2 Chronicles Chapter 27

Jotham’s Godly Reign
A. The good reign of King Jotham

1. 2 Chronicles 27:1–2, An overview of the reign of Jotham

“Jotham was five and twenty 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. And 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.”

a. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
Jotham is presented as another genuinely godly king of Judah. His reign stands in sharp contrast to the moral collapse of the northern kingdom of Israel during the same period. While Israel descended steadily into idolatry and rebellion, Judah continued to be preserved through a succession of kings who, though imperfect, sought the LORD. Jotham belongs to that company of kings whose reigns were marked by personal faithfulness, restraint, and obedience to God’s revealed will.

b. According to all that his father Uzziah did.
Jotham followed the general pattern of his father’s earlier and faithful years. Scripture often shows that sons rule in continuity with their fathers, whether for good or for evil. This principle highlights the profound formative influence a father has upon his son, not only politically but spiritually. Jotham inherited both the benefits and the warnings of Uzziah’s reign.

i. Howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD.
This short clause carries enormous theological weight. Jotham deliberately avoided repeating his father’s fatal error. Uzziah’s intrusion into the temple had ended his life in shame and isolation. Jotham learned from that failure. He did not despise the house of the LORD, but he respected the boundaries God had set. He understood that reverence includes restraint, and that obedience often means refusing what God has not permitted, even when one has power to take it.

ii. This restraint reveals spiritual maturity. Jotham did not confuse proximity to God with entitlement. He honored the distinction between kingship and priesthood, recognizing that authority must always submit to divine order.

c. And the people did yet corruptly.
This statement tempers the otherwise positive assessment of Jotham’s reign. The word yet indicates continuity. The corruption among the people did not originate with Jotham, nor even primarily with the latter days of Uzziah, but persisted beneath the surface of national prosperity. Though Jotham ruled righteously, the hearts of the people remained resistant to true reform.

i. This moral decay beneath outward success is confirmed by the prophetic ministries active during this era. Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, and Micah all exposed widespread injustice, hypocrisy, and spiritual compromise. Economic prosperity masked inward rot.

ii. This reality serves as a reminder that a godly ruler cannot force righteousness upon a people. Leadership can restrain evil and encourage good, but repentance must ultimately take root in the heart of the nation.

2. 2 Chronicles 27:3–6, The accomplishments of Jotham

“He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. He 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. So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.”

a. He built the high gate of the house of the LORD.
Concern for the temple consistently marks spiritual health in Judah’s kings. Jotham’s work on the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD reflects reverence, humility, and priority. Rather than attempting to control the temple, he strengthened access to it. This act symbolized his desire for regular fellowship with God and visible support of true worship.

i. In particular, this gate likely restored or reinforced the connection between the palace and the temple. Jotham desired proximity without intrusion, access without overreach. He recognized that wisdom, strength, and legitimacy flowed from communion with God, not from presumption.

ii. Unlike his father, who attempted to assume priestly authority, and unlike earlier kings who neglected or opposed the temple, Jotham maintained the proper relationship. He honored God’s house without attempting to dominate it.

b. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
Jotham extended his building efforts throughout the kingdom. His reign was marked by strategic development, not centralized indulgence. By strengthening rural and frontier areas, he increased both economic productivity and military security. These fortifications protected trade routes, farmland, and population centers.

i. These measures enabled Judah to assert control over neighboring peoples. Jotham’s defeat of the Ammonites and the tribute they paid demonstrate both military competence and political strength. The tribute described represents a substantial economic gain and a clear acknowledgment of Judah’s superiority.

c. So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
This verse provides the theological explanation for Jotham’s success. His strength did not arise merely from construction, military organization, or political skill, but from deliberate spiritual preparation. To prepare one’s ways before the LORD is to live consciously under God’s authority, ordering decisions, habits, and priorities according to His will.

i. Though no sweeping national revival occurred during Jotham’s reign, his personal faithfulness remained steady. He advanced quietly, consistently, and without spectacle. Scripture attributes his strength not to charisma or innovation, but to disciplined obedience.

ii. Jotham’s life suggests habitual prayer and constant dependence upon God. A man does not prepare his ways before the LORD without regular communion with Him. His leadership reflects orderliness, humility, and reverence, traits cultivated in the presence of God rather than in public acclaim.

iii. Uniquely among the kings of Judah, Scripture records no explicit sin or moral failure attributed to Jotham. His name, meaning Jehovah is perfect, fittingly aligns with the character of his reign. While not flawless, his life displayed consistency, restraint, and faithfulness to the end.

iv. Orderliness emerges as a defining mark of a life lived before God. Those who walk consciously in His presence tend to cultivate disciplined habits, integrity in private, and clarity of purpose. Jotham’s reign exemplifies this quiet strength.

3. 2 Chronicles 27:7–9, The summary of his reign

“Now 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. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.”

a. All his wars, and his ways.
This summary statement indicates that Jotham’s reign, though relatively brief, was active and consequential. His “wars” refer not only to the recorded conflict with Ammon but also to mounting regional pressures that began during his lifetime. 2 Kings 15:37 provides important theological insight into this period, stating, “In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.” Scripture is explicit that these foreign threats were not random geopolitical developments but instruments sovereignly sent by the LORD.

i. Though hostilities intensified later, during the reign of Ahaz, the foundations of Judah’s coming troubles were laid in Jotham’s days. The alliance between Syria and Israel began to form, and military pressure against Judah slowly increased. Jotham governed faithfully during this early phase, restraining damage through strength, preparation, and godly leadership, but the full force of judgment would fall upon the next generation.

ii. It is also possible that Jotham’s military experience extended beyond what is directly attributed to him as king. His father Uzziah, though quarantined by leprosy, may still have exercised strategic influence, with Jotham serving as a field commander prior to becoming sole ruler. This would help explain the reference to “all” his wars, suggesting broader military involvement than the Ammonite campaign alone.

iii. The phrase “his ways” speaks to more than public policy or military action. It summarizes Jotham’s manner of life, his consistent conduct before God, and his ordered walk. Unlike many kings, whose ways deteriorated over time, Jotham’s ways remained steady. Scripture records no moral collapse, no pride driven rebellion, and no scandal that defined his latter years.

b. So Jotham slept with his fathers.
This simple statement carries quiet significance. After recounting the reigns of several kings who began well but ended in disgrace, it is striking to read of a king who finished without catastrophe. Jotham’s death is not marked by judgment, exile, disease, or humiliation. He rested with his fathers, having fulfilled his role faithfully.

i. His burial in the City of David indicates honor and acceptance. Unlike his father Uzziah, who was buried separately because of leprosy, Jotham suffered no such stigma. His end matched the tenor of his life, restrained, faithful, and ordered before the LORD.

ii. Yet the final sentence introduces a sobering transition. “And Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.” The godly stability of Jotham’s reign would not continue. The coming reign of Ahaz marks a dramatic spiritual reversal and sets the stage for one of Judah’s darkest periods. Scripture subtly reminds the reader that even righteous leadership does not guarantee righteous successors, and that each generation bears responsibility before God.