2 Chronicles Introduction

Second Chronicles for Skeptics

The Bible brags about the strangest things. Why exaggerate the number of people and animals killed by God? Here are some examples from 2 Chronicles.

Solomon kills 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep when dedicating the temple. 7:5
God helps Abijah kill 500,000 Israelites. 13:15-20
In the largest single God-assisted massacre in the bible, Asa kills one million Ethiopians. 14:8-13
Pekah kills 120,000 people in one day "because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers." 28:6-8

Other highlights:

"Rehoboam ... took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters." 11.21
"The Lord struck him (Jeroboam) and he died." 13:20
"Abijam waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives." 13:21
Whoever does not seek the God of Israel should be executed. 15:13
Asa, when he had a foot disease, went to physicians instead of seeking the Lord. (God disapproves of those who seek medical help rather than "seeking the Lord." 16:12
God puts lies into the mouths of his prophets. 18:22
He killed Ahab for showing mercy to king Benhadad. (See 1 Kings 20:42) 18:33
Hate the sinner, or God will pour out his wrath upon you. 19:2
God fought for Judah by forcing the members of the opposing army to kill each other. 20:14-25
He killed Jehoram by making his bowels fall out. 21:18-19
He killed Jehoram's sons. 22:1
He killed Joash, the princes of Judah and the Judean army. 24:20-25
He destroyed Amaziah. 25:15-27
He made Uzziah a leper for burning incense without a license. 26:19-21
He smote Ahaz with the King of Syria. 28:4-5
He sent the king of the Chaldees to kill all the "young men with the sword." He had "no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand." 36:16-17