2 Chronicles27
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
2And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people did yet corruptly.
3He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third.
6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Jehovah his God.
7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 27.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jotham's reign in Judah. (1-27).
vv1-27
The people did corruptly. Perhaps Jotham was wanting towards the reformation of the land. Men may be very good, and yet not have courage and zeal to do what they might. It certainly casts blame upon the people. Jotham prospered, and became mighty. The more stedfast we are in religion, the more mighty we are, both to resist evil, and to do good. The Lord often removes wise and pious rulers, and sends others, whose follies and vices punish a people that valued not their mercies.
Key Words
יוֹתָם: Jotham, the name of three Israelites
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
אֵם: a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
יְרוּשָׁא: Jerusha or Jerushah, as Israelitess
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
צָדוֹק: Tsadok, the name of eight or nine Israelites
Cross References
2 Chronicles 27The parallel account of Jotham's reign, including his age, mother, and building projects.
Supported by JFB
Jotham avoided his father Uzziah's error of entering the temple to burn incense.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel details regarding Jotham's building of the upper gate and the people's continued corrupt worship.
Supported by JFB
Later reference to the fortification of the wall of Ophel in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Post-exilic reference identifying the location of Ophel and the water gate.
Supported by JFB
Jotham continued his father Uzziah's policy of building defensive towers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel principle: prosperity and might are tied to seeking and preparing one's way before God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Preparing/directing the heart and ways before God as the basis for spiritual strength.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The acts and ways of Jotham's successor, Ahaz, recorded in the same royal annals.
Jotham and his successor Ahaz listed in the messianic genealogy of Jesus Christ.