Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 27:3

Charles Ellicott Commentary

2 Chronicles 27:3

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

2 Chronicles 27:3

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much." — 2 Chronicles 27:3 (ASV)

He built.It was he who built (pronoun emphatic). He “built,” that is, restored and beautified. The same statement occurs in 2 Kings 15:35.

The high gate. — Rather, the upper gate; that is, the northern gate of the inner or upper court (Ezekiel 9:2). The north being the holy quarter (Isaiah 14:13; Psalms 48:2), the north gate would be the principal entrance.

And on the wall of Ophel he built much. — The southern slope of the Temple hill was called the Ophel, that is, “the mound.” Its wall would be the line of fortifications connecting Zion with Moriah, on which Uzziah had already laboured (2 Chronicles 26:9), with the same object of securing the city against attacks from the south and east. Neither this detail nor the next three verses are found in the parallel account. The style and contents of the passage indicate a good ancient source.

Much.Larôb: to much; one of the chronicler’s favourite words.