“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.”
Lord. Like Ozias, to offer incense. He was content with the royal dignity, without arrogating to himself that of the priests. (Calmet) — Transgressed. Hebrew, “acted corruptly,” on the heights, 4 Kings xv. 35. (Haydock)
“He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. Ophel: or, the tower”
Gate, on the east, repairing (Tirinus) and beautifying it so, (Haydock) that Jeremias (xxvi. 10,) calls it New. (Tirinus) — Ophel, on the walls of the city, (Calmet) towards the eastern porch of the temple. (Josephus) (St. Jerome in Isaias xxxii. 14.) — Here the Nathineans dwelt, 2 Esdras iii. 26. (Calmet) — Kimchi, &c., translate, “a citadel.” (Tirinus)
“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: Heb. This”
Measures, (coros.) Hebrew corim, also, (Haydock) means an “ass;” as this burden was sufficient for one, being equivalent to 30 Roman bushels. (Cornelius a Lapide) (Menochius) — Give him. Septuagint adds, “These things did the king of Ammon bring to him every year, in the first year, and in the second, and the third.” (Haydock) — After paying tribute three years, the Ammonites revolted, and were subdued by Joatham, as they had been by his father, chap. xxvi. 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.”
Wars, with Rasin and Phacee, 4 Kings xv. 37. — Juda. What concerned both kingdoms was carefully preserved; and Esdras informs us from what records he composed this work. (Calmet)