Jotham undertook vital religious reforms but allowed the continuation of some practices contrary to full commitment to the LORD.
“Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD.” (v.35) This verse describes King Jotham’s continued reign over Judah, with a notable focus on his devotion to architectural improvements in Jerusalem. Jotham was the son of Uzziah (also known as Azariah) and ruled around 750-735 BC, during a period when the northern kingdom of Israel faced rising threats from Assyria. Although “he built the upper gate of the house of the LORD” (v.35), strengthening the place of worship in Jerusalem, this passage also notes that some cultic practices persisted. The “upper gate” likely refers to a newly constructed northern entryway to the temple complex in Jerusalem, which was a significant architectural addition. By undertaking this project, Jotham demonstrated a desire to honor God and maintain the temple's prominence at the heart of national life.
Despite his good intentions, the verse points out that “Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” (v.35) These high places were unauthorized worship sites scattered around Judah, often associated with idol worship or, at best, worship of the LORD in a manner inconsistent with His commands. The mention that the people “still sacrificed and burned incense” beyond the boundaries of the temple highlights a recurring issue in Judah’s history, in which external religious forms remained, despite a ruler’s faithful actions (compare 2 Kings 12:2-3). The presence of these high places not only shows Judah’s struggle with incomplete obedience but also points toward the persistent challenge of idolatry that confronted many of the kings who ruled from Jerusalem.
In the broader biblical narrative, the failure to remove these high places foreshadows the spiritual cycles that eventually led to Judah’s exile. While Jotham stands in the lineage pointing toward Jesus, the ultimate King (Matthew 1:9), this verse indicates that even faithful leaders fell short of fully guiding their nation into lasting faithfulness. Nevertheless, Jotham’s reign includes a measure of obedience and respect for the house of the LORD, illustrating that God continues to work through imperfect leaders to accomplish His purposes.
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2 Kings 15:35 meaning
“Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD.” (v.35) This verse describes King Jotham’s continued reign over Judah, with a notable focus on his devotion to architectural improvements in Jerusalem. Jotham was the son of Uzziah (also known as Azariah) and ruled around 750-735 BC, during a period when the northern kingdom of Israel faced rising threats from Assyria. Although “he built the upper gate of the house of the LORD” (v.35), strengthening the place of worship in Jerusalem, this passage also notes that some cultic practices persisted. The “upper gate” likely refers to a newly constructed northern entryway to the temple complex in Jerusalem, which was a significant architectural addition. By undertaking this project, Jotham demonstrated a desire to honor God and maintain the temple's prominence at the heart of national life.
Despite his good intentions, the verse points out that “Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” (v.35) These high places were unauthorized worship sites scattered around Judah, often associated with idol worship or, at best, worship of the LORD in a manner inconsistent with His commands. The mention that the people “still sacrificed and burned incense” beyond the boundaries of the temple highlights a recurring issue in Judah’s history, in which external religious forms remained, despite a ruler’s faithful actions (compare 2 Kings 12:2-3). The presence of these high places not only shows Judah’s struggle with incomplete obedience but also points toward the persistent challenge of idolatry that confronted many of the kings who ruled from Jerusalem.
In the broader biblical narrative, the failure to remove these high places foreshadows the spiritual cycles that eventually led to Judah’s exile. While Jotham stands in the lineage pointing toward Jesus, the ultimate King (Matthew 1:9), this verse indicates that even faithful leaders fell short of fully guiding their nation into lasting faithfulness. Nevertheless, Jotham’s reign includes a measure of obedience and respect for the house of the LORD, illustrating that God continues to work through imperfect leaders to accomplish His purposes.