He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
- KJV Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
- NKJV Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.
- NASB Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills.
- NLT He built towns in the hill country of Judah and constructed fortresses and towers in the wooded areas.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jotham fortifies Judah by building cities, fortresses, and towers in the hill country and forests. These defenses reflect wise, God-blessed stewardship of the kingdom.
Overview
Beyond Jerusalem, Jotham develops Judah's countryside with fortified cities and watchtowers, strengthening the nation's security. The Chronicler presents this expansion as fruit of a reign ordered before God. Such faithful provision for God's people foreshadows the security believers ultimately find in Christ, their stronghold and refuge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Chr 14:7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
- 2 Chr 11:5–10Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
- Luke 1:39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
- 2 Chr 26:9–10Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them.
- Josh 14:12–13Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 27:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.