2 And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; only he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people still acted corruptly.
And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Only, the high places were not removed: the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. It was he who built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah.
And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
But when he became strong his heart was lifted up to [his] downfall; and he transgressed against Jehovah his God, and went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him priests of Jehovah, eighty valiant men; and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It is not for thee, Uzziah, to burn incense to Jehovah, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed; neither shall it be for thine honour from Jehovah Elohim. And Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; even he himself hasted to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah. And Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
2Ch 27:1-4. Jotham, Reigning Well, Prospers.
1. Jotham was twenty and five years old—(See on 2Ki 15:32-35).
His mother's name … Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok—or descendant of the famous priest of that name [2Sa 8:17].
2. he did that which was right—The general rectitude of his government is described by representing it as conducted on the excellent principles which had guided the early part of his father's reign.
the people did yet corruptly—(See 2Ki 15:35); but the description here is more emphatic, that though Jotham did much to promote the good of his kingdom and aimed at a thorough reformation in religion, the widespread and inveterate wickedness of the people frustrated all his laudable efforts.
3. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord—situated on the north—that portion of the temple hill which was high compared with the southern part—hence "the higher," or upper gate (see on 2Ki 15:35). He built, that is, repaired or embellished.
and on the wall of Ophel—Hebrew, "the Ophel," that is, the mound, or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount, a ridge lying between the valleys Kedron and Tyropœon, called "the lower city" [Josephus]. He
built much—having the same desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in every direction.
4. in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers—that is, in the elevated and wooded spots where fortified cities could not be placed, he erected castles and towers.
2Ch 27:5-9. He Subdues the Ammonites.
5. He fought also with the king of the Ammonites—This invasion he not only repelled, but, pursuing the Ammonites into their own territory, he imposed on them a yearly tribute, which, for two years, they paid. But when Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, combined to attack the kingdom of Judah, they took the opportunity of revolting, and Jotham was too distracted by other matters to attempt the reconquest (see on 2Ki 15:37).