11 Chronicles Chapter 27

Jotham Reigns in Judah

• 2Chronicles 27:1  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. 
• 2  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. 

Not much is said about this king except he did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Unfortunately the people he ruled over had become corrupt. He didn't enter the temple of the Lord.

I'm wondering if that was because of his father doing the service of the priests against the law of Moses and in doing so became a leper causing Jotham to have to do the service of a king before his father died. Perhaps he wasn't taking any chances of the same thing happening to him. My speculation here. It is said by Josephus, a Jewish historian that he had a good character and was pious toward God.

• 2Chronicles 27:3  He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 
• 4  Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

Even though he didn't enter the house of the Lord he kept it up and built the high gate and did his duty. He maintained things that needed attention. He sounds like a peaceful person who respected the law of God. He didn't get into idolatry.  

• 2Chronicles 27:5  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 third.

So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 

• 2Chronicles 27:7  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. 
• 8  He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 
• 9  And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead. 

He was a successful king of good reputation. It seems by his actions and ways that he knew about the mistakes other kings before him made and avoided doing the same things. He didn't try to exalt himself above the priests or the prophets. He had a peaceful reign among his own people but when he had to fight against enemies he did his duty and prevailed. Dorna

11 Chronicles Chapter 28