2 Chronicles 27 summary meaning ai explained commentary

2 Chronicles 27 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter recounts the reign of Jotham, King of Judah, highlighting his faithfulness to God and his military successes.

Key Points:

A Godly King: Jotham is described as a righteous king who "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," following the example of his father Uzziah (also known as Azariah). However, unlike his father, Jotham did not enter the temple to burn incense, respecting the priestly roles (verses 1-2).
Prosperity and Expansion: Under Jotham's rule, Judah prospered. He strengthened the nation's defenses by fortifying cities, building towers, and establishing outposts in the hill country and forests.
Military Victories: Jotham successfully waged war against the Ammonites and subjugated them, forcing them to pay a hefty tribute for three years. This victory brought him wealth and prestige.
Internal Conflict: Despite his successes, Jotham faced opposition from his own people. The narrative mentions that "the rest of the acts of Jotham... are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah" (verse 7), implying that his reign wasn't without challenges.
Legacy: Jotham reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem and was succeeded by his son Ahaz. He is remembered as a good king who walked in the ways of the Lord.

Overall Theme:

2 Chronicles 27 presents Jotham as a model king who enjoyed God's blessing due to his faithfulness and obedience. His reign serves as a reminder that honoring God leads to prosperity and success, even amidst challenges. The chapter also hints at the importance of respecting boundaries and avoiding the mistakes of previous generations.

2 Chronicles 27 bible study ai commentary

Jotham's reign represents a short period of stability and righteousness bookended by the prideful fall of his father Uzziah and the catastrophic apostasy of his son Ahaz. This chapter portrays Jotham as a model king in his public duties—building, fortifying, and achieving military victory through God's favor. However, it introduces a crucial and tragic theme: the righteousness of a leader is not enough to reverse the deep-seated corruption of the people. Jotham's personal piety stands in stark contrast to the nation's spiritual decay, foreshadowing Judah's inevitable decline.

2 Chronicles 27 context

Jotham ruled Judah (c. 750–735 BC) during a time of great geopolitical turmoil. The northern kingdom of Israel was in a state of chaos, and the Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III was expanding aggressively, posing an existential threat to all smaller nations in the region. The Chronicler, writing to a post-exilic community trying to rebuild their nation and identity, uses Jotham's story to deliver a powerful theological message: national strength and security are directly tied to obedience to God and proper reverence for His Temple.

2 Chronicles 27:1

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

In-depth-analysis

Provides the standard regnal formula, establishing the historical framework of his rule.
Reigned sixteen years: This period includes his co-regency with his father Uzziah, who was a leper. Jotham managed the kingdom's affairs before officially becoming king.
Jerushah the daughter of Zadok: The naming of the queen mother is a common feature in Kings and Chronicles. This "Zadok" is likely a prominent priestly or noble figure, not the famous High Priest from David's time, but the name connects his lineage to a legacy of religious authority, reinforcing his legitimacy.

Bible references

2 Kings 15:32-33: "In the second year of Pekah... Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old..." (Parallel account, confirming details).
Proverbs 31:1-2: "The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son?" (Shows the significant influence a queen mother could have).

Cross references

2 Chron 26:21 (co-regency), 2 Ki 15:5 (co-regency), Matt 1:9 (in Jesus' genealogy).

2 Chronicles 27:2

And he did what was 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 still acted corruptly.

In-depth-analysis

Did what was right: The Chronicler gives Jotham a positive evaluation, equating his public piety with his father's early reign.
However he did not enter the temple: This is the most significant and debated detail. It is not a criticism. Rather, it is a deliberate contrast to his father Uzziah, who was struck with leprosy for arrogantly entering the temple to burn incense—a role reserved for priests. Jotham's avoidance demonstrates a holy fear and profound respect for sacred boundaries.
- Word: The distinction highlights piety through reverence versus piety through ritual action.
But the people still acted corruptly: A crucial statement that limits the king's success. It shows that national spiritual rot had set in so deeply that even a righteous king could not reverse the trend. The "high places" were likely still in use (mentioned in the 2 Kings account). This foreshadows the judgment that will come under his wicked son, Ahaz.

Bible references

2 Chronicles 26:16-21: "But when he [Uzziah] was strong, he grew proud... and he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense... then the Lord struck him." (Direct context for Jotham's caution).
Leviticus 10:1-3: "Nadab and Abihu... offered unauthorized fire... so fire came out from the Lord and consumed them... 'By those who come near me I will be treated as holy.'" (The principle of respecting sacred boundaries).
2 Kings 15:35: "But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places." (Clarifies the nature of the people's corruption).

Cross references

2 Chron 15:17 (Asa's failure), 2 Chron 20:33 (Jehoshaphat's failure), Jer 5:1 (moral decay).

Polemics

Scholars see this verse as a core part of the Chronicler's polemic on the sanctity of the priesthood and the Temple. While Kings often focuses on political events, Chronicles emphasizes cultic purity. Jotham is presented as the ideal king in his relationship with the Temple: he supports it financially and fortifies it physically, but he does not trespass upon its holy space or usurp priestly authority. This served as a powerful lesson for the post-exilic leadership in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 27:3-4

He built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.

In-depth-analysis

Upper Gate of the house of the Lord: This gate, also called the "Benjamin Gate" (Jeremiah 20:2), was a key northern entrance to the Temple complex. Fortifying it showed piety and strategic defense.
Wall of Ophel: The Ophel was the fortified ridge connecting the City of David to the Temple Mount. Strengthening this wall was crucial for the defense of both the palace and the Temple.
Cities... fortresses and towers: This building program reflects a strategic plan to secure the Judean heartland ("hill country") and control trade routes and key defensive positions ("the forests"). It signals national prosperity and good governance.

Bible references

Nehemiah 3:26-27: "Moreover, the temple servants living on Ophel made repairs... beyond the projecting tower." (Shows Ophel was a key part of Jerusalem's fortifications).
2 Chronicles 11:5-12: "Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up cities for defense in Judah." (Pattern of good kings fortifying the nation).
Isaiah 2:15: "Against every high tower and every fortified wall." (Towers and walls as symbols of human pride and strength, which Jotham dedicates to God).

Cross references

Micah 4:8 (Ophel as a "watchtower"), 2 Chron 17:12 (Jehoshaphat's forts), 2 Chron 33:14 (Manasseh later builds on Ophel).

2 Chronicles 27:5

He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. And the people of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon paid this for three years.

In-depth-analysis

Fought... and defeated them: Military victory is presented as a direct result of God's favor on a righteous king. The Ammonites were perennial enemies to the east of the Jordan.
Immense Tribute:
- 100 talents of silver: A talent was about 75 pounds (34 kg), so this was roughly 3.4 tons of silver, an enormous sum representing state-level wealth.
- 10,000 kors of wheat and barley: A kor was about 220 liters or 6 bushels. This represents a massive agricultural tribute, capable of feeding thousands.
For three years: This detail suggests the tribute was not permanent and Ammonite subjugation was temporary, hinting at the constant external pressures on Judah.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 28:7: "The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you." (A direct fulfillment of covenant blessings for obedience).
2 Samuel 8:2: "He also defeated Moab... so the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute." (Precedent set by King David for extracting tribute).
Judges 11:32-33: "So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand." (Long history of conflict between Israel and Ammon).

Cross references

Gen 19:38 (origin of Ammonites), 2 Sam 10 (David's war with Ammon), Amos 1:13 (prophecy against Ammon).

2 Chronicles 27:6

So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.

In-depth-analysis

This is the theological climax and summary statement of the chapter.
Word: "prepared" (Hebrew: hēḵîn) means to establish, make firm, or direct. It implies a conscious, deliberate, and consistent choice to live in obedience to God. His strength wasn't just in military might or building projects but in his ordered spiritual life.
Before the Lord his God: This phrase signifies that his actions were done with God as his primary audience, out of a desire for divine approval, not human praise. The Chronicler's main point: moral and spiritual order leads to national strength and power.

Bible references

1 Kings 2:12: "So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established." (kûn, the root of hēḵîn). (Shows the link between the verb and a strong kingdom).
Psalm 119:5: "Oh that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!" (The psalmist’s desire for the same life-ordering Jotham achieved).
James 4:8: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (NT principle that a deliberate turning to God results in His empowerment).

Cross references

Ps 37:23 (steps of a good man ordered by God), 1 Chron 28:9 (David's charge to Solomon), Josh 1:7-8 (success from obedience).

2 Chronicles 27:7-9

Now 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. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he 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.

In-depth-analysis

This is the standard concluding regnal formula.
Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah: The Chronicler's source document, likely a more detailed court record than the canonical books of Kings.
Slept with his fathers: A euphemism for a peaceful death and honorable burial, befitting a righteous king.
Buried... in the city of David: The royal cemetery. An honorable burial in this location was a sign of a reign that was, on the whole, approved.
Ahaz his son reigned in his stead: This simple transition is ominous. The Chronicler sets up a stark and immediate contrast between the God-fearing father and the catastrophically wicked son, whose story follows in chapter 28.

Bible references

2 Kings 15:38: "And Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place." (Parallel concluding account).
1 Kings 11:43: "And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father." (The standard formula).

Cross references

1 Ki 14:19-20 (standard conclusion), 2 Chron 28:1 (Ahaz's wicked reign begins).

2 Chronicles chapter 27 analysis

The Limited King: The chapter starkly portrays the limits of a king's influence. Jotham is a righteous man, but the "people still acted corruptly." This highlights that national sin requires more than a good leader; it requires a repentant populace. This theme runs throughout the OT, where even the best kings (David, Hezekiah, Josiah) could not permanently purge sin from the nation's heart.
The Tale of Three Kings: Jotham's brief account serves as a crucial bridge in a three-generation narrative about relationship with God and His temple:
1. Uzziah (Chapter 26): Prideful Encroachment. Becomes powerful, grows proud, usurps a priestly role, and is struck by God.
2. Jotham (Chapter 27): Pious Restraint. Becomes powerful by respecting God's boundaries and staying out of the Temple's inner sanctum. He is blessed for his holy fear.
3. Ahaz (Chapter 28): Pagan Contempt. Rejects God entirely, shuts the Temple doors, and embraces idolatry, leading to national disaster.
Chronicler's Theology in Microcosm: This chapter is a perfect illustration of the Chronicler's doctrine of immediate retribution and reward. Jotham "prepared his ways" (v. 6) and was rewarded with might, successful building projects, and victory. This was a clear message to the returned exiles: order your ways before God, honor His temple, and He will establish you.

2 Chronicles 27 summary

Jotham is presented as a righteous king who ruled Judah for 16 years. He followed God like his father Uzziah but wisely avoided Uzziah's prideful sin of entering the Temple. He strengthened Judah by fortifying Jerusalem and other cities, and God gave him victory over the Ammonites, who paid him immense tribute. Jotham grew mighty because he deliberately ordered his life in obedience to God. However, his righteousness could not halt the people's ongoing corruption, setting the stage for the apostasy of his son, Ahaz.

2 Chronicles 26 AI 2 Chronicles 28 AI

2 Chronicles 27 AI Image Audio and Video

2 Chronicles chapter 27 kjv

¹ 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.
² 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.
³ He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
⁴ Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
⁵ 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.
⁶ So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
⁷ 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.
⁸ He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
⁹ And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles chapter 27 nkjv

¹ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
² And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.
³ He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.
⁴ Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
⁵ He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. And the people of Ammon gave him in that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. The people of Ammon paid this to him in the second and third years also.
⁶ So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
⁹ So Jotham rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles chapter 27 niv

¹ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.
² He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.
³ Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
⁴ He built towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.
⁵ Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand cors of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years.
⁶ Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.
⁷ The other events in Jotham's reign, including all his wars and the other things he did, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
⁹ Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles chapter 27 esv

¹ 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.
² And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices.
³ He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD and did much building on the wall of Ophel.
⁴ Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills.
⁵ He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents of silver, and 10,000 cors of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years.
⁶ So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
⁷ Now 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.
⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
⁹ And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles chapter 27 nlt

¹ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
² Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.
³ Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
⁴ He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.
⁵ Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.
⁶ King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God.
⁷ The rest of the events of Jotham's reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
⁹ When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.