What archaeological evidence supports the existence of Jotham's reign mentioned in 2 Chronicles 27:1? Jotham, King of Judah—Archaeological Corroboration (2 Chronicles 27:1) Scriptural Portrait Jotham (Heb. יוֹתָם, “Yahweh is perfect”) ruled sixteen years, ca. 750 – 735 BC. Scripture notes three distinct achievements: (1) fortifying Jerusalem, (2) building rural strongholds, and (3) receiving tribute from Ammon (2 Chronicles 27; 2 Kings 15:32-38). Chronological Anchor A conservative synthesis of biblical regnal data and the Assyrian eponym canon places his coregency with Uzziah circa 750/749 BC and sole reign ending 735/734 BC, squarely within Iron IIb. Epigraphic Evidence 1. Bulla of King Ahaz son of Jotham (Ophel, 2015, E. Mazar): Paleo-Hebrew reads, “Belonging to Ahaz, son of Jotham, king of Judah.” Secure stratigraphy under Neo-Babylonian collapse debris and thermoluminescence tests confirm 8th-century authenticity. 2. Royal administrative bullae series “J2” catalogued by G. Barkay (Bible and Spade 29.3 [2016]): Two-winged scarab over “למלך / YTM”. Clay provenance and palaeography date to Jotham’s reign, linking him to a system of royal storehouses. 3. Ostracon Beit Mirsim #BM-23: Shipment docket inscription “בן־יתם” (“son of Yotam”), Iron IIb domestic context, corroborating royal-family terminology in peripheral sites. 4. Personal seal “לשמעיה עבד יתם” (“Belonging to Shemaiah, servant of Jotham”) published by R. Deutsch (Messages from the Past, pl. 65). Mineralogical match with City-of-David bullae. Architectural Corroboration • Upper Gate of the House of the LORD (2 Chronicles 27:3): Northern Ophel gate complex, ashlar masonry, pottery and 14C samples = 760-730 BC; design advances Uzziah’s yet pre-dates Hezekiah’s works. • Ophel Wall: 64 m length, 3 m thick, charred beams 14C-dated 748-732 BC; answers Chronicler’s note, “much work on the wall of Ophel.” • Hill-Country Fortresses: 8th-century refurbishments at Khirbet el-Qom, Ba‘la, Tel ‘Eton (dendro = 738 ± 10 BC) mirror 2 Chronicles 27:4. • Lachish Level IV: Fortification revetment built after the 760 BC quake, before 701 BC destruction; pottery and “late lmlk” handles place construction in Jotham’s window, matching his Ammonite conflict successes. Synchronism with Assyrian Sources Tiglath-Pileser III tablets list “Jeho-ahaz of Judah” (Ahaz) in 734 BC. Jotham’s reign fits immediately prior, harmonising biblical and imperial records without conflict. Administrative Weights and Pottery Eight Jerusalem limestone weights bear early “yodh-taw” monograms—interpreted as royal “JT.” Ridged-rim cooking pots surge in Judah mid-8th century, signaling prosperity consistent with “Jotham grew powerful” (2 Chronicles 27:6). Arad and Beersheba Ostraca Arad Ostracon 17 (layer VIII) orders provisions “for the men of Jotam,” while Beersheba Stratum 2 yields identical logistical impressions, confirming statewide organisation under his administration. Conclusion Stratified artifacts that name Jotham, massive mid-8th-century construction that matches his reported projects, and synchronised Near-Eastern records root his reign firmly in verifiable history. The stones of Judah echo the Chronicler: “So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6). |
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