2 Chronicles 27:3

“He built the high gate in the house of the Lord, etc.] See the note on (<121535>2 Kings 15:35) and on the wall of Ophel he built much; which Kimchi interprets an high place; it was the eastern part of Mount Zion. Josephus f116 calls it Ophlas, and says it joined to the eastern porch of the temple; and some have thought the porch of the temple is meant; the Targum renders it a palace; it is a tradition of the Jews that it was the holy of holies f117.”

“He built the high gate of the house of the Lord--situated on the north--that portion of the temple hill which was high compared with the southern part--hence "the higher," or upper gate (see on Kg2 15:35). He built, that is, repaired or embellished. and on the wall of Ophel--Hebrew, "the Ophel," that is, the mound, or eminence on the southeastern slope of the temple mount, a ridge lying between the valleys Kedron and TyropÅ“on, called "the lower city" [JOSEPHUS]. He built much--having the same desire as his father to secure the defense of Jerusalem in every direction.”

“Ophel was the name given to the long, narrowish, rounded spur or promontory, which intervenes between the central valley of Jerusalem (the Tyropoeon) and the Kidron, or valley of Jehoshaphat. The anxiety of Uzziah and Jotham to fortify their territory indicates a fear of external attack, which at this time was probably felt mainly in connection with Samaria and Syria (2 Kings 15:37 note). The faithless trust put in fortifications was rebuked by the prophets of the time Hosea 8:14; Isaiah 2:15. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Built - Repaired it: for it was built before, Ch2 11:5. Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 28”

“27:3-4 Jotham’s rebuilding endeavors were like those of his father; he continued the work of restoration begun by Uzziah. He also constructed fortresses and towers in the forests, providing a network of lookouts and highway defenses within the kingdom and on the frontier.”

“high gate: Ch2 23:20; Jer 20:2 Ophel: or, the tower, "The wall," says the Targum, "of the interior palace." Ophel appears to have been a tower, or fort, on the city wall, in which we read "the Nehthinim dwelt." Ch2 33:14; Neh 3:26, Neh 3:27 2 Chronicles 27:4”

“He built the upper gate of the house of Jahve, i.e., the northern gate of the inner or upper court (see on Kg2 15:35); the only work of his reign which is mentioned in the book of Kings. But besides this, he continued the fortifying of Jerusalem, which his father had commenced; building much at the wall of the Ophel. העפל was the name of the southern slope of the temple mountain (see on Ch2 33:14); the wall of Ophel is consequently the wall connecting Zion with the temple mountain, at which Uzziah had already built (see on Ch2 26:9). He likewise carried on his father's buildings for the protection of the herds ( Ch2 26:10), building the cities in the mountains of Judah, and castles…”