2 Chronicles 27 tells the short story of Jotham, king of Judah, who ruled for sixteen years and is remembered as a faithful, capable leader. People read this chapter to understand what made his reign different from many others in the book, and why the writer spends so little space on him compared with his father Uzziah. The answer is found in a few key phrases about his character, his building projects, and his victories.
2 Chronicles 27 Summary
The chapter opens by introducing Jotham, who became king at twenty-five and reigned in Jerusalem for sixteen years. The writer notes that he did what was right before the LORD, following the pattern of his father Uzziah, yet with one notable exception: he did not enter the LORD’s temple. The people, meanwhile, continued to act corruptly.
The middle of the chapter lists what Jotham accomplished. He built gates and walls, constructed cities in the hill country of Judah, and fortified forested areas with towers and strongholds. He also defeated the Ammonites, who then paid him a large tribute for three years running.
The chapter closes with a summary formula. The writer points readers to the official records for the rest of Jotham’s deeds, reports his death and burial in David’s city, and passes the throne to his son Ahaz.
Background and Setting
Second Chronicles is traditionally attributed to Ezra, though many scholars treat the author as an anonymous Chronicler who worked in the late Persian or early Greek period, roughly the fifth to fourth centuries before Christ. The book retells the history of Judah from Solomon to the Babylonian exile, and it does so with a strong focus on the temple, the Davidic dynasty, and faithfulness to the covenant. It was written for a post-exilic community trying to understand its identity.
Chapter 27 sits in the reign-by-reign section of the book that covers the kings of Judah after Solomon. Jotham’s brief account comes right after his father Uzziah’s story and right before the terrible reign of Ahaz, so it works as a bridge between a king who was struck with leprosy for trespassing in the temple and a king who would lead the nation into deep idolatry.
2 Chronicles 27 Section by Section
Verses 1-2: A Good King Who Stopped Short
1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. However he didn’t enter into the LORD’s temple. The people still acted corruptly.
2 Chronicles 27:1-2 (WEB)
The chapter begins with the basic facts of Jotham’s reign, including his age at accession, the length of his rule, and his mother’s name. Then the writer gives the evaluation that matters most: Jotham did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, just as his father had. That is high praise in this book, where the kings are judged by their loyalty to God.
The qualifier that follows is just as important. Jotham did not enter the temple, and the people still acted corruptly. The writer seems to be saying that a king can be personally upright while the wider nation remains unfaithful, and that personal goodness does not automatically reform everyone under his care.
Verses 3-4: Building Walls and Cities
3 He built the upper gate of the LORD’s house, and he built much on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
2 Chronicles 27:3-4 (WEB)
Here the chapter lists Jotham’s building work. He repaired the upper gate of the temple, built on the wall of Ophel near the city of David, founded cities in the hill country, and erected fortresses and towers in the wooded areas. These projects show a king who cared for the security and infrastructure of the land.
In the Chronicler’s theology, prosperity and construction often reflect God’s favor when a king walks faithfully. The building projects are not presented as the king’s own cleverness alone but as part of a life lived in the fear of God, which is why the writer lists them with approval.
Verses 5-6: Victory and Growing Strength
5 He also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. The children of Ammon also gave that much to him in the second year, and in the third. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:5-6 (WEB)
Jotham fought against the king of the Ammonites and prevailed, and for three consecutive years the Ammonites paid him a substantial tribute of silver and grain. The chapter then gives the reason for his strength in one clear sentence: he became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
That final phrase is the theological center of the passage. The writer does not credit Jotham’s army or his tactics but his steady orientation toward God in daily decisions. Strength in this book is the fruit of consistent faithfulness, not a substitute for it.
Verses 7-9: The Record and the Passing of the Crown
7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 27:7-9 (WEB)
The closing verses follow the standard pattern used for Judah’s kings. The writer refers readers to the official annals for further details, notes Jotham’s death, records his burial in the city of David, and names Ahaz as his successor. The formula is brief, but it marks the transition from a relatively stable reign to one of the darkest periods in the book.
Notice that the chapter ends with a burial, not a verdict on Jotham’s soul. The Chronicler is less interested in tallying every failure than in showing the pattern of faithful and unfaithful kingship across generations.
Key Themes in 2 Chronicles 27
- Personal faithfulness: Jotham is measured by whether he did what was right before God, following the example of his father.
- Incomplete obedience: His refusal to enter the temple shows that even a good king can fall short in an important area.
- Strength through devotion: The source of his power is named as his orderly walk before the LORD, not his military or economic achievements.
- Corporate responsibility: The people’s continued corruption reminds readers that a leader’s faithfulness does not fully transform a community.
Lessons From 2 Chronicles 27 for Today
Many people know someone who is honest, kind and hardworking at home or at work but who avoids a particular area of spiritual responsibility, such as regular worship, generosity, or confession. Jotham’s story asks whether we are willing to go all the way into the places God has marked as important, not only the parts of faith that feel comfortable.
The chapter also speaks to parents, teachers and mentors. A godly example matters a great deal, but Jotham’s people still went astray, which means that leaders should not assume their faithfulness will automatically carry everyone else along. Patient, honest teaching and personal invitation remain necessary.
Finally, the passage encourages those who work quietly. Jotham built walls, cities and towers without drawing much attention in the historical record. His reign shows that a steady, unglamorous life of seeking God’s ways can produce lasting strength for the people who depend on us.
Questions for Reflection
- Where in your life have you been faithful in most areas but cautious about one specific act of obedience?
- How do you think a leader’s private devotion affects the people who follow them?
- What daily decisions shape the kind of strength you are building over the long run?
- In what practical ways can you encourage others in your community to take their own walk with God seriously?
A Prayer From 2 Chronicles 27
Lord, you see the places where I am faithful and the places where I hold back. Help me to be honest about the areas of my life I have avoided, and give me the courage to bring them to you. Let my daily choices be ordered before you, so that whatever strength I gain comes from walking close to you. Work in the people around me as well, and let my example point them toward you rather than away. Keep me steady in quiet faithfulness, and let my life build something that lasts for those who depend on me. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jotham described so positively but still criticized?
The writer approves of Jotham’s general faithfulness and compares him favorably to his father’s example in many respects. The criticism is limited to his failure to enter the temple and the continued corruption of the people, which shows that good leadership does not always cover every area of need.
What does it mean that Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD?
This phrase credits his success to his intentional, consistent walk with God in daily life. It suggests that lasting strength grows out of ordered devotion rather than from wealth or force alone.
How does 2 Chronicles 27 connect to the rest of the book?
Jotham’s reign sits between Uzziah’s and Ahaz’s, offering a brief picture of a king who mostly kept the covenant. Its contrast with Ahaz’s later idolatry helps readers see the difference between partial and full faithfulness across the kings of Judah.
