Jotham's Good Reign
Study note
Jotham was 25 when he became king and reigned 16 years. He did right in God's eyes, following his father's good example but not his father's mistake of entering the temple. However, the people continued their corrupt practices. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple, did extensive building on the wall of Ophel, built cities, and defeated the Ammonites, who paid heavy tribute. The key to his success: 'He grew powerful because he walked steadily before the Lord his God.'
1 Jotham was 25 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. His mother was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
2 He did what the Lord considered right, following the example of his father Uzziah. But unlike his father, he did not go into the Lord's temple where he did not belong. The people, however, kept on doing corrupt things. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.
3 He rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple and did many building work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
4 He also built towns in the hill country of Judah. He put up forts and towers in the wooded areas. Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
5 He fought against the king of the Ammonites and beat them. That year the Ammonites paid him about 3.75 tons of silver, 60,000 bushels of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. They paid the same amount the next two years as well. 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.
6 Jotham grew powerful because he lived his life faithfully before the Lord his God. So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
Summary of Jotham's Reign
Study note
The rest of Jotham's acts, including all his wars and accomplishments, are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. He died and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz became king after him.
7 All else about Jotham, his wars, and his deeds is in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
8 He was 25 years old when he became king and ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
9 When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz became the next king. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.