II Chronicles 27:1-9 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 27:1-9 Commentary: Jotham's Reign
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This study explores Jotham's righteous reign, his mother's priestly lineage, and what it means to order one's ways before God in a corrupt time.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jotham's reign shows that faithful leadership means ordering one's ways before God, even when the people remain corrupt.
- Key words: hekhin (H3559), to direct, establish, set in order; va'yit'chazek (H2388), strengthened himself; rak lo ba (only he did not enter), crucial distinction from his father.
- Main debate: The significance of Jerushah's name and her Zadokite lineage, whether it signifies priestly endorsement, dynastic legitimacy, or is simply part of the standard regnal formula.
- Theological theme: The interplay between personal faithfulness and national corruption; strength comes from a deliberately God-oriented life, not from military might alone.
- Best use: Preaching on leadership that learns from past failures, perseverance in a culture that resists reform, and the nature of true strength.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.
2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly.
3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
5Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, and that year they gave him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years.
6So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
7As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with all his wars and his ways, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.
8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
9And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
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.
3He built the upper gate of Yahweh’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel.
4Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
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.
6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.
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.
8He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
KJV King James Version 1769
1Jotham 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.
2And 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.
3He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5He 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.
6So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.
7Now 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.
8He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
2And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people did yet corruptly.
3He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third.
6So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Jehovah his God.
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.
8He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1A son of twenty and five years is Jotham in his reigning, and sixteen years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother is Jerushah daughter of Zadok.
2And he doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that Uzziah his father did; only, he hath not come in unto the temple of Jehovah; and again are the people doing corruptly.
3He hath built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and in the wall of Ophel he hath built abundantly;
4and cities he hath built in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he hath built palaces and towers.
5And he hath fought with the king of the sons of Ammon, and prevaileth over them, and the sons of Ammon give to him in that year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand cors of wheat, and of barley ten thousand; this have the sons of Ammon returned to him both in the second year, and in the third.
6And Jotham doth strengthen himself, for he hath prepared his ways before Jehovah his God.
7And the rest of the matters of Jotham, and all his battles, and his ways, lo, they are written on the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8A son of twenty and five years was he in his reigning, and sixteen years he hath reigned in Jerusalem;
9and Jotham lieth with his fathers, and they bury him in the city of David, and reign doth Ahaz his son in his stead.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok.
2And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; only he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people still acted corruptly.
3It was he who built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4And he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5And he fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. This the children of Ammon brought again to him also in the second year, and in the third.
6And Jotham became strong, for he prepared his ways before Jehovah his God.
7And 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.
8He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1Joatham was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jerusa the daughter of Sadoc.
2And he did that which was right before the Lord, according to all that Ozias his father had done, only that he entered not into the temple of the Lord, and the people still transgressed.
3He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and castles and towers in the forests.
5He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame them, and the children of Ammon gave him at that time a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and as many measures of barley: so much did the children of Ammon give him in the second and third year.
6And Joatham was strengthened, because he had his way directed before the Lord his God.
7Now the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all his wars, and his works, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda.
8He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9And Joatham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Achaz his son reigned in his stead.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 27:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the Chronicler presents Jotham as a righteous king who learned from his father Uzziah's tragic mistake. Adam Clarke notes that Jotham copied his father's conduct "as far as it was constitutional" and avoided entering the temple to burn incense, Uzziah's transgression. Keil and Delitzsch observe that Jotham reigned "altogether in the spirit and power of his father, with the single limitation that he did not go into the sanctuary." Matthew Henry emphasizes that Jotham "prepared his ways before the Lord his God," meaning he walked circumspectly, ordering his conduct by God's word. Yet the Chronicler adds a sobering note: "the people still acted corruptly", even a good king could not reform a generation set in its ways. Jotham's building projects and military successes are read as fruits of this faithful ordering of life, as is the mention of his mother Jerushah, daughter” of Zadok the priest, which ties his reign to the legitimate priestly line and underscores the dynasty's covenant continuity.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Priestly legitimation: Jerushah's descent from Zadok underscores the Chronicler's concern with proper worship and temple order; Jotham's dynasty is connected to the legitimate priestly line.
- Standard regnal formula: The Chronicler routinely names the mother of Judean kings; the link to Zadok is just part of the genealogical record without special theological weight.
- Stewardship despite failure: Jotham's faithfulness is set against the people's ongoing corruption, teaching that personal godliness can coexist with a wider culture of disobedience.
What is clear: Jotham was a righteous king who learned from his father's tragic error, and his strength came from deliberately ordering his life before God — even when the people around him persisted in corruption.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Significance of Jerushah's name and lineage | Jotham's mother is named Jerushah, daughter of Zadok the priest, this links the royal house to the priestly line and is part of the Chronicler's interest in temple and cult. | Catholic and Orthodox traditions may see this as underscoring the unity of king and priesthood under God; some Protestant commentators treat it as a simple historical detail without theological freight. Reformed interpreters (e.g., Matthew Henry) note it as part of God's covenant tracing, but do not build doctrine on it. |
| Jotham's avoidance of the temple | All agree Jotham deliberately did not enter the sanctuary to burn incense, contrasting with his father Uzziah's sin (2 Chron 26:16-20). He learned from the consequences. | Some see this as a model of holy caution; others note it may simply reflect that the temple was the sole prerogative of priests, and Jotham respected that boundary. |
| Meaning of 'prepared his ways' (v.6) | The Hebrew <em>hekhin darkav</em> indicates Jotham intentionally established his conduct in line with God's will. | A minority read this as referring to the outward preparations of building and war; most agree it points to an inner ordering of life, as Matthew Henry emphasizes: 'walking circumspectly'. |
| The people's corruption | All note the Chronicler's honest assessment that even a righteous king could not fully reform a corrupt generation. | Pentecostal and Evangelical traditions often use this to challenge the 'dominion theology' idea that faithful leaders always succeed in transforming culture; mainline traditions see it as a limitation of human kingship pointing to the need for a perfect king. |
| Historical reliability of war with Ammon | The war against Ammon and tribute payment is an event not recorded in 2 Kings, but is consistent with the Chronicler's interest in temple and divine blessing. | Some critical scholars question whether the three-year tribute was fully paid, or if the Chronicler idealizes Jotham's success; conservative interpreters accept it as accurate, harmonizing with the prophetic picture of Jotham's reign. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, using Israel's royal history to instruct his own generation. Jotham's reign (c.750, 735 BC) fell during a period of Assyrian expansion under Tiglath-Pileser III, which reshaped the entire Near East. The northern kingdom of Israel and Syria under Rezin and Pekah were already plotting against Judah (2 Kings 15:37). Jotham's building projects, the Upper Gate of the temple, extensive work on the "Ophel" (the southeastern ridge of Jerusalem), and fortresses in the hill country and forests, reflect a concern for defense. Barnes notes that the Ophel was "the narrow, rounded spur between the Tyropoeon and the Kidron valleys," a vulnerable point that needed strengthening. The term "Ophel" (H6077) itself means "hill" or "mound."
Jotham's war with Ammon also fits this context. The Ammonites, who had submitted to Uzziah, revolted after his death. Jotham suppressed the rebellion and exacted a heavy tribute: 100 talents of silver (about 3.4 metric tons) plus wheat and barley for three years. Keil explains this was payment for the three years following the war, after which the Ammonites apparently stopped paying, possibly due to the Syro-Ephraimite crisis mentioned in 2 Kings 15:37. The Chronicler sees Jotham's success as rooted in his inner posture: "he prepared his ways before the LORD his God." This phrase uses the Hebrew verb hekhin (H3559), meaning to set in order, establish, or direct intentionally, not merely outward actions but a deliberate orientation of the whole life. The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah were active during Jotham's reign (Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1), calling Judah back to covenant faithfulness, even as the king modeled it.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Chronicles 27:1-9. The passage is preserved consistently across the major Hebrew manuscripts and versions. One minor variation: the name "Jerushah" (H3388) appears as "Jerusha" in some English translations, reflecting the same Hebrew consonants (yrwsh). The parallel in 2 Kings 15:33-38 is shorter, lacking the details of Jotham's building and the Ammonite war, but this is a difference of content, not textual corruption.
Reception History
Christian readers have often turned to this passage to illustrate the theme of faithful kingship in an unfaithful age. Matthew Henry (1710) drew pastoral lessons from Jotham's circumspect walk, applying it to believers who must "prepare their ways" before God. The Puritans saw Jotham as a model of learning from others' sins, he took warning from his father's leprosy and kept his distance from presumption. In medieval exegesis, the mention of Jerushah, daughter of Zadok, was sometimes allegorized as the union of royalty and priesthood fulfilled in Christ. The passage has been used in lectionaries for ordinary time, emphasizing the quiet, steady reign of a king who did not draw attention to himself but was faithful in building and war. Contemporary preachers often contrast Jotham's brief, effective reign with the long, disastrous reign of his son Ahaz, reminding congregations that each generation chooses its own path.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Learning from a Father's Failure. Jotham "did what was right" following his father Uzziah's early example, but he stopped short of Uzziah's sin, entering the temple to burn incense. He embraced the good without repeating the evil.
- Faithfulness in a Corrupt Environment. The people still acted corruptly, yet Jotham did not let their rebellion excuse his own. He kept building, fighting, and ordering his ways before God regardless of the culture around him.
- Strength That Comes from Ordering Your Ways. Verse 6 says Jotham "became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God." True strength flows from a deliberately arranged life that keeps God at the center.
Five-point outline
- The opening formula (v.1): Jotham's age, reign length, and the mention of his mother Jerushah, daughter of Zadok, linking royalty to the priesthood.
- The assessment (v.2): He was righteous, but with a critical distinction, he did not repeat his father's intrusion into the sanctuary.
- The building works (vv.3-4): Upgrading the temple gate, fortifying the Ophel, and constructing cities and towers, securing Jerusalem against external threats.
- The Ammonite war (v.5): Jotham prevailed and received tribute for three years, demonstrating God's blessing on his military leadership.
- The summary formula (vv.6-9): Jotham's might is explained by his directed ways, and his reign ends with the standard notice of his death, burial, and successor.
Illustration hooks
- A careful driver learns from a crash caused by distraction, staying focused on the road. Jotham watched his father's fall and deliberately avoided the same temptation.
- A manager who does the right things even when the team underperforms. Jotham kept building and governing faithfully even though the people "still acted corruptly", he did not let their failure define his.
- Planning a garden in early spring, ordering the soil, planting at the right depth, watering steadily. Jotham "ordered his ways" like a gardener who knows that consistent daily care produces a harvest.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "If I'm living faithfully, why doesn't my family or my church change?
Jotham faced the same frustration; his righteousness was not just a lever to change others but an offering to God. - "How do I avoid repeating my parents' mistakes without rejecting everything they taught?
Jotham followed his father's good pattern but stopped short of his transgression, discernment, not wholesale rejection. - "What does it actually look like to 'order your ways' before God in daily life?
It means making intentional choices about time, money, relationships, and habits, not drifting but directing.
Leading a Discussion
This passage presents a king who did right in a time when most did wrong. Jotham's brief, effective reign raises questions about personal faithfulness in a culture that resists change. As you read 2 Chronicles 27:1-9, pay attention to what the writer emphasizes and what he omits.
Discussion questions
- Why does the Chronicler include the name of Jotham's mother and her lineage from Zadok? What might this detail signal to the original readers?
- Verse 2 says Jotham "did what was right" but "did not enter the temple." How did he learn from his father's sin, and what does that teach about discerning what to imitate in a godly leader?
- The people "still acted corruptly." Does a leader's faithfulness depend on the people's response? How do you maintain your own integrity when others around you are not following suit?
- Jotham's building projects and military success are described in detail. What is the Chronicler's point about the connection between spiritual order and material success?
- Verse 6 says Jotham "became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God." The Hebrew verb hekhin means to direct, prepare, or establish. What would it look like to "order" your way, your time, priorities, decisions, before God this week?
- Compare Jotham's reign with the description of his son Ahaz in chapter 28. How does the contrast highlight the importance of each generation's choices?
- How does Jotham's reign give hope to believers who feel they are living faithfully but see little change in their community or church?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 15:32 | In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. |
| II Kings 15:38 | Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place. |
| I Chronicles 3:12 | Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, |
| Isaiah 1:1 | The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. |
| Hosea 1:1 | Yahweh’s word that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. |
| Micah 1:1 | Yahweh’s word that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. |
| Matthew 1:9 | Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. |
| II Kings 15:34 | He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Jotham's reign was the last time Judah enjoyed true political prosperity. Later kings like Hezekiah and Josiah restored worship but could not stop the kingdom's
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the fortifications built by Uzziah and Jotham were a response to real threats from Samaria and Syria, even though contemporary prophets rebuked placing trust in walls. He also highlights Ophel as the specific ridge between Jerusalem's valleys and points to the Ammonites' grain-rich land that Jotham taxed heavily after their revolt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools commentary points out that Jotham's independent reign was likely much shorter than the sixteen years stated, based on Assyrian records. It also notes that Chronicles and Kings record different limitations on Jotham's piety - one says he avoided the temple, the other that high places remained.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Jotham followed his father Uzziah's good ways but avoided his evil, particularly by not entering the temple to burn incense. He also notes the Ammonites paid a heavy tribute of silver, wheat, and barley for only three years, though the reason for its end is uncertain.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that while Jotham governed according to righteous principles and pursued genuine religious reform, the people's deep-rooted and widespread wickedness rendered his best efforts fruitless. The commentator highlights this stark contrast between the king's laudable aims and the frustrating reality that the nation refused to reform.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights that Jotham succeeded by following his father Uzziah's example in every way except one: he did not intrude into the temple sanctuary. By walking steadfastly before the Lord and avoiding both idolatry and any infringement on priestly rights, Jotham strengthened his kingdom, while the people's moral corruption persisted.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry's distinctive point is that Jotham's strength came not from achievements but from deliberate, orderly preparation. He walked with careful caution, actively planning how to avoid evil and accomplish good. This methodical, purposeful ordering of his life before God is what made him mighty.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the king followed his father's good example but carefully avoided his mistakes. He stresses that even those we admire should only be imitated in their virtues; their failings become warnings for us to walk more carefully. He also clarifies that "built" here means "repaired," since the city was already constructed.