CHAPTER 27
. JOTHAM,
REIGNING WELL,
PROSPERS.
1. Jotham was twenty and five years
old—(See on ).
His mother's name . . .
Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok—or descendant of the famous
priest of that name [2 Samuel 8:17].
2. he did that which was right—The
general rectitude of his government is described by representing it
as conducted on the excellent principles which had guided the early
part of his father's reign.
the people did yet
corruptly—(See 2 Kings 15:35);
but the description here is more emphatic, that though Jotham did
much to promote the good of his kingdom and aimed at a thorough
reformation in religion, the widespread and inveterate wickedness of
the people frustrated all his laudable efforts.
3. He built the high gate of the
house of the Lord—situated on the north—that portion of the
temple hill which was high compared with the southern part—hence
"the higher," or upper gate (see on ). He built, that is, repaired or embellished.
and on the wall of
Ophel—Hebrew, "the Ophel," that is, the mound,
or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount, a ridge
lying between the valleys Kedron and Tyropoeligon, called "the
lower city" [JOSEPHUS].
He
built much—having the
same desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in every
direction.
4. in the mountains of Judah, and in
the forests he built castles and towers—that is, in the
elevated and wooded spots where fortified cities could not be placed,
he erected castles and towers.
. HE SUBDUES
THE AMMONITES.
5. He fought also with the king of
the Ammonites—This invasion he not only repelled, but, pursuing
the Ammonites into their own territory, he imposed on them a yearly
tribute, which, for two years, they paid. But when Rezin, king of
Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, combined to attack the kingdom of
Judah, they took the opportunity of revolting, and Jotham was too
distracted by other matters to attempt the reconquest (see on ).
CHAPTER 27
. JOTHAM, REIGNING WELL, PROSPERS.
1. Jotham was twenty and five years old—(See on ).
His mother's name . . . Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok—or descendant of the famous priest of that name [2 Samuel 8:17].
2. he did that which was right—The general rectitude of his government is described by representing it as conducted on the excellent principles which had guided the early part of his father's reign.
the people did yet corruptly—(See 2 Kings 15:35); but the description here is more emphatic, that though Jotham did much to promote the good of his kingdom and aimed at a thorough reformation in religion, the widespread and inveterate wickedness of the people frustrated all his laudable efforts.
3. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord—situated on the north—that portion of the temple hill which was high compared with the southern part—hence "the higher," or upper gate (see on ). He built, that is, repaired or embellished.
and on the wall of Ophel—Hebrew, "the Ophel," that is, the mound, or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount, a ridge lying between the valleys Kedron and Tyropoeligon, called "the lower city" [JOSEPHUS]. He
built much—having the same desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in every direction.
4. in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers—that is, in the elevated and wooded spots where fortified cities could not be placed, he erected castles and towers.
. HE SUBDUES THE AMMONITES.
5. He fought also with the king of the Ammonites—This invasion he not only repelled, but, pursuing the Ammonites into their own territory, he imposed on them a yearly tribute, which, for two years, they paid. But when Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, combined to attack the kingdom of Judah, they took the opportunity of revolting, and Jotham was too distracted by other matters to attempt the reconquest (see on ).