2 Chronicles 27 5

2 Chronicles 27:5 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 27:5 nkjv

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.

2 Chronicles 27:5 niv

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.

2 Chronicles 27:5 esv

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.

2 Chronicles 27:5 nlt

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.

2 Chronicles 27 verses

2 Chronicles 27 5 Meaning

2 Chronicles 27:5 describes King Jotham of Judah's military victory over the Ammonites and the significant, sustained tribute he exacted from them. This verse highlights his strength and success in re-establishing Judah's dominance over a neighboring kingdom, securing substantial economic and agricultural resources for the nation. His triumph is presented as a result of his righteous reign and God's favor.

2 Chronicles 27 5 Context

This verse is part of the narrative concerning the reign of Jotham, King of Judah (2 Chronicles 27:1-9). It immediately follows a brief summary of his age and reign length and precedes the key statement that "he prepared his ways before the Lord his God," which is presented as the reason for his prosperity and strength. The Ammonites were frequent adversaries of Judah/Israel, and their subjugation highlights Jotham's success. This event occurred during a period when Judah was striving for stability and faithfulness after his father Uzziah's long reign, which ended with Uzziah being struck with leprosy for sacrilege. Jotham's reign signifies a period of relative strength and righteousness for Judah.

2 Chronicles 27 5 Word analysis

• He fought: Jotham. Demonstrates active leadership and military prowess. His engagement with the Ammonites signifies a significant foreign policy action.
• also: Indicates this military engagement was one of Jotham's notable deeds, possibly in addition to building projects mentioned earlier or generally characteristic of his reign.
• with the king of the Ammonites: Pinpoints the specific adversary, implying a formal military conflict rather than mere skirmishes. Ammon (Hebrew: ʿAmmon) was an idolatrous kingdom (associated with Molech worship) and historical enemy, making the victory a clear statement of Judah's regional power.
• and prevailed against them: Hebrew wayyeḥĕzaq (וַיֶּחֱזַק), literally "and he became strong" or "gained strength." It denotes a decisive victory and the establishment of dominance, often implying divine empowerment in biblical narratives.
• And the children of Ammon: Refers to the nation or people of Ammon as a collective entity, emphasizing the total subjugation of their kingdom.
• gave him: Signifies a forced payment, tribute, an acknowledgement of suzerainty, not a voluntary gift or trade.
• the same year: The tribute began immediately as a direct consequence of Jotham's military victory, emphasizing prompt submission.
• an hundred talents of silver: A significant amount of wealth. A "talent" (Hebrew: kikkar) was a heavy unit of weight (approx. 75 pounds or 34 kilograms), so 100 talents represented an enormous sum of precious metal, reflecting great wealth transfer to Judah's treasury.
• and ten thousand measures of wheat: A "measure" (Hebrew: kor) was a large dry unit (approx. 6 bushels or 220 liters). 10,000 measures is an immense quantity of a staple food, providing substantial economic security and sustenance for Judah.
• and ten thousand of barley: Another 10,000 measures of a vital grain. Barley was a common, sometimes less expensive, staple, further ensuring agricultural security and a surplus of food.
• So much did the children of Ammon give unto him: Reiteration for emphasis, underscoring the massive quantity of the tribute and the consistency of the Ammonites' submission.
• both the second year, and the third: Specifies that the tribute was not a one-time payment but an annual imposition over at least three years, indicating prolonged and stable dominion by Judah over Ammon. This ensured sustained economic benefit for Jotham's kingdom.

2 Chronicles 27 5 Bonus section

• Echoes of Uzziah's Reign: Jotham's victory against the Ammonites and receiving tribute echoes his father Uzziah's earlier success against the Ammonites (2 Chr 26:8). However, Jotham learned from his father's downfall by avoiding pride, meticulously "preparing his ways before the Lord" (2 Chr 27:6), thus securing continued divine favor.
• Strategic Importance: Control or influence over Transjordanian kingdoms like Ammon was crucial for Judah's geopolitical stability and economic interests, securing trade routes and agricultural lands.
• Financial and Agricultural Reserves: The scale of the tribute (100 talents of silver, 10,000 measures each of wheat and barley annually) was monumental, providing immense liquid assets and staple food supplies that would insulate Judah against scarcity and enable further national projects, like Jotham's building endeavors mentioned in 2 Chronicles 27:3-4.
• Theocratic Warfare: While Jotham "fought," the prevailing over enemies and the subsequent receiving of tribute is often understood in the biblical narrative as a divine endowment to a righteous ruler, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in establishing and blessing His covenant people when they walk in obedience.

2 Chronicles 27 5 Commentary

2 Chronicles 27:5 succinctly captures a pivotal aspect of Jotham's reign: his successful military campaign against the Ammonites. This victory was not just a display of Judah's might but a clear sign of God's blessing on Jotham, especially in light of the immediate context which attributes his strength (verse 6) to his faithfulness. The detailed account of the immense silver, wheat, and barley exacted as tribute demonstrates a tangible and long-term economic boon for Judah. This annual inflow of resources would have fortified Judah's treasury and food security, directly contributing to the stability and prosperity described during Jotham's rule. The multi-year nature of the tribute underscores the completeness of Jotham's subjugation of the Ammonites, ensuring a period of peace and plenty for his kingdom, illustrating the practical benefits of a monarch who aligns his ways with the Lord. This verse serves as an example of how righteousness can lead to national blessing, power, and abundance.