Answer
The book of 2 Chronicles serves as a “sequel” to 1 Chronicles in our modern Old Testament. In the Tanakh both 1 and 2 Chronicles were a unified entity concluding the Ketuvim (“Writings”) section and the Hebrew Bible as a whole. The author of 2 Chronicles is unknown, but tradition identifies Ezra as the scribe who penned the history.
First Chronicles focuses on the life of David, and 2 Chronicles delves into Solomon’s reign, the divided kingdom, and Judah’s history. Collectively, they offer a comprehensive chronicle of Israel from Adam to King Cyrus’s edict releasing the Jews from captivity. Likely written after the exile, 2 Chronicles served as an encouragement during the nation’s rebuilding, providing the historical background of all that had led to the Jews’ current situation.
Although the authorship of 2 Chronicles isn’t explicit, Jewish tradition attributes it to Ezra based on several clues. Ezra was a priest and a scribe who lived during the Babylonian exile and accompanied the second wave of Jews returning to Jerusalem. Also, the author of 2 Chronicles obviously had an eye for meticulous detail, and he was theologically astute and a skilled editor. Ezra the scribe would have possessed all these traits, as evidenced in his book of Ezra. Similarities in language between Chronicles and Ezra and Nehemiah further suggest a single author. Perhaps the clearest evidence of single authorship is the repetition of the edict of King Cyrus at the end of Chronicles and the beginning of Ezra (2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4).
These clues make it probable, even likely, that Ezra wrote the book of 2 Chronicles. Still, absolute certainty is not possible without additional biblical affirmation. Some contemporary scholars express skepticism regarding the traditional authorship of the book of 2 Chronicles, preferring to keep the authorship anonymous and referring to him simply as “the Chronicler.”
So, who wrote the book of 2 Chronicles? Ezra is the most likely author, but even if he’s not the author, we can have confidence that the Chronicler wrote under divine inspiration. Through his work, we have a renewed perspective on the history of Judah, evidence of God’s active involvement in human affairs, His faithfulness to His promise to David, and the role of Israel in God’s overall plan of redemption.
