This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating Jotham’s age when he took over (twenty-five years old), the length of his reign (sixteen years), his capital (Jerusalem), and the name of his mother (Jerushah). His grandfather was Zadok. It is uncertain exactly which Zadok is intended here since at least ten people mentioned in the Old Testament had that name. Possibly he was the son of Ahitub (1 Chr 6.12) or the son of Meraioth (1 Chr 9.11). But his identity should not affect the translation.

It is not possible to establish an exact chronology for Jotham’s reign since the information given in this verse is contradicted by 2 Kgs 15.30 and 17.1. The sixteen years probably include the time when he ruled with his father Uzziah (about 750–742 B.C.) as well as when he ruled alone after his father’s death (about 742–735 B.C.). See 2 Chr 26.21.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done: See the comments on 2 Chr 14.2 and 26.4.

Only he did not invade the temple of the LORD: The precise meaning of this clause is uncertain. There is some ambiguity about (a) whether the writer was praising Jotham for not entering the Temple as his father had done to burn incense (see 2 Chr 26.16-20), since only priests were to enter the Temple, or (b) whether he was criticizing him for not worshiping God. The first interpretation seems to fit the context better. God’s Word expresses this sense clearly with “But unlike his father, he didn’t illegally enter the LORD’s temple,” and so does Good News Translation with “but unlike his father he did not sin by burning incense in the Temple.”

It is also possible to understand that the writer is stating one area in which Jotham did not do what was pleasing to the LORD: he did not go to the Temple. This second interpretation is expressed in the alternative translation in Bible en français courant, which renders the last half of this verse as “Nevertheless he did not frequent the temple of the Lord, and the people did not improve their conduct.” Peregrino is similar with “But he wasn’t going to the temple, and the people continued to do wrong.”

Temple translates the Hebrew noun that often refers specifically to the central room of the Temple, but here it may refer to the whole Temple (see the comments on 2 Chr 4.7, 22).

But the people still followed corrupt practices: The common Hebrew conjunction here is correctly translated But to mark contrast since the behavior of the people of Judah who were corrupt contrasts with that of King Jotham who avoided such wrongdoing. Instead of followed corrupt practices, the parallel text of 2 Kgs 15.35 has “sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” But it is better to retain a more general statement here rather than harmonizing the two passages. New Jerusalem Bible says simply “continued to do wrong.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD: The Hebrew pronoun for He is emphatic, so some versions begin this verse with “It was he who…” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Since the previous verse mentions both Jotham and his father, Good News Translation and Bible en français courant say “It was Jotham who…” to avoid any ambiguity. The verb built must be taken here in the sense of rebuilding or restoration since the Temple gate in view here was already there long before the time of Jotham. For this reason several modern versions say “rebuilt” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, La Bible du Semeur). Since he did not rebuild the gate himself, it is even better to say “had [it] rebuilt.” The upper gate is probably the same gate as the one called “the upper Benjamin Gate” in Jer 20.2. According to Ezek 9.2, it was located on the north side of the Temple area. Ezekiel refers to it as “the north gate” (Ezek 8.14; 40.35, 40, 44; 44.4; 46.9; 47.2), so Good News Translation says “the North Gate.” However, some interpreters think the upper gate was located south of the Temple. 2 Chr 23.20 seems to indicate this. Possibly the upper gate is the same as the New Gate mentioned in Jer 26.10 and 36.10, since the New Gate seems to have been located south of the Temple, although the location of the New Gate is not certain.

And did much building on the wall of Ophel: The exact sense of this clause in Hebrew is not clear. Jotham may have made extensive repairs on the wall in view here or he may have added to it. New Living Translation says “He also did extensive rebuilding on the wall at the hill of Ophel,” and Revised English Bible has “and [he] built extensions on the wall at Ophel.” Ophel was the section of Jerusalem located on a hill south of the Temple and of the royal palace. Since Ophel refers to a part of the city, Good News Translation renders the wall of Ophel as “the city wall in the area of Jerusalem called Ophel” (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Other ways of expressing this phrase include “the wall of the quarter of [town called] Ophel” (Bible en français courant) and “the wall in the area known as Ophel” ( NET Bible).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Moreover translates the common Hebrew conjunction, but many modern versions choose to ignore it here (so Good News Translation).

He built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills: As in the previous verse, some languages will need to use a causative verb form for built to show that Jotham himself did not build the cities, forts and towers (so Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). For the hill country of Judah, see the comments on 2 Chr 21.11. For the Hebrew noun rendered forts, see the comments on 2 Chr 17.12, where it is translated “fortresses.” For the sense of towers in this context, see the comments on 1 Chr 27.25 and 2 Chr 26.10. The Hebrew noun rendered the wooded hills may be translated simply “the forests” (Good News Translation, An American Translation, Moffatt, Bible en français courant) since the hill country is already in view.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

He fought with the king of the Ammonites: King Jotham and the Ammonite king were not the only ones who fought, but their two countries were at war, so it may be better to say “Jotham and his army fought with the king of the Ammonites and his army.” For Ammonites see the comments on 1 Chr 18.11.

And prevailed against them is literally “and he was stronger than them.” The Hebrew here may be rendered simply “defeated” (Good News Translation). The pronoun them refers to the Ammonite king and his soldiers.

And the Ammonites gave him that year a hundred talents of silver …: For talents see the comments on 1 Chr 19.6. A hundred talents was about “7,500 pounds” (New Living Translation, God’s Word) or “3,400 kilogrammes” (GNT British edition).

Ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand of barley: For cors see the comments on 2 Chr 2.10. According to Good News Translation, the equivalent for ten thousand cors in bushels is “fifty thousand.” Others calculate the amount to be between 65,000 and 140,000 bushels. Moffatt, for example, says “a hundred thousand bushels.” Bible en français courant has “three thousand tons,” but this is in metric tons. For wheat see 1 Chr 21.20; for barley see 1 Chr 11.13.

The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years: NET Bible says “The Ammonites also paid this same amount of annual tribute the next two years.” Good News Translation combines this sentence with the previous one, saying “Then he forced the Ammonites to pay him the following tribute each year for three years…” (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So Jotham became mighty: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered So is rightly left untranslated by Good News Translation and most other English versions. Jotham became mighty refers to his established position as a king and not to his own physical strength.

Because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God: Jotham’s political strength came as a direct result of his faithful following of Yahweh. He ordered his ways may be translated “he kept an unswerving course” (New Jerusalem Bible), “he maintained a steady course of obedience” (Revised English Bible), or “he determined to walk obediently” (Dillard). Good News Translation provides a nonfigurative model, saying “he faithfully obeyed.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Now the rest of the acts of Jotham …: The usual formula is used in this verse to summarize the reign of Jotham. It sums up the remainder of his reign and tells where other information about him may be found. See the comments on 1 Chr 29.29 and 2 Chr 9.29. Now renders the common Hebrew conjunction but it may be left untranslated if it is more natural to do so (so Good News Translation).

All his wars, and his ways: The precise meaning of his ways is uncertain (see the comments on 2 Chr 13.22). Since this phrase apparently covers all other activities apart from his wars, translations of both phrases include “all that he did in war and peace” (Revised English Bible), “all his wars and other activities” (New Living Translation), and “his wars and all that he did” (Parole de Vie).

Behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah: The Hebrew particle rendered behold draws attention to the fact that the other events of Jotham’s reign are indeed recorded in a book. The passive verb are written may be made active by using an indefinite pronoun or a word such as “someone” to refer to the author. Others may prefer to say simply that the events “are” in the book in view. The Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah probably refers to another work rather than the Old Testament books now known as 1-2 Kings. This source concerning the kings of Israel and Judah no longer exists. Regarding sources used by the Chronicler, see “Translating 1-2 Chronicles,” pages 3-4 (see also 1 Chr 9.1 and 2 Chr 16.11).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

This verse repeats the first half of verse 1 (see the comments there).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .