II Chronicles 27: The Reign of Jotham
Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly.
He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
II Chronicles 27 focuses on the reign of Jotham, king of Judah. This chapter provides a concise account of his rule, highlighting both his successes and failures, and offering valuable lessons for leaders and followers alike. The chronicler continues his pattern of emphasizing the link between obedience to God and national prosperity, while also acknowledging the persistent challenges of spiritual reform.
Jotham's Righteous Rule (II Chronicles 27:1-2)
Jotham ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-five (II Chronicles 27:1), likely gaining an early start due to his father Uzziah's leprosy which rendered him unable to fully govern. The chronicler commends Jotham for doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done (II Chronicles 27:2). This is high praise, establishing Jotham as a king who sought to follow God's law. A key distinction between Jotham and his father is explicitly noted: he didn't enter the Lord's sanctuary (II Chronicles 27:2). This detail is a clear reference to Uzziah's sin of presumptuously entering the temple to burn incense, a priestly duty (II Chronicles 26:16-21). Jotham learned from his father's mistake, demonstrating wisdom and a respect for God's ordained order.
However, Jotham's reign wasn't without its shortcomings. While he personally remained faithful to God, he was unable to fully eradicate the idolatry and spiritual corruption that had plagued Judah for so long. II Chronicles 27:2 states that "the people still behaved corruptly." This highlights a crucial point: a leader's personal righteousness does not guarantee the righteousness of the entire nation. It underscores the persistent struggle against sin and the limitations of even the most well-intentioned rulers.
Construction, Conquest, and Consequences (II Chronicles 27:3-9)
Jotham's reign was marked by significant construction projects. He built the Upper Gate of the Temple and did extensive work on the wall of Ophel (II Chronicles 27:3). He also built cities in the hill country of Judah, and strongholds and towers in the wooded areas (II Chronicles 27:4). These endeavors demonstrate his commitment to strengthening the kingdom both physically and strategically.
Furthermore, Jotham achieved military success. He waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, exacting a heavy tribute (II Chronicles 27:5). The chronicler attributes Jotham's success to his steadfast obedience to the Lord his God: "He became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God" (II Chronicles 27:6). This reinforces the overarching theme of the chronicler: obedience to God leads to prosperity and strength.
After a sixteen-year reign, Jotham died and was buried in the City of David (II Chronicles 27:8-9). He was succeeded by his son Ahaz, whose reign would be drastically different (II Chronicles 28).
Lessons and Reflections
The story of Jotham offers several important lessons. First, it demonstrates the importance of learning from the mistakes of others, as Jotham did by avoiding his father's sin in the temple. Second, it highlights the power of personal righteousness, even when surrounded by societal corruption. Jotham's faithfulness brought him personal success and strengthened the kingdom, even if it didn't fully transform the hearts of the people. However, it also serves as a sobering reminder that leadership is not just about personal piety, but also about influencing others to follow God's ways.
Finally, the transition from Jotham to Ahaz serves as a cautionary tale. Jotham, despite his own faithfulness, apparently failed to instill those same values in his son. This emphasizes the critical role of parents and leaders in discipling the next generation and passing on a legacy of faith. The reign of Ahaz, detailed in II Chronicles 28, will show the devastating consequences of abandoning God's ways. II Chronicles 27, therefore, stands as a pivotal point, showcasing both the blessings of obedience and the ever-present danger of spiritual decline.
Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly.
He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
II Chronicles 27 focuses on the reign of Jotham, king of Judah. This chapter provides a concise account of his rule, highlighting both his successes and failures, and offering valuable lessons for leaders and followers alike. The chronicler continues his pattern of emphasizing the link between obedience to God and national prosperity, while also acknowledging the persistent challenges of spiritual reform.
Jotham's Righteous Rule (II Chronicles 27:1-2)
Jotham ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-five (II Chronicles 27:1), likely gaining an early start due to his father Uzziah's leprosy which rendered him unable to fully govern. The chronicler commends Jotham for doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done (II Chronicles 27:2). This is high praise, establishing Jotham as a king who sought to follow God's law. A key distinction between Jotham and his father is explicitly noted: he didn't enter the Lord's sanctuary (II Chronicles 27:2). This detail is a clear reference to Uzziah's sin of presumptuously entering the temple to burn incense, a priestly duty (II Chronicles 26:16-21). Jotham learned from his father's mistake, demonstrating wisdom and a respect for God's ordained order.
However, Jotham's reign wasn't without its shortcomings. While he personally remained faithful to God, he was unable to fully eradicate the idolatry and spiritual corruption that had plagued Judah for so long. II Chronicles 27:2 states that "the people still behaved corruptly." This highlights a crucial point: a leader's personal righteousness does not guarantee the righteousness of the entire nation. It underscores the persistent struggle against sin and the limitations of even the most well-intentioned rulers.
Construction, Conquest, and Consequences (II Chronicles 27:3-9)
Jotham's reign was marked by significant construction projects. He built the Upper Gate of the Temple and did extensive work on the wall of Ophel (II Chronicles 27:3). He also built cities in the hill country of Judah, and strongholds and towers in the wooded areas (II Chronicles 27:4). These endeavors demonstrate his commitment to strengthening the kingdom both physically and strategically.
Furthermore, Jotham achieved military success. He waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, exacting a heavy tribute (II Chronicles 27:5). The chronicler attributes Jotham's success to his steadfast obedience to the Lord his God: "He became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God" (II Chronicles 27:6). This reinforces the overarching theme of the chronicler: obedience to God leads to prosperity and strength.
After a sixteen-year reign, Jotham died and was buried in the City of David (II Chronicles 27:8-9). He was succeeded by his son Ahaz, whose reign would be drastically different (II Chronicles 28).
Lessons and Reflections
The story of Jotham offers several important lessons. First, it demonstrates the importance of learning from the mistakes of others, as Jotham did by avoiding his father's sin in the temple. Second, it highlights the power of personal righteousness, even when surrounded by societal corruption. Jotham's faithfulness brought him personal success and strengthened the kingdom, even if it didn't fully transform the hearts of the people. However, it also serves as a sobering reminder that leadership is not just about personal piety, but also about influencing others to follow God's ways.
Finally, the transition from Jotham to Ahaz serves as a cautionary tale. Jotham, despite his own faithfulness, apparently failed to instill those same values in his son. This emphasizes the critical role of parents and leaders in discipling the next generation and passing on a legacy of faith. The reign of Ahaz, detailed in II Chronicles 28, will show the devastating consequences of abandoning God's ways. II Chronicles 27, therefore, stands as a pivotal point, showcasing both the blessings of obedience and the ever-present danger of spiritual decline.