Jotham’s Reign

1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 2He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Uzziah had done. (He did not, however, have the audacity to enter the temple.) Yet the people were still sinning.

3He built the Upper Gate to the Lord’s temple and did a lot of work on the wall in the area known as Ophel. 4He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

5He launched a military campaign against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. That year the Ammonites paid him 100 talents of silver, 10,000 kors of wheat, and 10,000 kors of barley. The Ammonites also paid this same amount of annual tribute the next two years.

6Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. 7The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his military campaigns and his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9Jotham passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.