BBB Bible Series: Second Chronicles Quiz

Answer: Septuagint

Septuagint, meaning seventy, was compiled by seventy scholars commissioned by Ptolemy II in the 2nd and 3rd century BC to translate the Hebrew Bible into Greek. They were the first to divide the books Chronicles and also the books of Samuel and Kings.

Latin Vulgate was a translation done by Jerome in the fourth century and was translated from the Septuagint. In the fifteen hundreds the Council of Trent made it the official Latin Bible of the Catholic Church.

Masoretic Text was done by a group called Masores in the 7th to 10th century. They translated from the original Hebrew Bible adding notation for pronunciation. Their translation is considered by many to be more accurate than the Septuagint.

The King James version was commissioned by James VI of Scotland and I of England. It was translated by 47 scholars, all members of the Church of England.

Answer: Wisdom to rule

"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" (2 Chronicles 1:10 NIV)

God was so pleased with Solomon's request he not only gave him the wisdom he desired he also gave him great wealth and a long life. He also had over 700 wives although not all of them were pleasing to God. Many were foreign wives that worshiped false gods and Solomon lost his wholehearted devotion to the God of Israel. He even built temples and shrines to the gods of some of his wives.

Answer: 7 years

"In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it." (1 Kings 6:38, NIV)

Solomon's reign and the lavish temple he built exactly according to his father's instruction are considered by most the greatest period of Israel's history.

Answer: 14 days

"So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him-a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more." (2 Chronicles 7:8-9 NIV)

Solomon dismissed the people and they returned home with joyful and glad hearts.

Answer: Yemen

Most scholars believe Sheba was located in Yemen and perhaps part of Ethiopia. Recently archaeologists from the British Museum discovered a gold mine in this area that could have been the source for the great quantities of gold the queen brought as gifts to Solomon.

Answer: The kingdom divided

"...all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." 2 Chronicles 10:3b-4 NIV

When Rehoboam refused to lighten their load and said he would even make it harsher all but the tribe of Judah and Benjamin rebelled against him. The ten remaining northern tribes raised up their own King.

In 2 Kings we see this came about because of his father Solomon's unfaithfulness in following after the gods of his wives.

"So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." (2 Kings 11-13 NIV)

Answer: He became terminally ill

"In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign." (2 Chronicles 32:24 NIV)

It was revealed to Hezekiah's his illness was because of his pride. Hezekiah wept bitterly and cried to the Lord. The Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah the Lord had heard his prayer and he would be healed and that he would live 15 more years . Hezekiah asked that the sun would go back ten steps as a sign he would be healed.
"Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz." (2 Kings 20:11 NIV)

Answer: Athaliah

"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri." (2Chronicles 22:2 NIV)

When Ahaziah was killed his mother took the reins of power for herself and killed all but one of the royal sons. One son, Joash, was rescued by Athaliah's sister and hid away until Athaliah was assassinated six years later. Joash was then installed as king. He was only seven years old.

Answer: Babylon

"He [Nebuchadnezzar] carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power." (2 Chronicles 36:20 NIV)

They were in captivity for 70 years.

Answer: Cyrus

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

" 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.' "
(2 Chronicles 36:22-23 NIV)