2 Kings 15

2Ki 15:4

THE HIGH PLACES, HOWEVER, WERE NOT REMOVED: Specific mention is made, several times, of the high places not being taken away: by Asa (1Ki 15:14); Jehoshaphat (1Ki 22:43); Jehoash (2Ki 12:3); Amaziah (2Ki 14:4); Azariah/Uzziah (2Ki 15:4); and Jotham (2Ki 15:35) -- demonstrating the importance of this action in God's sight. These kings did not make a full return to God. The high places (which had been used for idol worship) might have been out of use for the time being, but it seems they were not totally destroyed until the time of Hezekiah (2Ki 18:4; 2Ch 32:12); and even then their prohibition did not last beyond his reign (2Ch 33:3).

Do we have other shrines at which we worship? We must be sure that we remove the "high places" from our lives completely, even if they are currently "out of use".

2Ki 15:5

THE LORD AFFLICTED THE KING WITH LEPROSY: Because he presumed to offer incense before God (2Ch 26:19-21). Whilst the Kings account does not mention this specifically, we should not forget the presumption of Uzziah.

2Ki 15:16

TIPHSAH: "The Jewish writers commonly take this Tiphsah to be without the land of Israel, the same with that in 1Ki 4:24 on the borders of Syria, and near the Euphrates; but it seems to be some place nearer Samaria, and Tirzah; it was but six miles from Samaria" (Gill). "Since it is clearly associated with Tirzah in the territory of Manasseh, it is not to be identified with the city on the Euphrates. However, the variant readings of the name in the Gr versions and the otherwise singularity of its reference have led the RSV to adopt the Lucianic reading Taphoe and to identify the name with Tappuah, a town in the north of Ephraim not far from Shiloh (cf Jos 16:8; 17:7)" (WyE).

2Ki 15:30

THE TWENTIETH YEAR OF JOTHAM: That is, the 20th year of his life, not the 20th year of his reign: he only reigned 16 years (v 33; 2Ch 27:1). Thus, this is 4th year of reign of Ahaz -- cp Isa 7.

2Ki 15:32

Vv 32-38: "The career of Jotham was relatively short but enormously successful. He came to the throne as a coregent with his father Uzziah who was forced out of public life through the leprosy contracted in the temple as a result of his presumption. It appears that Jotham's sole reign lasted only about six years but throughout his short reign he followed the example of his father's early years and sought Yahweh who in turn blessed him.

"The history of Jotham's reign is very short but sufficient is recorded to clearly indicate that Jotham was one of Judah's finest rulers. Like his father he was successful at home and abroad; his military campaigns and internal projects to fortify Judah were all divinely blessed until he 'became mighty'. The only deficiency of his reign was that his dedication to Yahweh was not shared by the majority of the people of Judah. After the divine estimation of Jotham the record concludes ominously: 'And the people did yet corruptly.' Jotham's personal integrity was beyond question but he appears to have been unaware of the desperate need for a reformation in the ecclesia. This had to wait till the reign of Hezekiah his grandson.

"The most important feature of Jotham's life was that his success was directly related to his godliness. The account is explicit: 'So Jotham became mighty, BECAUSE he prepared (established or fixed) his ways before Yahweh his God.' The grounds upon which present and ultimate success are predicated have not changed: 'To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word' (Isa 66:2)" (CKi).

2Ki 15:35