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Who was King Jotham of Judah?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Who was King Jotham of Judah?</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_kings/15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmq/2_kings/15-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="index.html">Questions</a> > Home</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/berean/menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="what_does_demythologization_mean.htm" title="What does demythologization mean?">&#9668;</a> Who was King Jotham of Judah? <a href="should_christians_engage_in_pranks.htm" title="Should Christians engage in pranks?">&#9658;</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="chap"><div class="vheading">Who was King Jotham of Judah?</div><p class="que"><b>I. Historical Context and Lineage</b><p>Jotham served as King of Judah after his father, Uzziah (also known as Azariah), suffered from leprosy (<a href="/2_kings/15-5.htm">2 Kings 15:5</a>). Scripture portrays Jotham as overseeing Judah&#8217;s affairs while his father was quarantined, and he officially became king upon Uzziah&#8217;s passing (<a href="/2_kings/15-32.htm">2 Kings 15:32</a>).<p>According to <a href="/2_chronicles/27-1.htm">2 Chronicles 27:1</a>, &#8220;Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother&#8217;s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.&#8221; His royal lineage assured continuity in the Davidic line, fulfilling God&#8217;s promise that a descendant of David would maintain the throne (<a href="/2_samuel/7-12.htm">2 Samuel 7:12&#8211;13</a>).<p><b>II. Biblical Accounts of King Jotham</b><p>Two main biblical passages detail Jotham&#8217;s life and reign:<p>&#8226; <a href="/2_kings/15-32.htm">2 Kings 15:32&#8211;38</a> &#8211; Offers a succinct account, noting his ascension after Uzziah&#8217;s death and summarizing his reign.<p>&#8226; <a href="/bsb/2_chronicles/27.htm">2 Chronicles 27</a> &#8211; Expands on his accomplishments, spiritual conduct, and relationship with God.<p>From these passages, readers glean a portrait of a king who did what &#8220;was right in the eyes of the LORD&#8221; (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-2.htm">2 Chronicles 27:2</a>), with the Chronicler noting that Jotham consistently sought to honor God.<p><b>III. Reign and Achievements</b><p>Jotham&#8217;s leadership emerged during a transitional period in Judah&#8217;s history, shaped by the aftermath of Uzziah&#8217;s long and otherwise prosperous reign. Although Uzziah had introduced economic and military advancements, his prideful actions that led to leprosy (<a href="/2_chronicles/26-16.htm">2 Chronicles 26:16&#8211;21</a>) provided a backdrop for Jotham&#8217;s more humble governance.<p>1. Military Success: Jotham built fortifications and subdued neighboring enemies. According to <a href="/2_chronicles/27-4.htm">2 Chronicles 27:4&#8211;5</a>, &#8220;He built towns in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests&#8230; He waged war against the king of the Ammonites and prevailed.&#8221; The tribute paid by the Ammonites supported Judah&#8217;s economy and secured its borders.<p>2. Construction Projects: Similar to his father, Jotham oversaw significant building projects in Jerusalem. Chronicles notes that he &#8220;built extensively on the wall of Ophel&#8221; (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-3.htm">2 Chronicles 27:3</a>), suggesting he reinforced the city&#8217;s defenses.<p>3. Religious Faithfulness: Scripture underscores that Jotham did not repeat Uzziah&#8217;s mistake of improperly entering the temple. Instead, he maintained proper worship protocols, which emphasized reverence for God&#8217;s holiness (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-2.htm">2 Chronicles 27:2</a>).<p><b>IV. Spiritual Legacy</b><p>Jotham&#8217;s devotion is summed up in <a href="/2_chronicles/27-6.htm">2 Chronicles 27:6</a>, which notes, &#8220;So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.&#8221; Although King Jotham personally honored God, the text also points out that &#8220;the people still behaved corruptly&#8221; (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-2.htm">2 Chronicles 27:2</a>). His reign thus highlights both personal faithfulness and the sobering fact that a nation&#8217;s spiritual condition cannot rest solely on the piety of its leader.<p><b>V. Chronology and Alignment with Scripture</b><p>Jotham&#8217;s 16-year reign is typically placed in the mid-8th century BC, overlapping in part with his father&#8217;s terminal illness. Conservative Bible chronologies situate Jotham around 750&#8211;735 BC, coming before the major invasions that eventually led to the downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel. His timeline aligns with Old Testament prophetic writings&#8212;Isaiah commenced his ministry during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (<a href="/isaiah/1-1.htm">Isaiah 1:1</a>), confirming Jotham&#8217;s historical placement.<p><b>VI. Archaeological and Historical Perspectives</b><p>Direct inscriptions referencing Jotham are scarce, yet the overall archaeological context of the period confirms Judah&#8217;s city fortifications and building enterprises. Archaeological surveys in areas like Ophel have revealed remains of eighth-century BC fortifications that could align with the building efforts described in Chronicles. Beyond the capital, evidence of expanded or improved settlements in Judah supports the biblical depiction of a king focused on construction and stabilizing the realm.<p>While extra-biblical texts (such as some Assyrian records) generally highlight more dominant kings or major conflicts, the stability and relatively peaceful growth under Jotham fits with the biblical narrative of a king who managed internal fortifications over large-scale conquests.<p><b>VII. Significance for Modern Readers</b><p>Jotham stands as an example of a leader who, even when surrounded by national instability and personal challenges inherited from a flawed but prominent predecessor, acted &#8220;right in the eyes of the LORD&#8221; (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-2.htm">2 Chronicles 27:2</a>). His discipline, humility, and faithfulness are particularly notable&#8212;Scripture credits Jotham&#8217;s strength to his deliberate alignment with God&#8217;s ways (<a href="/2_chronicles/27-6.htm">2 Chronicles 27:6</a>).<p>This serves as a reminder that obedience to divine commandments brings blessings, although it does not automatically ensure collective faithfulness in society. The distinction between Jotham&#8217;s devotion and the people&#8217;s continued corruption is an enduring cautionary tale: each generation must cultivate its own dedication to God.<p><b>VIII. Conclusion</b><p>King Jotham of Judah exemplifies faithfulness in leadership during a pivotal era of Judah&#8217;s history. His reign is thoroughly documented in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, and the core themes of trust in God and responsible governance appear in both accounts. Though not as widely known as some of Judah&#8217;s other kings, Jotham&#8217;s consistent obedience and resulting favor with the LORD set him apart as a noteworthy figure. His life underscores the principle that genuine devotion, coupled with humble service, bears fruit&#8212;even if a ruler&#8217;s attempts at spiritual reform do not immediately transform the populace.<p>In the biblical timeline, Jotham forms a bridge between Uzziah&#8217;s prosperity and the more tumultuous reign of his successor, Ahaz. Archaeological findings about fortifications and city expansions, though not specifically inscribed with Jotham&#8217;s name, support the biblical claims of his industrious reign. Ultimately, Jotham&#8217;s narrative remains a testament to the significance of ordering one&#8217;s ways before the LORD in every sphere of life.</div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><br><br><a href="index.html">Bible Hub Questions and Answers</a><br><span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="what_does_demythologization_mean.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="What does demythologization mean?"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="What does demythologization mean?" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="should_christians_engage_in_pranks.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Should Christians engage in pranks?"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Should Christians engage in pranks?" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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