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2 Chronicles 27

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 NASB  NKJV  NRSV  TEV   NJB
(LXX versing)
Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah Jotham Reigns in Judah Jotham's Goodness and Consequent Prosperity King Jotham of Judah The Reign of Jotham
27:1-9 27:1-9 27:1-9 27:1-2 27:1-2
27:3-9 27:3-4
27:5-6
27:7-9

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 27:1-9
  1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. 4Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year. 6So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. 7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

27:1 "Jotham" 2 Chronicles 27 is paralleled by 2 Kgs. 15:33-38. It is surprising that nothing negative is said about this king. He was faithful from the first to the last. The only negative item (2 Chr. 27:2) is attributed to "the people." Because of this it is surprising he does not receive more attention from the Chronicler.

Also note that he

  1. did not have a godly counselor
  2. did not receive a prophetic warning
  3. did not receive a priestly warning

"the daughter of Zadok" One wonders if his mother was of the tribe of Levi. There are several priests with the name Zadok, which means "righteous" (BDB 843).

27:2 "He did right in the sight of the Lord" See note at 2 Chronicles 24:2.

"he did not enter the temple" The fact this is mentioned shows how shocking Uzziah's actions were to the people of Judah.

"But the people continued acting corruptly" I assume this refers to fertility worship. None of the kings of Judah, so far, were successful at removing the local Ba'al worship sites (i.e., 2 Kgs. 14:4; 15:35).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE

27:3 "the upper gate" It was an entrance to the temple court on the north (cf. 2 Kgs. 15:35; 2 Chr. 23:20). It is unsure if Jotham built it or refurbished it. Apparently Jotham was very conscious of the sacredness of the temple.

Later in Jehoiakim's time this gate was renamed "the New Gate." It was the location of the positioning of a large number of temple guards (i.e., 2 Kgs. 11:6).

"the wall of Ophel" This term (BDB 779 I) refers to a filled area on the east between Mt. Zion and Mt. Moriah (cf. 2 Chr. 27:3; 33:14; Isa. 32:14; Micah 4:8).

27:5 "the Ammonites gave him" This may support the reading "Ammonites" in 2 Chr. 26:8.

"talents. . .kors" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES

27:6 Here again, the Chronicler makes a theological statement related to "the two ways." Obedience to the Mosaic covenant brings prosperity and blessing, but disobedience brings judgment (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:15,19; Psalm 1).

"the Lord his God" See note at 2 Chr. 26:16.

27:9 This is the typical summary of Judah's kings.

  1. age at ascension
  2. years of reign
  3. place of burial

27:7 "the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah" See Introduction to 2 Chronicles, IV. Authorship.

27:9 Apparently Jotham, unlike Uzziah, was buried in the royal tombs in Jerusalem.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. How is Jotham different from the other Judean kings?
  2. What did the people do to make them corrupt (v. 2)?
  3. How is 2 Chr. 27:6 unique?
  4. Why does the Chronicler not focus more on Jotham's faithful life?

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