2 Chronicles 27:3

_HE BUILT THE HIGH GATE OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, AND ON THE WALL OF OPHEL HE BUILT MUCH._ He built the high gate of the house of the Lord - situated on the north-that portion of the temple hill which was high compared with the southern part; hence, "the higher," or upper gate, 2 Kings 15:35. "He built" - i.e., repaired or embellished. AND ON THE WALL OF OPHEL - the Ophel; i:e., the mound or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount-a ridge lying between the valleys Kidron and Tyropoeon, called 'the lower city' (Josephus). HE BUILT MUCH - having the same desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in every direction....

Verse 2 Chronicles 27:3. _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....

Ophel was the name given to the long, narrowish, rounded spur or promontory, which intervenes between the central valley of Jerusalem (the Tyropoeon) and the Kidron, or valley of Jehoshaphat. The anxiety of Uzziah and Jotham to fortify their territory indicates a fear of external attack, which at this time was probably felt mainly in connection with Samaria and Syria (2 Kings 15:37 note). The faithless trust put in fortifications was rebuked by the prophets of the time Hosea 8:14; Isaiah 2:15....

EXPOSITION This chapter of nine verses is paralleled by the seven verses of 2 Kings 15:32-12. It consists of personal particulars respecting Jotham (2 Kings 15:1, 2 Kings 15:2); his building and his wars (2 Kings 15:3); a reference to his further doings (2 Kings 15:7); an exact repetition of a part of the first verse (2 Kings 15:8); his death, burial, and. successor (2

HE BUILT THE HIGH GATE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,.... See the note on 2 Kings 15:35 AND ON THE WALL OF OPHEL HE BUILT MUCH; which Kimchi interprets an high place; it was the eastern part of Mount Zion. Josephus f calls it Ophlas, and says it joined to the eastern porch of the temple; and some have thought the porch of the temple is meant; the Targum renders it a palace; it is a tradition of the Jews that it was the holy of holies g. f De Bell. Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2. g Vid. Hieron Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 86. A. F. G....

CHAPTER 27 THE REIGN OF JOTHAM _ 1. The reign of Jotham (2 Chronicles 27:1)_ 2. The death of Jotham (2 Chronicles 27:7) The record of the reign of Jotham is brief in both 2 Kings and in Chronicles. He did also what was right in the sight of the LORD. The statement “howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD” means that he did not act as Uzziah, his father did, when he intruded into the functions of the priesthood. However, in spite of the good example of the king, the people continued in their departure from Jehovah. “And the people did yet corruptly.” All the evils of a false worship continued and were not stopped. The state of the people is pictured by Isaiah in Chapter s 1-5 and also in the book of the prophet Micah. These portions of the Word of God

THE REIGN OF JOTHAM. See notes on 2 Kings 15:33, from which this section is taken, with the exception of 2 Chronicles 27:4, which is probably derived from some other source....

HIGH. upper. OPHEL. the Ophel; or, the lofty place or tower at the north end of the hill of Zion, between Zion and the Temple....

_the high gate_ R.V. THE UPPER GATE; cp. 2 Chronicles 23:20. _Ophel_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 33:14; Nehemiah 3:26-27. It was a southern spur of the Temple Hill. _Bädeker_, p. 21....

AND ON THE WALL OF OPHEL HE BUILT MUCH— _And he repaired much in the walls of the ascent._ See Nehemiah 3:26. Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—The reign of Jotham was pious and prosperous. 1. He copied the best of his father's ways, and avoided his wickedness. His heart was right with God, and he endeavoured diligently to walk with, and please him: but the people followed not his good example; either he wanted zeal to restrain them, or they were too headstrong to be withheld. _Note;_ They are inexcusable, who slight the advantages that they enjoy, and refuse to be reformed. 2. His prosperity went hand in hand with his piety; he fortified his dominions, built new cities, subdued the Ammonites, and brought them under tribute for three years; and because he had chosen God's ways, he became mighty under his protection. 3. Too soon for his people he finished his