He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.

2 CHRONICLES 27:5KJV
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2 Chronicles 27:5 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 27:5 mean?

2 Chronicles 27:5 describes how King Jotham of Judah fought against the king of the Ammonites, defeated them, and received a large payment from the Ammonites for three years in a row. The tribute included silver, wheat, and barley, showing Jotham’s strength and the Ammonites’ submission.

This verse is part of a summary of King Jotham’s reign, focusing on his military success and the prosperity it brought to Judah. The chronicler is recounting how Jotham’s victory led to the Ammonites paying tribute, which was a sign of political dominance and economic benefit for Judah during his rule.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 27:5

  • "Fought" (לָחַם, lacham) means to engage in battle or war. This word emphasizes that Jotham took active military action, not just defensive measures.
  • "Prevailed" (חָזַק, chazaq) means to become strong or to overcome. The use of this word stresses that Jotham’s victory was decisive and showed his strength.
  • "Talents" (כִּכָּר, kikkar) refers to a large unit of weight, especially for silver. One hundred talents of silver was a significant amount, highlighting the scale of tribute.
  • "Measures" (כּוֹר, kor) is a unit for dry goods like grain. Ten thousand measures each of wheat and barley point to a substantial agricultural payment, not just money.

Why 2 Chronicles 27:5 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jotham’s reign was marked by both military strength and economic gain, not just religious or moral leadership.
  • The repeated tribute over three years shows that Jotham’s victory had lasting effects, not just a one-time event.
  • The details about the tribute connect to the larger theme in Chronicles of how faithfulness and strength can bring tangible blessings to the nation.

Where else these words appear

“measures” Hebrew H3734 · used in 6 verses

  • 1 Kings 4:22 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
  • 1 Kings 5:11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
  • Ezra 7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

“Ammonites” Hebrew H5984 · used in 18 verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
  • 1 Kings 11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
  • Nehemiah 2:10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

“wheat” Hebrew H2406 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 30:14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
  • 1 Samuel 6:13 And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
  • Psalms 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

“barley” Hebrew H8184 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
  • Ruth 3:17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.