2 Chronicles 27: Jotham's building and his strength
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Jotham becomes king at twenty-five and reigns sixteen years in Jerusalem. He does what is right, as his father Uzziah did, but does not enter Yahweh's temple, and the people still act corruptly. He builds the upper gate, the wall of Ophel, cities and fortresses, and defeats the king of Ammon, who pays him silver, wheat and barley for three years. He becomes mighty because he ordered his ways before Yahweh, and when he dies his son Ahaz reigns in his place.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: no one speaks in this chapter, and God speaks no words of his own. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Jotham 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.
In plain English: Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
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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.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. But only, he did not go into Yahweh's temple. And the people were still behaving corruptly.
The Hebrew word: "Acted corruptly" is shachath, the same word as "did corruptly" in , where Uzziah goes into the temple to burn incense. This verse says Jotham did not go into the temple, and that the people were behaving corruptly.
Good to know: puts it differently: "the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places." This verse does not mention the high places.
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3He built the upper gate of Yahweh’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
In plain English: He built the upper gate of Yahweh's house, and he built a great deal on the wall of Ophel.
Good to know: says he built the upper gate of Yahweh's house. The wall of Ophel is not in that verse.
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4Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
In plain English: He built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers.
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5He also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. The children of Ammon also gave that much to him in the second year, and in the third.
In plain English: He also made war with the king of the people of Ammon and prevailed over them. The people of Ammon gave him that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon brought him the same in the second year and in the third.
The Hebrew word: "Cor" is kor, which the dictionary gives as "a deep round vessel, i.e. (specifically) a cor or measure for things dry". The text does not give its size.
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6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.
In plain English: So Jotham became strong, for he had directed his ways before Yahweh his God.
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7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
In plain English: The rest of Jotham's acts, and all his wars and his ways, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Good to know: The source the text names here is "the book of the kings of Israel and Judah". names "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah". In and the order is "Judah and Israel".
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8He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
In plain English: He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
Good to know: This verse repeats : the same age, and the same sixteen years. gives it once.
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9Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Jotham lay down with his ancestors, and people buried him in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.
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