2 Chronicles

Dillard’s 2 Chronicles is one of the strongest volumes in the Word Biblical Commentary and remains especially valuable for its integration of literary structure, source comparison and theology. His most important contribution is his demonstration that Solomon’s dedicatory prayer and God’s response function as a theological “charter” for the remainder of the book, with later royal narratives repeatedly illustrating principles established there. His influential emphasis on “immediate retribution” captures a genuine and pervasive feature of the Chronicler’s historiography, although the category can sound more mechanical than Dillard’s own exegesis actually is and is usefully qualified by commentators such as Selman. Dillard is also excellent on the Chronicler’s literary shaping of individual reigns and on the distinctive presentation of Solomon and Hezekiah. Still one of the essential commentaries on 2 Chronicles.

Braun and Dillard’s commentaries on First and Second Chronicles are both technically serious and theologically insightful. These volumes also boast of the Chronicles’ many New Testament connections, which can be rare in a more critical scholarly commentary. These volumes will be a helpful resource for serious evangelical pastors and scholars looking to explore these inter-biblical connections. [Full Review]

Dillard is one of my favorite commentaries, but Braun is also quite good. They take the historical aspects of Chronicles seriously and nicely explain the interpretive differences between Samuel-Kings and Chronicles. [Full Review]

Masterful exegesis. His interaction with Samuel-Kings and Chronicles is thorough; however, you may be left wanting for application of the text.

Although they are on the more technical side, the commentaries by Braun and Dillard in the Word Biblical Commentary series are indispensable for serious study of the text. Each also offers helpful theological insight, sometimes missing from technical commentaries. The layout of the Word Biblical Commentaries can take some getting used to, but in the case of these two works, it is worth the effort. [Full Review]

Similar to Braun for 1 Chronicles, with appreciation of Williamson's work in several cases. [Full Review]