How does Jotham's age compare to other biblical leaders' starting points? Jotham: A 25-Year-Old King “He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 27:8) Putting 25 in Perspective: Other Kings of Judah • 7 – Joash (2 Kings 11:21) • 8 – Josiah (2 Kings 22:1) • 12 – Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1) • 16 – Uzziah/Azariah (2 Kings 15:2) • 20 – Ahaz (2 Kings 16:2) • 21 – Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:18) • 22 – Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:26) • 23 – Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31) • 24 – Jehoiachin? (Some manuscripts read 18; 2 Kings 24:8.) • 25 – Jotham (2 Chron 27:8), Amaziah (2 Kings 14:2), Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:2) • 30 – David (2 Samuel 5:4) • 35 – Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:42) • 41 – Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21) Jotham finds himself squarely in the middle—neither the youthful wunderkind like Joash nor the seasoned Rehoboam. Kings of Israel (The northern kingdom often omits ages, but when given they echo Judah’s range.) • 30 – Saul, Israel’s first monarch (1 Samuel 13:1) Other Notable Leaders • Moses – 80 at the burning bush (Exodus 7:7) • Joshua – Likely 80 when he takes command (Joshua 14:10) • Samuel – Serves “from childhood” (1 Samuel 3:1–20) • Jeremiah – Called “a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6–7) • Jesus – Public ministry begins at about 30 (Luke 3:23) • Timothy – Young enough to be told, “Let no one despise your youth” (1 Timothy 4:12) What the Numbers Show • God entrusts leadership to every age bracket—from Joash at 7 to Moses at 80. • Ages in the 20s, like Jotham’s, are common: Amaziah, Hezekiah, Jehoiakim, Ahaz, and several others. • Spiritual maturity, not chronological age, marks faithful service. Jotham “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 27:2). Key Takeaway Jotham’s age sits in the biblical “average,” reminding us that God often calls people in their mid-twenties, yet He is equally free to raise up children, teenagers, or octogenarians. Obedience—at any age—remains the constant. |
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