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. read more
Castles and towers - These he built for the protection of the country people against marauders. read more
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. read more
The rest of the acts of Jotham , and all his wars , and his ways - It was in his days, according to 2 Kings 15:37 , that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king of Israel, began to cut Judah short. See the notes on 2 Kings 15:36 , 2 Kings 15:37 . Written in the book of the kings , etc. - There is not so much found in the books of Kings which we have now, as in this place of the Chronicles. In both places we have abridged accounts only: the larger... read more
Jerushah . This name in the parallel is spelt with a final aleph instead of he. Nothing else is known of Jerushah, nor of her father Zadok . read more
Uzziah and Jotham, father and son. From the slight materials we have here, and those still more scanty in the Book of Kings, we may glean— I. THAT THE BEST PART OF UZZIAH 'S FORTUNE WAS IN HIS FATHERHOOD . He did, indeed, enjoy a very good estate; the "lines fell to him in pleasant places, and he had a goodly heritage." He had the highest position in the land, power, wealth, a large and noble sphere for great natural ability and honourable ambition ( 2 Chronicles... read more
The blameless reign of a son who followed all that was good in a father's example, and took warning of what was wrong in it. The preacher may take occasion, from the apparently scant contents of this chapter, to enlarge on the general subject of example as a force in human life, pointing out its strong points and its weaker side; what is requisite to give it a steady and equable influence, and how there is only one perfect Example—an Example always and in all things and by all worthy to be... read more
Features of an honourable life: Jotham. But little of Jotham's reign is recorded in Scripture, and his name is seldom on our lips. But he was a man of worth and wisdom; and, considering the comparative brevity of his life, we may say that he contributed much to his country. We learn from the account in the Second Book of Kings ( 2 Kings 15:5 )— I. THAT HE SERVED A USEFUL APPRENTICESHIP . We find that, for some time during his father's illness, he, "the king's son, was over... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 27:2
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, 2 Chronicles 26 (note). read more