2 Chronicles 27 · WEB

Jotham's Faithful Reign

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Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

²He did that which was right in Yahweh's eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn't enter into Yahweh's temple. The people still acted corruptly.

³He built the upper gate of Yahweh's house, 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 also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon give him, in the second year also, and in the third.

⁶So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.

⁷Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

⁸He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

⁹Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

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Summary

Jotham's reign is one of the briefest chapters in Chronicles about a king, yet entirely positive. He follows his father Uzziah's good example, avoids his father's fatal mistake (entering the temple presumptuously), builds and fortifies extensively, defeats Ammon and receives tribute for three years. The Chronicler's key statement is simple and profound: "He became mighty because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God." The tragic footnote — "the people still acted corruptly" — shows that a godly leader cannot guarantee a godly people.

Themes

Consistent, ordered faithfulness producing steady prosperity
Leadership cannot guarantee the spiritual condition of followers
Personal integrity as the foundation of strength

Key verses

2 Chr 27:2 — “He did that which was right in Yahweh's eyes... However he didn't enter into Yahweh's temple. The people still acted corruptly.”
2 Chr 27:6 — “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.”

Context & background

Jotham reigned c. 750–732 BC, partly as co-regent during his father Uzziah's years of leprous isolation. The upper gate of the temple (v. 3) is mentioned in Jeremiah 20:2 and Ezekiel 9:2. The wall of Ophel was the southern slope of the temple mount. Ammon (modern Jordan, capital Amman) being subdued and paying tribute for three years recalls the pattern of Solomon's reign. Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah were all prophesying during this period, and their books reflect the moral corruption of the people despite Jotham's personal faithfulness. The Ammon tribute — 100 talents of silver plus grain — was substantial annual income.

Cross-references

1 Peter 3:1-4 — A godly life as witness even when those around you do not respond
2 Kings 15:32-38 — Parallel account of Jotham's reign
Isaiah 1:1 — Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah
Micah 1:1 — Micah likewise prophesied during Jotham's time
Psalm 101 — A psalm of David about ordering one's ways before God; Jotham lived this

Jotham's Faithful Reign

Summary

Themes

Key verses

Context & background

Cross-references

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