4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
4 Moreover he built H1129 cities H5892 in the mountains H2022 of Judah, H3063 and in the forests H2793 he built H1129 castles H1003 and towers. H4026
4 Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
4 and cities he hath built in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he hath built palaces and towers.
4 And he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
4 Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
4 In addition, he made towns in the hill-country of Judah, and strong buildings and towers in the woodlands.
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 27
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 27 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 27
This chapter treats of the reign of Jotham, which was a good one, 2 Chronicles 27:1, of his buildings and wars, 2 Chronicles 27:3, and of his death and burial, 2 Chronicles 27:7.
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 27
This chapter treats of the reign of Jotham, which was a good one, 2 Chronicles 27:1, of his buildings and wars, 2 Chronicles 27:3, and of his death and burial, 2 Chronicles 27:7.
Jotham was twenty five years old,.... See Gill on 2 Kings 15:33.
And he did that which was right,.... See Gill on 2 Kings 15:34,
howbeit, he entered not into the temple of the Lord; to burn incense, as his father did; he did according to his good ways, but not his evil ones:
and the people did yet corruptly; in sacrificing and burning incense in the high places, 2 Kings 15:35 which some think Joash himself did, and is meant in the preceding clause; but the sense given is best.
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. JosephusF6De Bell. Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2. 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 holiesF7Vid. Hieron Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 86. A. F. G. .
Moreover, he built cities in the mountains of Judah,.... In the mountainous part of it, the hill country of Judea, Luke 1:65,
and in the forests he built castles and towers; for the safety of travellers, and of shepherds and their flocks, see 2 Chronicles 26:10.
He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them,.... These were brought into subjection by David; but in later times endeavoured to cast off the yoke, and even invaded the land of Judah, as in the days of Jehoshaphat, and now in the reign of Jotham, but succeeded not, see Amos 1:13.
and the children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver; he obliged them to pay this tribute annually, and which they began to pay in the present year, and amounted to 35,330 pounds:
and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley; the measure here is the "cor", the same with the "homer"; which, according to GodwinF8Moses & Aaron, l. 6. c. 9. , held forty five gallons, or five bushels and five gallons, so that there must be upwards of 50,000 bushels of each of these paid to Jotham; according to Bishop CumberlandF9Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 3. p. 86. , a "cor", or "homer", held seventy five wine gallons, and upwards of five pints:
so much did the children of Ammon pay both the second year and the third; the two following years as well as the present one; why this tribute was not continued to be paid cannot be said with certainty, whether the Ammonites refused and revolted, and could not be obliged, or whether the agreement was only for three years.
So Jotham became mighty,.... Having built towers and castles, and fortified cities, and conquered his enemies:
because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God; ordered, directed, and guided them according to the word and will of God, and walked as in the sight of God, having the fear of him continually before him.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars,.... Not only with the Ammonites, but with the Syrians, and ten tribes, see 2 Kings 15:37.
and his ways, lo, they are written in the books of the kings of Israel and Judah; not in the canonical books of Kings, but in the Chronicles of the kings of both nations, see 2 Kings 15:36.
He was twenty five years old,.... The same is repeated here as in 2 Chronicles 27:1.
1-4.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign,.... These verses are much the same with 2 Kings 16:2, only in 2 Chronicles 28:2 it is said:
he made also molten images for Baalim; the several Baals or idols of the nations round about, as well as served Jeroboam's calves; see Judges 2:11, and he is said in 2 Chronicles 28:3,
to burn incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom; to Molech, the god of the Ammonites, who was worshipped there. See Gill on 2 Kings 16:2, 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 16:4.