2 Chronicles 27
2 Chronicles 27 covers the eleventh king of Judah, Jotham’s reign. Jotham succeeded his father Uzziah as king, and the Bible emphasizes that he acted uprightly in the sight of the LORD. This chapter briefly records the details of Jotham’s reign, the achievements he accomplished, and the distinctive features of his time as king.
1verseJotham 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.
2verseHe did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn’t enter into the LORD’s temple. The people still acted corruptly.
3verseHe built the upper gate of the LORD’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
4verseMoreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
5verseHe 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.
6verseSo Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
7verseNow 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.
8verseHe was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9verseJotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Jotham’s Reign and Achievements
- Coronation and Age: Jotham became king at the age of 25 and ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years.
- A Life Aligned with God’s Will: Like his father Uzziah, it is recorded that he acted uprightly in the sight of the LORD. However, he did not repeat his father’s mistake—entering the temple to offer incense himself, and contracting leprosy as a result.
- The Temple and Construction of the City and Walls: Jotham built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, strengthened the palace and the walls, and built many towns and watchtowers in the hill country of Judah.
- Strengthening Defense and Winning Wars: He won battles against the descendants of Ammon, successfully achieving diplomatic results as well, including receiving tribute for three years.
- The Spiritual Condition of the People: Jotham himself walked in the right way, but the people of Judah were still described as corrupt.
The Meaning of the Whole Chapter
The assessment that Jotham acted uprightly shows that, amid the confusing backdrop of the times, his faith and character stood out. By not repeating his father’s mistakes and by establishing the nation and the temple within God’s will, his example demonstrates leadership with a sense of responsibility. Yet it also reveals a limitation: a spiritual awakening for the entire people cannot be achieved by a leader’s personal faith and leadership alone.
Meditation Points
- What if we focus on the fact that Jotham acted uprightly before God? We can reflect deeply on how his faithfulness affected his life and his nation.
- As we notice that a leader’s faith and the spiritual state of all the people do not necessarily align, we can also meditate on our responsibility in our own life and community.
Applying It to Me
- I too can check how well I am keeping “uprightness” before God and my own conscience.
- I can look back on whether the community I belong to, my family, or my workplace is receiving good influence from me like Jotham, and use it as an opportunity to think about how to live with a more righteous attitude.
