The Second Book of the Chronicles - Introduction
Second Chronicles is part of an idealized history of the elect people, especially of the kingdom of Judah (see Introduction to 1 Chronicles ). The segment of that history encompassed in 2 Chronicles extends from Solomon to the Babylonian Exile.
The most distinctive feature of 2 Chronicles is the speeches attributed to faithful kings and prophets (see e.g. 13.5–12 and ch. 20 ). Such speeches were often placed in the mouths of worthy figures of the monarchic age by the later period in which they were composed.
The Chronicler frequently interprets the past history of the monarchy in the light of the piety that flourished at Jerusalem after the Exile.