Jotham
Summary
One of the consistently good kings of Judah who grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD. He built the Upper Gate of the Temple and defeated the Ammonites but never entered the Temple as his father had done.
- Among the passages here, Jotham is first named in 2 Kings 15:5: “And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died…”
- The record places Jotham in Divided Kingdom.
- 28 verses name Jotham, in 8 books.
- 4 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6→- 4 key events in order
- 28 verses name Jotham, across 8 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 28
- Books
- 8
Jotham
- Role
- 11th King of Judah
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 750–732 BC
- Tribe
- Judah
- Father
- Uzziah
- Children
- Ahaz
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Co-regency during father's leprosy2 Kings 15:5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
- Built the Upper Gate2 Chronicles 27:3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
- Victory over Ammonites2 Chronicles 27:5Jotham 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.
- Building projects throughout Judah2 Chronicles 27:4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
3Where the passages this page records close
Biography
Jotham served as co-regent while his father Uzziah was a leper, then became sole king after Uzziah's death. He is distinguished among Judah's kings for consistent faithfulness without the dramatic falls many of his predecessors experienced.
He built the Upper Gate of the Temple, constructed extensively on the wall of Ophel, built cities in the hill country, and conducted a successful military campaign against the Ammonites who paid tribute for three years. The text uniquely notes that he "grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God." Yet the high places were not removed, and the people continued their corrupt practices even during his good reign.
During his reign the Syro-Ephraimite coalition that would threaten Judah under his son Ahaz began to form.
So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Consistent faithfulness, military success, strong builder and administrator, learned from father's mistake (never entered Temple)
Weaknesses
Failed to remove the high places; could not change the corrupt religious culture of the people
Lessons
Steady, consistent faithfulness produces lasting strength. Jotham's greatness came not from dramatic exploits but from walking steadfastly with God over the long haul. Faithfulness in the ordinary is the foundation of extraordinary blessing.
Spiritual significance
Jotham is one of scripture's quiet heroes — a king who did right consistently without fanfare, whose obedience directly produced national strength. His story is a positive counterpoint to kings who started well and ended badly: here is one who simply stayed faithful.
Jotham in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Jotham. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament7 books · 27 mentions
Judges4 mentions
- Judges 9:5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
- Judges 9:7When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
- Judges 9:21Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
- Judges 9:57And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
2 Kings8 mentions
- 2 Kings 15:5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
- 2 Kings 15:7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
- 2 Kings 15:30Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.
- 2 Kings 15:32In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah.
- 2 Kings 15:35Nevertheless, 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.
3 further mentions in 2 Kings, read them in the book.
1 Chronicles3 mentions
2 Chronicles8 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 26:21So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace to govern the people of the land.
- 2 Chronicles 26:23And Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field of burial that belonged to the kings; for the people said, “He was a leper.” And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
- 2 Chronicles 27:1Jotham 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.
- 2 Chronicles 27:3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
- 2 Chronicles 27:5Jotham 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.
3 further mentions in 2 Chronicles, read them in the book.
Isaiah2 mentions
- Isaiah 1:1This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
- Isaiah 7:1Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.
Hosea1 mention
New Testament1 book · 1 mention
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