Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests. Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, and that year they gave him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with all his wars and his ways, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.
In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD. As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? (In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) And Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David his father. And his son Ahaz reigned in his place.
Significance
These are parallel accounts of Jotham's relatively brief reign. Both record his building of the upper gate of the temple, his positive evaluation, and the emergence of the Rezin-Pekah alliance during his time. The Chronicler adds his victory over the Ammonites (who paid him tribute for three years), his building projects, and the theological summary: "Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God" (2 Chr 27:6, כִּי הֵכִין דְּרָכָיו, ki hekhin derakhav). The Chronicler's brief but unqualified positive assessment makes Jotham one of the few kings who receives no censure — a rarity in either account of Judah's monarchy.
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Direct Quotation
Connection Method(s)
Redemptive-Historical Progression — the Chronicler retells Jotham's reign from 2 Kings 15:32-38 (the Upper Gate rebuilding, the rising Rezin-Pekah threat) and advances it with the Ammonite tribute, the building projects, and the summary "Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God" (2 Chr 27:6); the later canonical account turns Kings' brief notice into a re-presented lesson in covenant-ordered strength for the post-exilic community.
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