Jotham [was] twenty and five 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. Ver. 1. _Jotham was twenty and five years old._] Twenty and five he was years old when his father was stricken with leprosy; from w... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And he did that which was right._] See 2 Kings 15:34. Josephus saith that no virtue was wanting unt... [ Continue Reading ]
He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. Ver. 3. _He built the high gate._] See 2 Kings 15:35 . _ And on the wall of Ophel._] This was, saith Adrichomius, a tower of exceeding great height, _quasi nube caput inserens,_ seeming to reach to the very cl... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. Ver. 4. _He built castles and towers._] For defence against the invasion of enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 thir... [ Continue Reading ]
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. Ver. 6. _So Jotham became mighty._] The Hebrews think that he was perfect and without blame, as his name signifieth; like as Valerian the emperor said of his successor Probus, that he was _vere probus_ very honest, and h... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _And his ways,_] _i.e., _ His counsels, actions, whole course.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. Ver. 8. _He was five and twenty years old._] See on 2 Chronicles 27:1. This is here repeated, to show that he persevered in well doing to his death, saith the Gloss here.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 9. _And Ahaz his son reigned._] And wrought a woeful change, being _optimi patris pessimus filius._... [ Continue Reading ]