Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
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.
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.
2 Chronicles 27 records the reign of Jotham, one of Judah's faithful kings, whose life demonstrates the blessing that comes from seeking God's direction. Though his reign is briefly sketched compared to others, the chapter emphasizes that Jotham's strength and success flowed directly from his commitment to prepare his ways before the LORD. This chapter offers an encouraging portrait of a young king who largely followed his father Uzziah's example of righteousness, yet learned the crucial lesson that true power comes through dependence on God rather than through personal prestige or temple access.
Jotham became king at the young age of twenty-five and reigned for sixteen years. His mother, Jerushah, was the daughter of Zadok, connecting him to a priestly lineage. The text affirms that he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did. This is significant praise; Jotham followed his father's righteousness without repeating his father's fatal mistake of presumption in the temple (see 2 Chronicles 26:16-18). Notice that verse 2 adds a realistic note: while Jotham walked righteously, the people did yet corruptly. A godly king cannot force his people into righteousness; individual hearts remain accountable to God. This reminds us that personal obedience to God is always our own responsibility, regardless of our leaders' example.
Jotham's reign was marked by practical accomplishment. He built the high gate of the house of the LORD and on the wall of Ophel he built much, strengthening Jerusalem's defenses and religious infrastructure. He also constructed cities in Judah's mountains and built castles and towers, improving the kingdom's security and economic capacity. Militarily, Jotham defeated the Ammonites and received substantial tribute—one hundred talents of silver and grain supplies—for three consecutive years. These details are not mere historical record; they illustrate how obedience to God produces tangible, visible blessings in every sphere of life: religious, civil, and military.
Verse 6 reveals the theological heart of Jotham's success: Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. The phrase "prepared his ways" suggests intentional, deliberate ordering of his life according to God's will. This is not passive faith but active alignment with God's purpose. Jotham's might was not his own achievement but the result of seeking divine guidance and direction. The remaining verses (7-9) note that his full record was written in the royal chronicles. He died and was buried in the city of David, and his son Ahaz succeeded him—beginning a sharp spiritual decline in Judah.
Application for Today
Jotham's example teaches us that true strength and success come not from our position, resources, or accomplishments, but from intentionally preparing our ways before the LORD. Like Jotham, we may face a culture that lives corruptly around us; our responsibility is to remain faithful to God's direction in our own lives. Whether in family leadership, work, or ministry, when we seek God's guidance and order our decisions according to His Word, we can trust Him to provide both spiritual fruit and practical blessing. Ask yourself: Am I deliberately seeking God's will in my daily decisions, or am I drifting with cultural currents? The blessing of Jotham's reign invites us to the same commitment he modeled.
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 27
4 sections2 Chronicles 27 records the reign of Jotham, one of Judah's faithful kings, whose life demonstrates the blessing that comes from seeking God's direction. Though his reign is briefly sketched compared to others, the chapter emphasizes that Jotham's strength and success flowed directly from his commitment to prepare his ways before the LORD. This chapter offers an encouraging portrait of a young king who largely followed his father Uzziah's example of righteousness, yet learned the crucial lesson that true power comes through dependence on God rather than through personal prestige or temple access.
Jotham became king at the young age of twenty-five and reigned for sixteen years. His mother, Jerushah, was the daughter of Zadok, connecting him to a priestly lineage. The text affirms that he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did. This is significant praise; Jotham followed his father's righteousness without repeating his father's fatal mistake of presumption in the temple (see 2 Chronicles 26:16-18). Notice that verse 2 adds a realistic note: while Jotham walked righteously, the people did yet corruptly. A godly king cannot force his people into righteousness; individual hearts remain accountable to God. This reminds us that personal obedience to God is always our own responsibility, regardless of our leaders' example.
Jotham's reign was marked by practical accomplishment. He built the high gate of the house of the LORD and on the wall of Ophel he built much, strengthening Jerusalem's defenses and religious infrastructure. He also constructed cities in Judah's mountains and built castles and towers, improving the kingdom's security and economic capacity. Militarily, Jotham defeated the Ammonites and received substantial tribute—one hundred talents of silver and grain supplies—for three consecutive years. These details are not mere historical record; they illustrate how obedience to God produces tangible, visible blessings in every sphere of life: religious, civil, and military.
Verse 6 reveals the theological heart of Jotham's success: Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. The phrase "prepared his ways" suggests intentional, deliberate ordering of his life according to God's will. This is not passive faith but active alignment with God's purpose. Jotham's might was not his own achievement but the result of seeking divine guidance and direction. The remaining verses (7-9) note that his full record was written in the royal chronicles. He died and was buried in the city of David, and his son Ahaz succeeded him—beginning a sharp spiritual decline in Judah.
Jotham's example teaches us that true strength and success come not from our position, resources, or accomplishments, but from intentionally preparing our ways before the LORD. Like Jotham, we may face a culture that lives corruptly around us; our responsibility is to remain faithful to God's direction in our own lives. Whether in family leadership, work, or ministry, when we seek God's guidance and order our decisions according to His Word, we can trust Him to provide both spiritual fruit and practical blessing. Ask yourself: Am I deliberately seeking God's will in my daily decisions, or am I drifting with cultural currents? The blessing of Jotham's reign invites us to the same commitment he modeled.