4 Moreover he built H1129 cities H5892 in the mountains H2022 of Judah, H3063 and in the forests H2793 he built H1129 castles H1003 and towers. H4026
5 He fought H3898 also with the king H4428 of the Ammonites, H5984 and prevailed H2388 against them. And the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 gave H5414 him the same year H8141 an hundred H3967 talents H3603 of silver, H3701 and ten H6235 thousand H505 measures H3734 of wheat, H2406 and ten H6235 thousand H505 of barley. H8184 So much did the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 pay H7725 unto H2063 him, both the second H8145 year, H8141 and the third. H7992
6 So Jotham H3147 became mighty, H2388 because he prepared H3559 his ways H1870 before H6440 the LORD H3068 his God. H430
7 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jotham, H3147 and all his wars, H4421 and his ways, H1870 lo, they are written H3789 in the book H5612 of the kings H4428 of Israel H3478 and Judah. H3063
8 He was five H2568 and twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and reigned H4427 sixteen H8337 H6240 years H8141 in Jerusalem. H3389
9 And Jotham H3147 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and they buried H6912 him in the city H5892 of David: H1732 and Ahaz H271 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 27
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).