2 Crônicas 27

2 Crônicas 27

Meyer - 2 Chronicles 27:6 Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways. (R. V.) There is a lower sense in which this holds good in daily and business life. You can hardly imagine a really successful man being untidy and disorderly. Method is the law of success; and a truly holy soul is sure to be orderly. I do not remember ever meeting one who really walked with God who did not make orderliness one of the first principles of life. The Lord Jesus would have the men sit down in rows before He broke the bread; and He wrapped together His grave-clothes before He left the sepulchre. It was, therefore, in keeping with the whole tenor of His example when the apostle prescribed that all things should be done decently and in order. Clear handwriting, especially the direction of an envelope, to give the postman as little trouble as possible; the careful folding of our cast-off garments, to save the maids needless work; the leaving our room that we have been occupying as little disturbed in its arrangements as may be; the gathering up of luncheon fragments from the green banks, where we have sat to view the entrancing prospect; the arrangement of papers, and accounts, and magazines, so that we can readily lay our hand upon whatever is required; the adopting of mental order in prayer and conversation, and in the thinking out of plans and purposes; neatness in dress— these are all part of the right ordering of life which makes for its success and comfort, and greatly for peace in the home. They are the habits of the soul that walks before God, and which is accustomed to think of Him as seeing in secret, and as considering all our ways. In this way we may become mighty, and by being faithful in that which is least come to great charges. Spurgeon Study Bible - “So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying the LORD his God.” Jotham was the son of a good father (Uzziah), and he did not commit the great fault of his father, who conceived the idea that he would be a priest as well as a king, and the Lord struck him with leprosy. Jotham regarded his father’s sin rather as a beacon to warn him away from that rock on which Uzziah’s life had been wrecked (v. 2, “He didn’t enter the LORD’s sanctuary”). Here was an instance of a young man and a king—and yet, for all that, a saint of the right kind—one who “did not waver in obeying the LORD his God.” It must be a hard matter to be a king and to be a saint at the same time. The combination has seldom occurred, and when it has, it has been a prodigious triumph of divine grace. Do not ask for an eminent position. Let our prayer rather be, “Do not bring me into temptation” (see Mt 6:13). An eminent position always has a measure of temptation connected with it, so we are justified in praying to be preserved from it. Still, if the position is one that is our duty to take, we should take it and trust God’s grace to keep us there in safety. Jotham dwelt in the midst of people who were corrupt and yet was himself not corrupt because he resolved to do what God commanded him. He did not trouble about being thought to be right by neighboring kings, nor was his chief care to be thought to be right by the people over whom he ruled. He was not ambitious to be regarded as right by the heathen nations that were near him, but he did want to be right in the sight of God. 2 Chronicles 27:7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Now the rest: 2Ch 20:34 26:22,23 32:32,33 Related Passages: 2 Kings 15:36-37+ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. "Even all his wars" JOTHAM: THE REST OF THE RECORD Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. This closing formula reminds the reader that what Scripture records is a select, theological portrait, not an exhaustive biography. Jotham’s reign included many additional campaigns, administrative decisions, and national achievements that the Chronicler does not detail. As discussed more below the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah points to official royal annals—state records kept by scribes that preserved the political and military history of the nation. By appealing to these sources, the writer underscores the historical reliability of the account while also signaling that the Spirit has chosen only those events that reveal God’s purposes. The emphasis is not on satisfying curiosity about every battle, but on showing the spiritual lesson of Jotham’s life: a king who walked uprightly and strengthened Judah. QUESTION - What is the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? - Got Questions ANSWER - As the authors of the books of Kings and Chronicles were writing their histories, they referenced one or more external documents that they used as source material. They refer to this source as “the book of the annals of the kings of Israel,” “the book of the chronicles” (NKJV, ESV, CSB), or “The Book of the History” (NLT). This historical source is usually cited by means of a rhetorical question that begins, “Are they not written?” For example, in 1 Kings 16:5, the historian writes this: “As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?” That formulaic construction appears 33 times in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. Similar wording is found another two times in 2 Chronicles. All ancient countries kept records of their own histories. A king’s exploits and what happened in his land were recorded in official annals. Esther 10:2, for example, speaks of “the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia.” When a plot to assassinate King Xerxes was uncovered and the conspirators were hanged, the event “was written in the book of the chronicles” (Esther 2:23). The kingdom of Israel also had official records, called “the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.” Judah had similar books, one kept by the prophet Iddo (2 Chronicles 13:22), and one simply called “the Scroll of the Kings” (2 Chronicles 24:27, NET). The biblical books of Kings and Chronicles give a non-comprehensive overview of the kings of Israel and Judah. The author of Kings often refers his readers to the fuller account by mentioning “the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.” We could consider those references as an ancient form of footnoting or an example of an in-text bibliography. First and Second Kings focus on the northern kingdom of Israel, and 1 and 2 Chronicles on the southern kingdom of Judah. Chronicles contains a much more thorough commentary on the reigns of the kings of Judah than Kings provides on the kings of Israel. This makes sense, because God’s covenant regarding the coming Messiah was to be fulfilled through the line of David, of the tribe of Judah. David’s line went through Solomon and his descendants, all of whom reigned in the southern kingdom of Judah. The detailed records of the kings of Israel contained in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel were not included in the canon of Scripture. The official documents referred to as “the book of the annals of the kings of Israel” are no longer extant or have yet to be discovered. Thus, God did not deem those volumes of civil records and daily happenings to be useful for our instruction (see 1 Corinthians 10:11), and the non-canonical annals were not preserved along with the Old Testament Scriptures. 2 Chronicles 27:8 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. KING JOTHAM PASSED ON AT A YOUNG AGE He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem At twenty-five, Jotham was relatively young to carry the weight of a kingdom, yet he stepped into leadership with maturity shaped by years of observing both the strengths and failures of his father Uzziah. The Spirit records this not merely as statistics but as a reminder that every life is measured in seasons entrusted by God. Jotham did not control the length of his reign, yet he determined the quality of it. Sixteen years is a relatively short chapter in Judah’s history, but those years were filled with ordered obedience, careful leadership, and devotion to the LORD. Scripture repeatedly teaches that heaven weighs a life by faithfulness, not by calendar pages. 🙏 THOUGHT - Some kings reigned longer but wasted their opportunities. Jotham reigned fewer years but used them well. Jotham's life calls us to view time as stewardship (cf 1Co 4:1,2+), each year a gift to be invested for God’s glory (cf Ps 90:12+ - God counts obedience, not birthdays!). Legacy is not built by duration but by direction, by walking uprightly in whatever span the Lord assigns. Paul gives us a good takeaway "Therefore be careful (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of (present tense continually redeeming) your time, because the days are evil." (Eph 5:15-16) A short life well-lived outweighs a long life wasted. J.A. Thompson: The Chronicler omits any reference to difficulties with Rezin and Pekah (2 Kgs 15:37), perhaps because he did not understand it as judgment on Jotham but on Judah generally and especially on Jotham’s successor, Ahaz. The account of Jotham is clearly a truncated one. Details of his death are not given, but he was buried with his fathers in the City of David, a burial that befitted his life and character (cp. 26:23). (The New American Commentary – 1, 2 Chronicles) 2 Chronicles 27:9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place. Jotham: 2Ki 15:38 JOTHAM'S DECENDS AHAZ ASCENDS And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place -Scripture records the close of a steady and largely faithful reign. His life ended as it had been lived—without scandal, without dramatic collapse, and without the divine judgment that marked so many other kings. To be buried in the city of David was a testimony that his rule was regarded with honor and continuity within the covenant line. The faithful reign of Jotham closed with his honorable burial in the city of David, giving way to the troubled rule of his son Ahaz. The legacy of a godly leader is always tested by those who follow. Jotham’s death marked not only the end of a man, but the turning of a spiritual chapter in Judah. PAUL APPLE DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS: 1) Why do godly people sometimes fail to have a reforming influence on those under their authority (whether in the home or in society)? 2) Why did he only reign for sixteen years if he was such a godly king? 3) How do these building projects reflect the blessing of the Lord in granting him prosperity and security? 4) How careful and steadfast are we in our commitment to fully obey the Lord? QUOTES FOR REFLECTION: Andrew Hill: Selman has suggested that this three-generation sequence of a faithful father followed by a wicked son and a faithful grandson is based on the situation described by Ezekiel in his oracle on individual responsibility before God (Ezek. 18:1- 20). The stories of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah carry an important message for the Chronicler’s audience – each person and every generation is responsible to God for their behavior. The reigns of Jotham and Hezekiah are instrumental in demonstrating that a new generation need not be held hostage to the ungodliness they inherit from their predecessors. The combined tenure of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah on the throne of Judah extend from about 750 to 686 B.C. This means all three kings rule under the mighty shadow cast by the New-Assyrian empire (ca. 750-650 B.C.). The brutal grip of Assyria on Israel and Judah was first felt during the second western campaign of Tiglath-Pileser III (734-732 B.C.), when Pekah was replaced by Hoshea on the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel as an Assyrian puppet king (cf. 2 Kings 15:29-30). For all practical purposes Israel was annexed into the Assyrian Empire, and it is at this time that King Ahaz of Judah becomes an Assyrian vassal king (2 Kings 16:8). Not long thereafter, Shalmaneser V (and his successor Sargon II, who completed the campaign) invades Israel in order to punish the rebellion of Hoshea (cf. 2 Kings 17:1- 6). After a three-year siege, the city of Samaria was destroyed, survivors were deported to Assyria, and the entire northern kingdom was formally annexed into the Assyrian Empire (722 B.C.). Sometime later, during the reign of Hezekiah, the Assyrian overlord Sennacherib launches a western campaign (701 B.C.). The Assyrians subdue the coastal plain of Syria-Palestine from Phoenicia to Philistia and then turn full attention to Judah. They pillage the outlying regions of Judah but are thwarted in their siege of Jerusalem by a disastrous plague attributed to divine intervention as a result of prayers offered by Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 18:17 – 19:36). The Assyrian annals do not report the outcome of Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem. (The NIV Application Commentary ) Leslie Allen reminds us that the book of Chronicles would have been read by Jews who had returned from 70 years of exile in Babylong what how this might affect their mental state... For a weak Judah in post-exilic times, harassed by neighbors and eking out a bare economic existence, such operations had a mouth-watering appeal. The message is that God can meet His people at the point of their need, developing potential in the spheres where now there is failure. (See The Preacher's Commentary - Vol. 10: 1 and 2 Chronicles - Page 27) John McNeill: This is the key-note of Jotham’s biography: “He prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” This may be applied like a key put into the lock of each of these verses of the record of his life. I. He went right where his father went wrong (2 Chronicles 27:2). Even on the pinnacle of success and popularity, his head was cool, and his heart was clear, and his nerves were steady, for he prepared his ways before the Lord his God. II. He covered the country with fortifications (2 Chronicles 27:3-4). The man who is spiritual to the core will not be a weakling in the city, and he will not be easily turned aside. This disposes of the idea that to be a praying man and to be a business man do not go together. III. He prevailed against his enemies (2 Chronicles 27:5). Because, before he fought he prayed. IV. His wealth increased (2 Chronicles 27:5). Prayer to God brought him his fortune. V. His humility exalted him (2 Chronicles 27:6). Conclusion: What was Jotham after all but a dim, distant, foreshadowing of Jesus Christ? If ever the text was true of any one, it was true of Him. BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR 1-2 CHRONICLES NOTE: SOME CAN BE BORROWED FROM ARCHIVE.ORG Archer, Gleason L. Jr. A survey of Old Testament introduction (BORROW). Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1964. Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book Vol. 2 Judges to Esther (Online) . Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1960. Boda, Mark J. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – 1-2 Chronicles. (Digital version) Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2010. Braun, Roddy. Word Biblical Commentary – Volume 14 –1 Chronicles (BORROW). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018. Braun, Roddy Understanding the basic themes of 1,2 Chronicles (BORROW) Cooper, Derek. Reformation Commentary on Scripture – Old Testament V – 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles. (Digital version) Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2016. Constable, Thomas - 1&2 Chronicles (ONLINE) Daniel, Ron - Teaching Notes - 1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles (ONLINE) Dillard, Raymond B. Word Biblical Commentary – Volume 15 – 2 Chronicles (BORROW) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018. Ellison, H. L. The New Bible commentary, revised – 1 & 2 Chronicles (BORROW). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970. Guzik, David. Enduring Word Bible Commentary 1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles (ONLINE) Hill, Andrew E. The NIV Application Commentary – 1 & 2 Chronicles. (Digital version) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Keil, C. F. and Delitzsch, F. Commentary on the Old Testament – 1 Chronicles & 2 Chronicles. (ONLINE) Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1975. Konkel, August H. Believers Church Bible Commentary – 1 & 2 Chronicles. (Multipart video series also available) Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2016. (More lectures on OT studies with AI Study guides) Mabie, Frederick J. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition – 1 & 2 Chronicles. (Digital Version) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010. MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible (BORROW). Nelson Bibles, 2006. Merrill, Eugene 1-2 Chronicles - Bible Knowledge Commentary (BORROW) Olley, John W. (ED: IAIN DUGUID) ESV Expository Commentary, Vol. III – 1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles. (Digital Version) Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019. Payne, J. Barton. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary – 1 & 2 Chronicles. (BORROW) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1988. Schultz, John. - 1 Chronicles (177 pages), 2 Chronicles (239 pages) (ONLINE) Selman, Martin J. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – 1 Chronicles. (BORROW)Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Selman, Martin J. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – 2 Chronicles. (BORROW) Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Sherwin, Simon & Mabie, Frederick J. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary -- 1 & 2 Chronicles. (Digital Version) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. Thompson, J.A. The New American Commentary – Volume 9 – 1, 2 Chronicles. (Digital Version) Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1994. Utley, Bob. 1 Chronicles Table of Contents; 2 Chronicles Table of Contents http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/old_testament_studies/VOL07BOT/VOL07BOT.html Walton, John, et al - The IVP Bible Background Commentary Old Testament IVP (ONLINE) - InterVarsity Press 2000. Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Restored – Trusting God to See Us Through – OT Commentary – 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles. (BORROW) Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010. Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Distinct – Standing Firmly Against the World’s Tides – OT Commentary – 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles. (BORROW) Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010. Williamson, H.G.M. New Century Bible Commentary – 1 and 2 Chronicles. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers 1982. Wood, Leon. A Survey of Israel’s History. (BORROW) Grand Rapids: MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970. Zuber, Kevin Moody Bible commentary