Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 27:3
He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
3. the high gate ] R.V. the upper gate; cp. 2Ch 23:20.
Ophel ] Cp. 2Ch 33:14; Neh 3:26-27. It was a southern spur of the Temple Hill. Bdeker, p. 21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ophel was the name given to the long, narrowish, rounded spur or promontory, which intervenes between the central valley of Jerusalem (the Tyropoeon) and the Kidron, or valley of Jehoshaphat. The anxiety of Uzziah and Jotham to fortify their territory indicates a fear of external attack, which at this time was probably felt mainly in connection with Samaria and Syria (2Ki 15:37 note). The faithless trust put in fortifications was rebuked by the prophets of the time Hos 8:14; Isa 2:15.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ch 27:3
And on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Building on Ophel
Ophel means the mount. Where was the mount? On the southern slope. Why did the king build so much on Ophel? Because it was most accessible to the enemy. Like a wise commander he remembered that no man is stronger than his weakest point, and that no fortification is stronger than its frailest part; so the king built much where the wall was weakest, or where the access of the enemy was most open; and in doing so he gathered up and represented the wisdom and experience of the ages, and anticipated what we and all the sons of time ought to do. What is your weakest point in life? Build much there. (J. Parker, D.D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. On the wall of Ophel] The wall, says the Targum, of the interior palace. Ophel was some part of the wall of Jerusalem, that was most pregnable, and therefore Jotham fortified it in a particular manner.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He built, i.e. repaired it; for it was built before, 2Ch 11:5.
The high gate, otherwise called the new gate, Jer 36:10.
The wall of Ophel; a tower upon or near the wall of Jerusalem, which probably he fortified, as his father had done other towers, 2Ch 26:9.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. He built the high gate of thehouse of the Lordsituated on the norththat portion of thetemple hill which was high compared with the southern parthence”the higher,” or upper gate (see on 2Ki15:35). He built, that is, repaired or embellished.
and on the wall ofOphelHebrew, “the Ophel,” that is, the mound,or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount, a ridgelying between the valleys Kedron and Tyropoeligon, called “thelower city” [JOSEPHUS].He
built muchhaving thesame desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in everydirection.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He built the high gate in the house of the Lord,…. See the note on 2Ki 15:35
and on the wall of Ophel he built much; which Kimchi interprets an high place; it was the eastern part of Mount Zion. Josephus f calls it Ophlas, and says it joined to the eastern porch of the temple; and some have thought the porch of the temple is meant; the Targum renders it a palace; it is a tradition of the Jews that it was the holy of holies g.
f De Bell. Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2. g Vid. Hieron Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 86. A. F. G.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He built the upper gate of the house of Jahve, i.e., the northern gate of the inner or upper court (see on 2Ki 15:35); the only work of his reign which is mentioned in the book of Kings. But besides this, he continued the fortifying of Jerusalem, which his father had commenced; building much at the wall of the Ophel. was the name of the southern slope of the temple mountain (see on 2Ch 33:14); the wall of Ophel is consequently the wall connecting Zion with the temple mountain, at which Uzziah had already built (see on 2Ch 26:9). He likewise carried on his father’s buildings for the protection of the herds (2Ch 26:10), building the cities in the mountains of Judah, and castles ( , 2Ch 17:12) and towers in the forests of the mountains of Judah ( from , a thicket).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(3) He built.He it was that built (pronoun emphatic). He built, i.e., restored and beautified. The same statement occurs in 2Ki. 15:35.
The high gate.Rather, the upper gate; i.e., the northern gate of the inner or upper court (Eze. 9:2). The north being the holy quarter (Isa. 14:13; Psa. 48:2), the north gate would be the principal entrance.
And on the wall of Ophel he built much.The southern slope of the Temple hill was called the Ophel, i.e., the mound. Its wall would be the line of fortifications connecting Zion with Moriah, on which Uzziah had already laboured (2Ch. 26:9), with the same object of securing the city against attacks from the south and east. Neither this detail nor the next three verses are found in the parallel account. The style and contents of the passage indicate a good ancient source.
Much.Larb, to much; one of the chroniclers favourite words.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 27:3. And on the wall of Ophel he built much And he repaired much in the walls of the ascent. See Neh 3:26. Houbigant.
REFLECTIONS.The reign of Jotham was pious and prosperous.
1. He copied the best of his father’s ways, and avoided his wickedness. His heart was right with God, and he endeavoured diligently to walk with, and please him: but the people followed not his good example; either he wanted zeal to restrain them, or they were too headstrong to be withheld. Note; They are inexcusable, who slight the advantages that they enjoy, and refuse to be reformed.
2. His prosperity went hand in hand with his piety; he fortified his dominions, built new cities, subdued the Ammonites, and brought them under tribute for three years; and because he had chosen God’s ways, he became mighty under his protection.
3. Too soon for his people he finished his happy reign, farther particulars of which were recorded in the annals of Judah, long since perished. The unworthy son who succeeded him made the loss of such a king more sensibly felt and lamented by every true Israelite.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Nothing particularly interesting, more than the common events in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel, meets us in these verses. That they lived, and fought, and built, and died, seems the great outline of their general character. – Let the Reader recollect the one great cause for which their history is preserved; namely, to lead in the succession of the line of David to Christ. It is this which makes the record precious: for this terminates not in an endless genealogy after the law of a carnal commandment, but in Jesus it is plainly after the power of an endless life.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 27:3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Ver. 3. He built the high gate. ] See 2Ki 15:35 .
And on the wall of Ophel.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
high = upper.
Ophel = the Ophel; or, the lofty place or tower at the north end of the hill of Zion, between Zion and the Temple.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
high gate: 2Ch 23:20, Jer 20:2
Ophel: or, the tower, “The wall,” says the Targum, “of the interior palace.” Ophel appears to have been a tower, or fort, on the city wall, in which we read “the Nehthinim dwelt.” 2Ch 33:14, Neh 3:26, Neh 3:27
Reciprocal: 2Ki 15:35 – the higher gate Neh 11:21 – the Eze 9:2 – the higher
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
27:3 He built the high {c} gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
(c) Which was 60 cubits high and was for the height called Ophel: it was at the east gate and mention is made of it in 2Ch 3:4.