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Jotham

Both TestamentsDivided MonarchyMaleKingSon

Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was a king of Judah who reigned for sixteen years.

Jotham illustration
Jotham

Biography

Jotham son of Uzziah served as king of Judah during the mid-eighth century BC, reigning sixteen years following a period of co-regency while his father Uzziah was afflicted with leprosy (2 Kings 15:32–38; 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 1:1; Matthew 1:9). He ascended to the throne fully at a time of relative national strength and undertook significant building projects, including the Upper Gate of the Jerusalem temple and fortifications in the hill country of Judah. His military campaigns against the Ammonites were successful. The biblical narrative commends Jotham for walking uprightly before God, though he tolerated the persistence of popular high-place worship among the people. His reign is considered one of Judah's more stable and godly periods, and he appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.

Significance

Jotham occupies an important place in the Davidic line preserved in Matthew 1:9, linking the royal ancestry of Jesus through the kings of Judah. His reign demonstrates that personal fidelity to God can coexist with incomplete national reform, a sobering reality that the prophets Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea addressed during his era. Jotham's example raises enduring questions about the responsibilities of righteous leadership: personal integrity is necessary but insufficient if it fails to challenge communal sin. His life also illustrates the biblical pattern of reward for covenant faithfulness: he 'became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God' (2 Chronicles 27:6).

Verse Appearances (20)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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