2 Chronicles
Chapter 27
Jotham of Judah (739-734)
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha, daughter of Zadok.
He did what pleased the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. But he did not enter the Sanctuary of the Lord. As for the people, they went on to sin.
He built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s house and carried out considerable work on the wall of the Ophel.
He built towns in the highlands of Judah and fortified places and towers in the fertile lands.
He fought against the king of the Ammonites. He defeated them, and that year, the Ammonites gave him four tons of silver, fifty thousand bushels of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. And they had to pay him the same for the second and third years.
Jotham became powerful because he faithfully obeyed the Lord his God.
The rest of the deeds of Jotham, all his wars and policy, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
He was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.
Then Jotham rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him.
Commentaries
The Kings of Judah Until the Exile.
The final section of the Chronicler’s work focuses on the history of the kingdom of Judah, covering from Solomon to the exile, with little mention of the Northern Kingdom. For the Chronicler, the kingdom of Judah represents the entire nation of Israel. The primary standard for judging each king is their loyalty to God. Four notable figures stand out as models of this loyalty: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and especially Hezekiah. The prophets are also depicted alongside the kings, delivering messages that include warnings and sincere calls to stay loyal to the Lord. Ultimately, the Chronicler encourages the post-exilic community to seek God and remain faithful to the One who has remained true to his people despite their difficulties.
Jotham of Judah.
Jotham’s reign is described in just a few verses. The text follows 2 Kings 15:32-38, but the Chronicler adds some new details (3b-6).