King Jotham was the king of Judah from around 750-735 BC. He was the son and successor of King Uzziah. Jotham is mentioned in several books of the Bible, including 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, and Matthew. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about King Jotham:
Jotham’s Reign as King
Jotham began to reign as king when he was 25 years old, after his father Uzziah had reigned for 52 years (2 Kings 15:33). However, Jotham had already been governing the people for some time before this, as his father was struck with leprosy at the end of his reign and had to live in isolation (2 Kings 15:5).
The Bible says that Jotham reigned in Jerusalem for 16 years (2 Kings 15:33). His reign is described as a time when “the people still followed corrupt practices” (2 Kings 15:34). However, Jotham himself “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 15:34) and did not adopt the corrupt practices of the people. He maintained the upper entrance to the temple of the Lord, which his father had built (2 Chronicles 27:3).
The Bible records some of Jotham’s building projects and military victories. He built towns and forts in the hills of Judah, and “was at war with the king of the Ammonites” whom he defeated (2 Chronicles 27:4-5). God blessed Jotham and he “grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).
Jotham’s Relationship with God
Although the people continued in corrupt practices during his reign, Jotham himself was commended for doing “what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 15:34). The chronicler of Kings says he “did not enter the temple of the Lord” but the Chronicler clarifies that he did extensive building on the temple, including the upper gate entrance (2 Chronicles 27:3).
2 Chronicles 27:6 says “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.” His example of faithfulness influenced the early years of his son Ahaz, who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” for at least part of his reign (2 Chronicles 28:1). Sadly Ahaz later turned away from the Lord.
Prophecies About Jotham
The prophet Isaiah began his prophetic ministry “in the year that King Jotham died” (Isaiah 6:1). There is a reference to the “year that King Uzziah died” in 6:1 as well, because of the overlapping reigns of Jotham and his father Uzziah.
Another prophecy about the house of David in Isaiah 7:1 mentions “Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah.” This was when the kings of Syria and Israel tried to invade Judah, but failed because God protected Judah for the sake of His promise to David.
Isaiah 1:1 also names Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah as four kings during the time of Isaiah’s prophecy. So Jotham’s reign put him in a key period of time just before the prophet Isaiah’s ministry.
Jotham’s Death and Successor
Jotham reigned for 16 years in Jerusalem. When he died, he was buried with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Ahaz succeeded him as king (2 Kings 15:38). Ahaz did not follow the good example of his father Jotham, and “he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel” (2 Kings 16:2).
The chronicler briefly summarizes Jotham’s reign as becoming mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord God (2 Chronicles 27:6). His reign was largely a time of prosperity and blessing for Judah.
Lessons from Jotham’s Life
Though he lived at a time when most of the people disobeyed God, Jotham chose to walk faithfully before the Lord. Some key lessons we can take from his life include:
- The importance of godly leadership – Jotham kept his heart loyal to God and set a good example, even when the people around him didn’t.
- The blessings of obedience – God blessed Jotham mightily for obeying Him during his reign.
- The influence of a godly parent – Jotham raised his son Ahaz in the ways of the Lord when he was young.
- Steadfast faith in corrupt times – Jotham stayed true to God though the society around him was engaging in corrupt practices.
Even though Jotham was a godly king, he was far from perfect. He failed to remove all the high places where unlawful sacrifices were offered (2 Kings 15:35). And while he kept his own heart faithful, the people continued to disobey God during his reign.
But amidst a culture of corruption, King Jotham modeled what it looks like to walk before God with integrity. His devotion to doing “what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 15:34) as a leader, builder, and reformer provides an inspirational example of steadfast faith for believers today.
Jotham in the New Testament
The only reference to King Jotham in the New Testament is in Matthew 1:9, where he is listed as an ancestor of Jesus in the genealogy of Christ. The passage traces the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham and includes Jotham as one of the kings of Judah in Christ’s family line. Matthew 1:9 says:
And Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
This reference to Jotham mainly establishes him as a link in the ancestry leading up to the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus came from the royal line of King David, and Jotham helps bridge the connection back to David as an heir to that throne. The inclusion of Jotham in Jesus’ genealogy verifies His rightful claim as a descendant of David and heir to his royal dynasty.
Jotham’s Significance and Legacy
As king over Judah for 16 years, Jotham maintained stability and prosperity for the kingdom through his steady leadership and faithful obedience to God. Some key aspects of his legacy include:
- Temple builder – Jotham directed construction work on gateways, walls, towers and other facilities around the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
- Military victories – He emerged triumphant in conflicts with the Ammonites and other enemies of Judah.
- Godly influence – His early example of obedience to God shaped his son Ahaz in the right direction, at least for a time.
- Time of growth – The kingdom became “powerful” under Jotham because he walked faithfully before the Lord (2 Chronicles 27:6).
- Ancestor of Christ – As part of Jesus’ family line, Jotham helped pave the way for the coming Messiah.
While his leadership did not fully turn the people away from corruption, Jotham’s faithfulness before God was crucial in maintaining stability and prosperity in Judah up to the time of Isaiah. His devotion left a legacy of godly leadership for kings that would follow after him to aspire towards.
The chronicled reign of King Jotham, though brief, provides a window into a key era in Judah’s history and highlights the importance of walking faithfully before God as a leader – even when the times are corrupt and the people are disobedient. Jotham’s righteous example shines through as a beacon of steadfast faith and obedience to God’s ways.
8. Jotham in Literature and Art
Although Jotham is not one of the main kings featured in biblical stories, he has been depicted in some works of literature and art over the centuries. Here are a few examples:
- The Old English poem Christ and Satan mentions “Joatham” in a section about biblical history.
- In John Milton’s Paradise Regained, Jotham is referenced when recounting the genealogy of Christ.
- Some medieval illuminated manuscripts like bibles or psalters contain illustrations of Jotham, often grouped with other kings.
- The stained glass windows at the Sainte-Chapelle church in Paris (13th century) include Jotham in a panel portraying the ancestors of Christ.
- A 19th century painting by Charles Lock Eastlake depicts Isaiah’s vision taking place during the reign of King Jotham.
- Jotham has been included in some more contemporary illustrated storybook Bible editions for children.
However, since later biblical kings like Hezekiah, Josiah, and David are featured more prominently in scriptural narratives, they tend to be the primary focus in most adaptations of Bible stories. But King Jotham still pops up now and then in literary references to biblical history and genealogies of Jesus.
9. The Reign of Jotham in Historical Context
King Jotham ruled over the kingdom of Judah from about 750-735 BC. To understand his reign in historical context, here are some key facts about that period:
- The Neo-Assyrian Empire was dominant in the region under kings like Ashur-dan III and Ashur-nirari V.
- In the northern kingdom of Israel, Zechariah ruled briefly followed by Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah.
- The prophets Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah were active in Israel/Judah in the 8th century BC.
- There was internal political instability in Assyria, allowing Jotham more independence.
- Judah paid tribute to Assyria at times but maintained self-rule under Jotham and his successors.
- The Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah took place in 735 BC near end of Jotham’s reign when Pekah was king in Israel.
- Trade and economic prosperity increased in Judah during Jotham’s reign.
So Jotham ruled during a key transitional period when Assyria was the main empire but somewhat distracted, allowing Judah more autonomy. Internal corruption was a problem in Judah, but Jotham led military efforts to protect the kingdom and oversaw improvements to Jerusalem’s defenses and the temple. His reign marked a period of stability and prosperity before the upheavals that followed under Ahaz.
10. Archeological Discoveries Related to Jotham’s Reign
Not many archeological discoveries can be directly tied to King Jotham’s reign over Judah in the 8th century BC. However, some significant findings provide insights into that general time period. These include:
- The Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions (900-700 BC) mention “Yahweh of Samaria and his Asherah.” This suggests some synergistic worship between northern Israel and Judah.
- Excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa uncovered a fortified city from around 1000-700 BC matching descriptions of Jotham’s building projects in Judah’s highlands.
- Several bulla (clay seals) with Hebrew names from the 8th century BC have been found, including some possible royal officials from Jotham’s administration.
- The expanded gate complex at Tel Gezer has been dated to the 8th century BC, reflecting the growth of Judah as a kingdom during this time.
- The Tomb of Shebna in Silwan, overseer of the palace under Hezekiah, indicates growth in Jerusalem’s nobility from the time of Jotham onwards.
While not directly mentioning Jotham, these findings match the biblical descriptions of building projects and expanded administrative activity during his reign. They reflect a kingdom transitioning from a vassal to Assyria into a more prominent regional power in the early 8th century BC as described in accounts of Jotham’s kingship.