As a scribe, Ezra would have had access to the records and would have known

              how to use them.

         The use of other sources would not discredit divine authority.

         God is able to direct the author as he investigates historical sources so as to

              guarantee the veracity and value of the message He wishes to communicate to

              His people.

    Concerning the date of the book, the events cover nearly the entire Old Testament

         period, from Adam up to the restoration of Israel (1-9).

            The more detailed part of the story looks at the period from Saul (1051 B.C.)

                   until Cyrus' decree allowing the people to return to Israel and reconstruct

                   the temple (538 B.C.).

    The author must have written near the end of this period, most likely after his

         return to Jerusalem in 458, probably between 450 and 425 B.C.

BACKGROUND

    Although its genealogies refer to the entire Old Testament period, the principal

         focus is on the Davidic dynasty (1011-586).

              It concludes with a summary concerning the time of the captivity (606-536).

              Politically, the period reflects the conditions of the times of David and of

                   Solomon when there was little foreign intervention and Israel controlled all

                   the territory around them.

    2 Chronicles shows the growing influence of Mesopotamia in the area.

         The area was more and more affected by the potent nations to their north and

              east; first Syria, then Assyria, Babylon and finally, Persia.

    The most notable political power at the beginning of the period was the Davidic

         dynasty over the united kingdom.

    The division of the kingdom after the reign of Solomon produced conflicts

         between the northern and southern kingdoms.

    When the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive in 722 B.C., the Davidic

         dynasty went on in the south until 586 B.C.

    The political environment became unstable because of the religious instability of

         the people with their God.

    The story concludes with the fall of Judah.

    Cyrus' decree allowing them to return to the land and start over affirms the hope

         of future restoration.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    Three reasons for writing:

         New start in the land

         Discouragement because of their loss

              Loss of throne

              Loss of temple

         Neglect of the temple

    Three purposes:

         Exhort them to be faithful to Yahweh.

         Encourage them to trust Him.

         Demonstrate the importance of reverence for the temple.

WHAT LESSONS SHOULD WE LEARN FROM THESE BOOKS?

Ralph Porter

AN 85% COMMITMENT

The old standard "99.44% pure".

    In recent years there has been an advertisement about home equity loans:

         "Congratulations, Jones, take 85% of the day off!"

              Are you satisfied with water that is 85% pure?

              How about a husband or wife that is 85% faithful?

GOD WILL NOT ACCEPT AN 85% COMMITMENT

Faithfulness is a key to the success of any kind of contract.

The desire of every couple who comes to their wedding day is that their marriage relationship will be characterized by love,

    faithfulness and loyalty.

         Whenever these ingredients are missing, marital happiness quickly flies out the door.

         These three elements are crucial to the marriage agreement:

These same three characteristics were necessary for the covenant that God made with

    Israel.

         Although this covenant was based on God's love for His people, He required

              them to respond with love and loyalty also.

         That's why these ingredients came to be the principal requirements of the

              covenant.

If God expected that response from the people in general, it was even more critical

    for the kings He placed over them.

         When God established His covenant with David, God promised that He would

              never take His loving kindness away from his son Solomon (1 Chr. 17:11-14).

                   "Loving kindness" as used in this promise refers to His "loyal love" for them.

                        It combines the two ideas of love and faithfulness, which God promised,

                             to Solomon and to his children.

                        He would fulfill His promise whether they fulfilled theirs or not.

In Chronicles, it's clear that God has promised His loving kindness, His loyal love, to

    the people of Israel, but He requires them to respond with loyal love.

         The people in general, and the king in particular, were to enjoy the blessings,

              and responsibilities, that accompany a covenant relationship with God.

         This relationship demands their faithfulness and loyalty.

AUTHOR AND DATE

    The present format of these two books makes it hard to keep in mind that these

         books were originally written as one single volume.

    Although the book itself doesn't identify the author, the Talmud, which represents

         the Jewish tradition concerning it, attributes the book to the scribe Ezra, who we

         already know as the author of the book that bears his name and as an important

         participant in the restoration of Israel after the captivity.

    Several evidences support this opinion:

         1)    The tradition itself is an important external evidence because the book was

                    written so late and it was still accepted by the people.

         2)    The internal evidence is also quite convincing.

                        The book was written from the perspective of a priest because the temple

                             is central in his presentation.

                        Ezra is identified as a priest and demonstrates this same perspective in

                             the book that we know he wrote (Ezr. 7:1-5, 11).

         3)    The genealogies come up to the days of Ezra and support an author

                        contemporary with him.

                             There is no known candidate as likely to have written such a work.

         4)    The use of Hebrew and the literary style resemble those of Ezra.

         5)    Finally, a comparison of the beginning of Ezra (1:1-3) with the conclusion of

                        2 Chronicles (36:22-23) shows that they are just the same.

                             It would appear that Ezra is a deliberate continuation of the history

                                  Chronicles begins to relate.

    There is evidence that whoever the author was, he used other historical records as

         he wrote the book.

              As a scribe, Ezra would have had access to the records and would have

                   known how to use them.

              The use of other sources would not discredit the divine authority of what is

                   recorded.

              God is able to direct the author as he investigates the historical sources in

                   such a way as to guarantee the veracity and value of the message He wishes

                   to communicate to His people.

    Date:

        Events:

              The events cover nearly the entire Old Testament period, from Adam up to

                   the restoration of Israel (1-9).

              The more detailed part of the story looks at the period from Saul (1051 B.C.)

                   until Cyrus' decree allowing the people to return to Israel and reconstruct

                   the temple (538 B.C.).

        Writing:

              No author lived through all this time to be able to tell the whole story as an

                   eye witness.

              The author looks back, to point out history's lessons to the people of Israel.

                   He must have done so near the end of this period.

                   It is most likely that he did it after his return to Jerusalem in 458.

                   He probably wrote between 450 and 425 B.C.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

    Although the book makes reference to the entire period of the Old Testament in its

         genealogies, the principal focus is on the Davidic dynasty over Judah (1011-586).

              It concludes with a summary concerning the captivity (606-536).

    The emphasis of the book is primarily thematic and theological.

         Therefore, its historical perspective is limited.

         It deals exclusively with the story of the house of David and Judah.

         The more complete story is found in the books of Samuel and Kings.

    Politically, the majority of the book reflects the conditions of the times of David

         and Solomon, when there was little foreign intervention and Israel controlled all

         the territory around them.

    2 Chronicles shows the growing influence of Mesopotamia in the area.

         The area was more and more affected by the potent nations to their north and

              east; first Syria, then Assyria, Babylon (Iraq) and finally, Persia (Iran).

    Concerning the politics of the closest region, the most notable influence at the

         beginning of the period was the reign of the Davidic dynasty over the united

         kingdom of Israel.

    The division of the kingdom after the reign of Solomon produced conflicts

         between the northern and southern kingdoms.

    When the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive in 722 B.C., the Davidic

         dynasty went on in the south until 586 B.C.

              The political environment became very unstable because of the religious

                   instability of the covenant people with their God.

              The book traces the relationship between these two facts throughout their

                   history.

    The story concludes with the fall of Judah, provoked by its religious decadence.    

        The hope of future restoration is presented when Cyrus' decree that allowed

            them to return to the land and start over is proclaimed.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    THREE REASONS FOR WRITING

        1.    NEW START IN THE LAND: Exhortation to be faithful

                 Return to the promised land

                        The Jews who were still alive after Cyrus' decree, had just returned to the

                             land to rebuild it.

                                  The last time they had been in the land God had judged them and

                                       sent them into captivity because of their unfaithfulness.

                                  Now that they are returning to the promised land, the author wants

                                       to be sure the same thing doesn't happen again.

                        Therefore, he presents this history lesson as a warning and as a stimulus

                             to them.

                                  Their history shows how God controls pagan nations and the destiny

                                       of His people.

                                  Therefore, Israel can count on His faithfulness.

                        In Deut. 28-30, God told them exactly how He would deal with them.

                             If they would submit to His authority and obey the conditions of His

                                  covenant with them, He would bless them.

                             On the other hand, when they disobey and rebel against His authority,

                                  there would be cursing, discipline and destruction.

                             God wants them to learn from the experience of their forefathers and

                                  submit to Him so they might receive blessing.

                             His people had to learn to be faithful to Him.

        2.    DISCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR LOSS

                    LOSS OF THRONE: Encouragement because the heir is there

                    LOSS OF TEMPLE: Encouragement because God is giving them a new

                        start

                        When they came back to Jerusalem and observed the conditions which

                             existed there, they observed that two things were lacking:

                                  the throne and the temple.

                        They would have been discouraged when they focused on what they

                             were missing, their treasured historical treasures.

                        While observing the missing throne, the author tried to encourage them

                             by reminding them that David's heir was still present.

                                  God is protecting the royal line of David's house.

                                       He could restore the king to his throne whenever He's ready.

                                       He has been protecting him under the care of the Babylonian

                                            empire, and now, under the authority of Cyrus, His servant.

                        The second thing which was lacking was the temple.

                             The restoration temple would not be as large, nor as glorious as that of

                                  Solomon.

                                       When they looked at the difference between this temple and

                                            Solomon's, many mourned the loss.

                                                 They were discouraged.

                             They needed to recognize that the building itself was never the most

                                  important thing.

                                       Its prominent role in national life was what was important.

                                       Thus they could recognize the importance of the temple and of

                                            God's presence with His people for their national life and rejoice

                                            in what God had given them.

                        He is writing the book to encourage them.

                             God has cared for them and has brought them into the new land.

                             They have to recognize what God is doing for their welfare.

                             Therefore the author shows them what God has done for His people so

                                  that they might enjoy it and take advantage of the new beginning

                                  which God has given them in the land.

                        In order to encourage them and to help them realize what God has done

                             for them, he orients them regarding God's perspective concerning Israel's

                        history.

                        He makes no attempt to hide their faults; those are already too obvious

                             for those who are returning to the land.

                                  He traces the story of the house of David from God's point of view in

                                       order that they might learn how God acts with respect to His king.

                        The story's climax comes with the decree of Cyrus which produces the

                             hope that God's presence with them will be restored and David's

                             throne reestablished.