2 Chronicles 27

Jotham reigneth well, vers.1,&c. Causeth divers buildings to be made, 3. He maketh the Ammonites tributary to him, 5. He persevereth in goodness, dieth, and Achaz his son becometh King, 9.

1. Jotham was five and twenty years old, [Heb. a son of five and twenty years] when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years at Jerusalem, and his mothers name was Jerusa, a daughter of Zadok. [Compare 2 King.15.33. etc.]

2. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, [To wit, in maintaining the pure worship of God. Compare above chap.26.4. and see the annotate.] according to all that his Father Uzzia had done, saving that he entered not into the temple of the LORD: [to wit, (according to the opinion of some) there to attend the service of God in public with the rest of Gods people: which may thus be understood that he omitted it not through contempt of the Ordinance, but through humane frailty, because his father was smitten there with leprosy. Some conceive that this was spoken in praise of him, to wit, that he entered not into the Temple of the Lord to burn incense, as his Father had done. See above chap.26.16.] and the people did yet corrupt themselves. [to wit, by idolatry, in offering and burning incense on the high places, as is declared, 2 kin.15.35.]

3. The same built [That is, renewed, repaired, fortified, mended. Compare above chap.11.5. and the annotate.] the high gate at the house of the LORD: [see 2 King.15.on v.35.] He also built much on the wall of Ophel: [meaning a part of the walls of Jerusalem, so called, because it stood on an hill, or high place. See below chap.33.14. and Nehem.3.6. and 11.21.]

4. Moreover, he built cities on the mountains of Juda: And in the woods he built castles and towers. [Compare above chap.17.on v.12.]

5. He warred also against the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them, so that the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, [see 1 Kings 16.on v.24.] and ten thousand Cors [see of this measure, Lev.27.on v.16. where it is called an Homer, 1 King.4.on v.22. where it is called a Cor, as here] of wheat, and ten thousand of barley: that the children of Ammon brought him again, both in the second and in the third year.

6. So Jatham strengthened himself: For he disposed [See above chap.19.on v.3.] his ways [that is, resolutions, purposes, words, actions, course of life. See Gen.6.on v.12. and 1 King.2.on v.4. So here in the following verse] before the face of the LORD his God.

7. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, [To wit, which the King of Syria, and the King of Israel made against him] and his ways; lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda.

8. He was five and twenty years old, [Hebr. a son of five and twenty years] when he became King; and he reigned sixteen years at Jerusalem.

9. And Jotham fell asleep with his Fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: [See 1 Kings 2.on v.10.] and Achaz his son became king in his stead.