Jotham (2 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 15:7; 2 Kings 15:32–38; 1 Chronicles 3:12; 1 Chronicles 5:17; 2 Chronicles 26:16–23; 2 Chronicles 27:1–2; 2 Chronicles 27:3–4; 2 Chronicles 27:5–6; 2 Chronicles 27:7–9; Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1; Matthew 1:9)

King of Judah, son of Uzziah

The son of Uzziah, who was over the king's house and judged the people of the land while his father was a leper, then reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, prevailed against Ammon, and, in the Chronicler's words, became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

When the LORD smote his father Uzziah (called Azariah in 2 Kings 15:1-7) with leprosy, “Jotham the king’s son was over the household, judging the people of the land” (2 Kings 15:5). Uzziah “dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (2 Chronicles 26:21). When Uzziah slept with his fathers, “Jotham his son reigned in his stead” (2 Chronicles 26:23).

“Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok” (2 Chronicles 27:1). Of his reign the text says, “he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people did yet corruptly” (2 Chronicles 27:2). Kings adds that “the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places” (2 Kings 15:35). He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, much on the wall of Ophel, cities in the hill-country of Judah, and castles and towers in the forests (2 Chronicles 27:3-4). He fought the king of the children of Ammon and prevailed, and Ammon rendered him silver, wheat and barley for three years (2 Chronicles 27:5).

The Chronicler gives the verdict in one line: “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Jehovah his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6). “In those days Jehovah began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah” (2 Kings 15:37). Jotham “slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 15:38). The text records no words of his own. The words of Isaiah, Hosea and Micah are dated in part to his days (Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1), and Matthew's genealogy says, “Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz” (Matthew 1:9).

Strengths

• Did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD
• Ordered his ways before the LORD his God

Themes

• Son of a leper king
• Right in the LORD's eyes
• Ordering his ways
• Building and might
• High places remain

Over the household while his father is a leper (2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 26:16–21)

After the LORD smites Uzziah with leprosy and he dwells in a separate house, Jotham is over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

Over the household while his father is a leper

Uzziah, “when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God” (2 Chronicles 26:16). He went into the temple to burn incense, and “the leprosy brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 26:19).

“And Jehovah smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, judging the people of the land” (2 Kings 15:5).

Chronicles says the same: Uzziah “was cut off from the house of Jehovah: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (2 Chronicles 26:21).

Reigns in his father's stead (2 Kings 15:7; 2 Kings 15:32–33; 2 Chronicles 26:23; 2 Chronicles 27:1)

Uzziah sleeps with his fathers and Jotham reigns; he begins in the second year of Pekah, at twenty-five, and reigns sixteen years in Jerusalem.

Right in the LORD's eyes, yet not entering the temple (2 Kings 15:34–35; 2 Chronicles 27:2)

Jotham does what is right as his father had done, but he does not enter the temple, and the people still sacrifice at the high places.

Right in the LORD's eyes, yet not entering the temple

“And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done” (2 Kings 15:34).

Chronicles gives the same words and adds a clause: “howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people did yet corruptly” (2 Chronicles 27:2). The text gives no reason for it.

Kings says of the high places: “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places” (2 Kings 15:35).

Builds the gate, the wall and the cities (2 Kings 15:35; 2 Chronicles 27:3–4)

Jotham builds the upper gate of the house of the LORD, much on the wall of Ophel, cities in the hill-country of Judah, and castles and towers in the forests.

Builds the gate, the wall and the cities

“He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much” (2 Chronicles 27:3). Kings records the gate as well (2 Kings 15:35).

“Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers” (2 Chronicles 27:4).

Prevails against Ammon and becomes mighty (2 Chronicles 27:5–6)

Jotham fights the king of the children of Ammon and prevails; Ammon renders silver, wheat and barley for three years, and the Chronicler says he became mighty.

Prevails against Ammon and becomes mighty

“He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third” (2 Chronicles 27:5).

Then the Chronicler gives the reason: “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Jehovah his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).

Rezin and Pekah sent against Judah (2 Kings 15:37)

In his days the LORD begins to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.

Death and burial (2 Kings 15:36; 2 Kings 15:38; 2 Chronicles 27:7–9)

Jotham sleeps with his fathers and is buried in the city of David, and his son Ahaz reigns; the rest of his acts, his wars and his ways are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Uzziah (2 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 15:34; 2 Chronicles 26:21; 2 Chronicles 27:2)

His father, a leper in a separate house while Jotham judged the people; Jotham did according to all that Uzziah had done.

Ahaz (2 Kings 15:38; 2 Kings 16:1; 2 Chronicles 27:9)

His son, who reigned in his stead.

Jerusha (2 Kings 15:33; 2 Chronicles 27:1)

His mother, the daughter of Zadok.

Pekah (2 Kings 15:32; 2 Kings 15:37)

King of Israel in whose second year Jotham began to reign; in Jotham's days the LORD began to send him with Rezin against Judah.

Rezin (2 Kings 15:37)

King of Syria, whom the LORD began in Jotham's days to send against Judah with Pekah.

The children of Ammon (2 Chronicles 27:5)

Jotham fought their king and prevailed, and they rendered him silver, wheat and barley for three years.

The LORD (2 Kings 15:34; 2 Chronicles 27:2; 2 Chronicles 27:6)

Jotham did right in his eyes and ordered his ways before him.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 15:32–38
• 2 Chronicles 26:16–23
• 2 Chronicles 27:1–9

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