◄ 2 Kings 15:35 ►
Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.
Study Bible
Nevertheless
This word serves as a pivot in the narrative, indicating a contrast or exception to what has been previously stated. In the context of 2 Kings, it often introduces a shortcoming or failure in the reign of a king. The Hebrew root for "nevertheless" is "אַךְ" (akh), which conveys a sense of limitation or exception. This highlights the persistent issue of incomplete obedience to God's commands, a recurring theme in the history of Israel's kings.

he did not remove the high places
The "high places" were sites of worship located on elevated ground, often associated with idolatrous practices. The Hebrew term "בָּמוֹת" (bamot) refers to these locations. Despite some kings' efforts to reform religious practices, the high places remained a stumbling block. This phrase underscores the partial reforms of many kings, who failed to fully eradicate idolatry from the land, reflecting a compromise in their devotion to God.

the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there
This phrase indicates the ongoing religious practices of the Israelites, which were contrary to the centralized worship that God desired at the temple in Jerusalem. The Hebrew words "זָבַח" (zavach) for "sacrificing" and "קָטַר" (qatar) for "burning incense" suggest acts of worship that were meant to be directed solely to Yahweh in the prescribed manner. The persistence of these practices reveals the deep-rooted nature of syncretism and the challenge of leading the people back to pure worship.

It was he who built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD
This construction project is attributed to the king, indicating his contribution to the temple's infrastructure. The "Upper Gate" likely refers to an entrance that enhanced the temple's accessibility or security. The Hebrew term "שַׁעַר" (sha'ar) for "gate" signifies a place of entry and often a place of judgment or gathering. This act of building reflects a positive aspect of the king's reign, showing a commitment to the house of the LORD, despite his failure to remove the high places.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jotham
The king of Judah during this time, known for doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet failing to remove the high places.

2. High Places
Elevated sites where people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense, often associated with idolatrous practices.

3. Upper Gate of the House of the LORD
A significant construction attributed to Jotham, indicating his commitment to the temple and worship of Yahweh.
Teaching Points
Partial Obedience
Jotham's failure to remove the high places serves as a reminder that partial obedience is not full obedience. God desires complete devotion and adherence to His commands.

Influence of Leadership
The actions and inactions of leaders have a profound impact on the spiritual direction of a nation. Jotham's neglect in removing the high places allowed idolatrous practices to persist.

Commitment to Worship
Despite his shortcomings, Jotham's construction of the Upper Gate shows a commitment to the worship of Yahweh. This highlights the importance of investing in and prioritizing true worship.

Legacy and Influence
Our actions leave a legacy. Jotham's reign is remembered for both his righteousness and his failure to fully eradicate idolatry. We should strive to leave a legacy of complete faithfulness to God.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Jotham's failure to remove the high places teach us about the importance of complete obedience to God's commands?

2. How can we apply the lesson of Jotham's partial obedience to our own lives, especially in areas where we might be compromising?

3. In what ways can leaders today influence the spiritual direction of their communities, and what can we learn from Jotham's example?

4. How does the construction of the Upper Gate reflect Jotham's priorities, and what does this teach us about investing in our spiritual lives?

5. Considering the recurring issue of high places in Judah, what steps can we take to identify and remove "high places" or idols in our own lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 12:3
This verse also mentions the high places not being removed during the reign of Jehoash, showing a recurring issue in Judah's history.

2 Chronicles 27:2
Provides a parallel account of Jotham's reign, emphasizing his righteousness but also the persistence of high places.

Deuteronomy 12:2-4
God's command to destroy high places, highlighting the disobedience of not removing them.

Isaiah 2:2
A prophecy about the exaltation of the LORD's house, contrasting with the high places that were not removed.
Sermons
Some Lessons from the History of KingsD. Thomas 2 Kings 15:1-38
A Good ReignJ. Orr 2 Kings 15:32-38
People
Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah
Places
Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah
Topics
Aside, Builder, Built, Burn, Burned, Burning, Continued, Doorway, Gate, Higher, Howbeit, However, Incense, Jotham, Making, Nevertheless, Offer, Offered, Offerings, Perfume, Places, Rebuilt, Removed, Sacrificed, Sacrifices, Sacrificing, Temple, Upper, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 15:35

     7386   incense
     7467   temple, Solomon's

2 Kings 15:1-38

     5366   king

2 Kings 15:34-35

     7374   high places

Library
The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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