Jotham Ruled as King For 16 years
October 5, 2020
Commentary
Jotham was 25 years old when he became king of Judah and he ruled for 16 years (v. 1). Jotham also co-reigned with his son for four years so that the reference of 16 years does not include that period. He obeyed the Lord and was a faithfulexample of his father Uzziah, except he never burned incense in the temple as his father had done (v. 2). However, the people of Judah kept sinning against the Lord. His record was nearly blameless, but the people were still unfaithful to the Lord.
Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple and repaired the wall near Mount Ophel (v. 3). He also built towns in the Mountains and fortresses and defense towers in Judah (v. 4). During his time of rule, he attacked and defeated the Ammonites (v. 5). Then each year for the next three years, he forced them to pay 100 silver talents, 1,000 tons of wheat, and 1,000 tons of barley.
Jotham remained faithful to the Lord and became a very powerful king (v. 6). Everything Jotham did while he was king is recorded in 1st and 2nd Kings (v. 7). He died at the age of 41 after ruling Judah for 16 years (v. 8). He was buried in Jerusalem and his son Ahaz became king (v. 9).
Application
I am now 84 years old and have had the privilege of being a missionary for over the past 55 years, traveling to over 50 countries and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to thousands of men, women, and young people who have placed their faith in His shed blood to save them. I rejoice in this but pray that I will finish well and be faithful to Him to the end.
2 Chronicles 27:1– 9 (NET)
1 Jotham 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. 2 He 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.
3 He built the Upper Gate to the Lord’s temple and did a lot of work on the wall in the area known as Ophel. 4 He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
5 He 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 cors of wheat, and 10,000 cors of barley. The Ammonites also paid this same amount of annual tribute the next two years.
6 Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. 7 The 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. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.