Jotham Orders His Ways Before the Father
Jotham builds the Upper Gate, fortifies the highlands, and defeats the Ammonites for heavy tribute. The reason given is simple — he ordered his ways before his Father — and he did not repeat his father's trespass into the temple, though the people still acted corruptly.
27 1Jotham was twenty-five when he became king; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. 2He did right in the eyes of our Father, as his father Uzziah had done—except he did not enter the temple of our Father. Yet the people still acted wrongfully. 3He built the Upper Gate of our Father's house, and built much on Ophel's wall. a a v3 Ophel was the fortified ridge just south of the temple mount, forming part of Jerusalem's inner city wall. 4He built cities in Judah's highlands, and in the forests he built forts and towers. 5He fought the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. That year the Ammonites gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 of barley—the same in the second and third years. 6So Jotham grew strong, because he kept his conduct right before his Father. 7The rest of Jotham's acts, all his wars and deeds, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9Jotham rested with his ancestors; they buried him in the city of David, and his son Ahaz reigned in his place.
