Commentaria in II Paralipomenon
Chapter 27. Synopsis of the chapter
Joatham, being pious, triumphs over the Ammonites, and imposes on them an annual tribute: he is succeeded by his impious son Achaz.
1. Joatham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Jerusa the daughter of Sadoc.
2. And he did that which was right before the Lord, according to all that Ozias his father had done, except that he entered not into the temple of the Lord, and the people still did wickedly.
3. He built the high gate of the house of the Lord, and built much on the wall of Ophel.
4. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and castles and towers in the woods.
5. He fought against the king of the children of Ammon, and overcame them, and the children of Ammon gave him at that time a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and as many of barley: these the children of Ammon gave him in the second year and in the third.
6. And Joatham was strengthened, because he had directed his ways before the Lord his God.
7. Now the rest of the acts of Joatham, and all his battles, and works, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Juda.
8. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9. And Joatham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Achaz his son reigned in his stead.
Verse 2. Except that he entered not into the temple of the Lord,—to burn incense, as his father Ozias had done; as if to say: Joatham imitated his father’s piety, but not the rashness with which he burned incense, which was the office of the priests.
Verse 3. And on the wall of Ophel:—this was a tower in Jerusalem so high that in looking at its top the eyes grew dim. For “Ophel” in Hebrew signifies darkness. See what I said on Isaias XXXII, 14. Hear Adrichomius in the description of Jerusalem, no. 55: Ophel, which Josephus names Ophla, was a tower of enormous height, as it were thrusting its head into a cloud, and a fortified citadel, girt with a strong wall, near the temple, yet outside the wall that enclosed the dwelling of the priests. On its wall king Joatham built many things. And Manasses repaired the walls of the city as far as it. In this dwelt the Nathinites. Into it fleeing, the tyrant Manahem was taken and slain. The soldiers of Titus burnt this same.
And the people still did wickedly—in their accustomed way, by sacrificing in the high places. This evil was inveterate and common among the people; wherefore Joatham, fearing their offence and rebellion, did not dare to remove it. Josephus, book IX, chapter XI, gives Joatham this eulogy: “No virtue was wanting in him; he was pious toward God, just toward men, and careful of the republic.”
Verse 3. He built (restored, enlarged, adorned) the high gate of the house of the Lord,—namely the east, through which from the front there was the entrance into the temple, which was the chief and highest.