Judah’s King Jotham

1Jotham was twenty-five years olda when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.b His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. 2He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,a but the people still behaved corruptly.

3Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.a 4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.a 5He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 poundsA of silver, 60,000 bushelsB of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. 6So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeyingA the Lord his God.a

7As for the rest of the eventsa of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.