New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Chronicles 27
1
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. His mother's name was Jerusha. She was the daughter of Zadok.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 3:12
2
Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. But Jotham didn't enter the Lord's temple as Uzziah had done. In spite of that, the people continued to do very sinful things.
3
Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple. He did a lot of work on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
Reference
📍 Ophel
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 33:14
4
He built towns in the hills of Judah. He also built forts and towers in areas that had a lot of trees in them.
5
Jotham went to war against the king of Ammon. He won the battle over the people of Ammon. That year they paid Jotham almost four tons of silver. They paid him 62,000 bushels of wheat and 62,000 bushels of barley. They also brought him the same amount in the second and third years.
6
Jotham became powerful. That's because he had worshiped the Lord his God with all his heart.
Reference
7
The other events of Jotham's rule are written down. That includes all of his wars and the other things he did. All of those things are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years.
9
Jotham joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz became the next king after him.
Summary of 2 Chronicles 27
2 Chronicles Chapter 27 describes the sixteen-year reign of Jotham, presenting him as a generally faithful king who strengthened Judah through responsible leadership, construction, military victories, and obedience to God. Jotham became king at twenty-five years of age and followed the positive aspects of his father Uzziah's earlier example. Unlike Uzziah, however, Jotham did not repeat his father's serious mistake of entering the Temple and attempting to perform priestly duties. His reign therefore provides an important contrast: Jotham benefited from the strength and prosperity developed during his father's reign while avoiding the pride that ultimately brought Uzziah down.
Jotham strengthened Jerusalem by improving the Upper Gate of the Temple and repairing the wall of Ophel. He also developed cities throughout the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in forested areas. These projects strengthened the kingdom's defenses and helped protect its population and resources. His military leadership was also successful. Jotham defeated the Ammonites and forced them to pay substantial annual tribute consisting of silver, wheat, and barley. The Chronicler connects these achievements directly with Jotham's faithfulness, explaining that he became strong because he consistently followed the ways of the Lord.
Although Jotham was a successful king, the chapter briefly notes that the people of Judah continued to act corruptly. This detail is important because it shows that the faithfulness of a king did not automatically mean that the entire nation was spiritually faithful. Jotham's personal leadership was commendable, but Judah's broader spiritual condition remained imperfect.
Jotham's reign lasted sixteen years, approximately from 750 to 735 BC, during an increasingly unstable period in the ancient Near East. Assyria was becoming a major regional power, and Judah's neighboring kingdoms were also becoming more aggressive. Jotham nevertheless maintained Judah's strength and stability during his reign. After his death, his son Ahaz became king. The transition is significant because Ahaz would take Judah in a very different religious direction.
Overall, Chapter 27 presents Jotham as a relatively consistent and successful ruler. His story demonstrates the value of faithful leadership, humility, responsible development, and continued obedience. Unlike his father, he did not allow success to lead him into religious arrogance. His reign was not without national problems, but his personal example stands as one of the more positive accounts among Judah's kings.
Jotham strengthened Jerusalem by improving the Upper Gate of the Temple and repairing the wall of Ophel. He also developed cities throughout the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in forested areas. These projects strengthened the kingdom's defenses and helped protect its population and resources. His military leadership was also successful. Jotham defeated the Ammonites and forced them to pay substantial annual tribute consisting of silver, wheat, and barley. The Chronicler connects these achievements directly with Jotham's faithfulness, explaining that he became strong because he consistently followed the ways of the Lord.
Although Jotham was a successful king, the chapter briefly notes that the people of Judah continued to act corruptly. This detail is important because it shows that the faithfulness of a king did not automatically mean that the entire nation was spiritually faithful. Jotham's personal leadership was commendable, but Judah's broader spiritual condition remained imperfect.
Jotham's reign lasted sixteen years, approximately from 750 to 735 BC, during an increasingly unstable period in the ancient Near East. Assyria was becoming a major regional power, and Judah's neighboring kingdoms were also becoming more aggressive. Jotham nevertheless maintained Judah's strength and stability during his reign. After his death, his son Ahaz became king. The transition is significant because Ahaz would take Judah in a very different religious direction.
Overall, Chapter 27 presents Jotham as a relatively consistent and successful ruler. His story demonstrates the value of faithful leadership, humility, responsible development, and continued obedience. Unlike his father, he did not allow success to lead him into religious arrogance. His reign was not without national problems, but his personal example stands as one of the more positive accounts among Judah's kings.