27:2Jotham was generally a good king (27:6), but his people remained corrupt as they had during his father Uzziah’s reign. Those you lead will not always follow your example, but that should not affect the way you live for God. This sinfulness of Jotham’s kingdom is vividly portrayed in Isaiah 1-5.
Life Application Study Bible2 ChroniclesChapter 27
2 Chronicles 27
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 702, 703
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272 Chronicles 27
Jotham Rules in Judah
127 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 2Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways. 3Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the Temple of the LORD. He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel. 4He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas. 5Jotham went to war against the Ammonites and conquered them. Over the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of 7,500 pounds* of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley.* 6King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God. 7The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and other activities, are recorded 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.?When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.
Textual footnotes
- disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases.
- 27:5a Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms].
- 27:56 Hebrew 10,000 cors [1,820 kiloliters] of wheat, and 10,000 cors
Life Application Notes 1 note
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Personality profile · page 703
Profile: Ahaz
Our heritage influences, but doesn’t necessarily determine, our life decisions. King Ahaz of Judah illustrates this truth in two ways: he turned away from the good examples of his father Jotham and his grandfather Uzziah, but his poor example seems to have had little effect on his own son Hezekiah, who proved to be a great and godly king. The circumstances in the life of King Ahaz fall into the general categories of bad and worse. When Judah suffered a debilitating attack from rivals Israel and Aram, the king ignored an opportunity to seek God’s help and turned instead to Assyria for assistance. Ahaz’s cowardly leadership forced Judah into virtual slavery to the Assyrians. Soon every evidence that Judah had once been a God-fearing nation was smashed, defaced, or tucked out of sight. Anaz imported idolatry. He even presented some of his children as offerings to the gods he hoped would rescue him and his nation from their disastrous situation. We share Ahaz’s sin when, from beneath a load of failures and trials, we turn away from good examples and from God. instead of repenting of any known sin and calling upon God for relief, we, tike Ahaz, may appeal to every other source of aid but God—our own abilities, money, or harmful habits. The results only serve to increase our tragic circumstances, Difficulties and mistakes will either devastate our faith or they will stimulate growth and maturity. The positive differences come when we humbly seek God's help, whatever the situation. Trials that tempt us to turn away from God should, instead, spur us to turn toward God.
Failed to trust God
• Asked Assyria for help and submitted Judah to crushing domination
• Adopted Assyrian religious practices that undermined his people’s faith
• Sacrificed some of his own children in Baal worship
Weaknesses and mistakes
• Fear is never a good excuse for failing to trust God
• Some people or things that seem like obvious sources of help or relief may turn out to be controlling and ensiaving instead
• Good examples in our lives can’t prevent us from making the wrong choices
Lessons from his life
Vital statistics
• Where: Jerusalem
• Occupation: King of Judah
• Relatives: Father: Jotham. Son: Hezekiah.
“Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the LORD” (2 Chronicles 28:22).
Key verse
Ahaz’s story is told in 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28. Isaiah 7-10 records several amazing prophecies given during his reign.
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