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CHAPTER XXVII

Jotham succeeds his father Uzziah, and reigns well, 1, 2. His buildings, 3, 4. His successful wars, 5, 6. General account of his acts, reign, and death, 7-9.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII

Verse 2. "He entered not into the temple" - He copied his father's conduct as far as it was constitutional; and avoided his transgression. See the preceding chapter.

Verse 3. "On the wall of Ophel" - The wall, says the Targum, of the interior palace. Ophel was some part of the wall of Jerusalem, that was most pregnable, and therefore Jotham fortified it in a particular manner.

Verse 4. "Castles and towers." - These he built for the protection of the country people against marauders.

Verse 5. "He fought also with-the Ammonites" - We find here that he brought them under a heavy tribute for three years; but whether this was the effect of his prevailing against them, is not so evident. Some think that they paid this tribute for three years, and then revolted; that, in consequence, he attacked them, and their utter subjection was the result.

Verse 7. "The rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways" - It was in his days, according to 2 Kings xv. 37, that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, began to cut Judah short. See the notes on 2 Kings xv. 36, 37.