Jotham’s Faithful Reign

27:1 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. 27:2 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. 27:3 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. 27:4 He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests. 27:5 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 kors of wheat, and 10,000 kors of barley. The Ammonites also paid this same amount of annual tribute the next two years. 27:6 Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. 27:7 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. 27:8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. 27:9 Jotham passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king. Ahaz’s Reign

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Jotham was a good king in Judah. He honored the Lord, strengthened the land, and won military success. But the people still sinned, showing that even a faithful king could not fully renew the nation.

This passage gives a short summary of Jotham’s reign. He became king at twenty-five and ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. The Chronicler says he did what the Lord approved, and he is shown as a king who followed the right path without repeating his father Uzziah’s proud temple trespass.

Jotham also worked to strengthen Judah. He repaired the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, built up the wall at Ophel, and constructed cities, fortresses, and towers. These actions show practical leadership, care for Jerusalem, and concern for the nation’s safety.

He also defeated the Ammonites, and they paid tribute to him for several years. His success is explained in spiritual terms: he grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. That does not mean obedience always brings wealth or victory in a simple way, but it does show that the Lord blesses faithful rule according to his purposes.

At the same time, the passage makes an important limitation clear: the people of Judah were still sinning. Jotham was personally faithful, but he did not bring full covenant renewal to the nation. His reign was good, but it was not enough to fix the deeper spiritual problem in Judah. The closing notice of his death and the rise of his son Ahaz prepares us for the sad decline that follows.

• Jotham did what the Lord approved.
• He did not repeat Uzziah’s sinful temple intrusion.
• The people of Judah were still sinning.
• Jotham strengthened Jerusalem and Judah through building projects.
• He defeated the Ammonites and received tribute.
• His strength came from seeking to please the Lord.
• A good king can bring real help, but he cannot fully renew a sinful nation by himself.

• Do not repeat the proud mistakes of your predecessors.
• Do not confuse outward success with complete spiritual health.
• Faithful leadership matters, but it cannot replace deeper repentance and covenant renewal.
• The Lord approves of those who seek to please him.

Jotham ruled as a Davidic king in Judah under the Mosaic covenant. His reign shows that the Lord can bless a faithful ruler with stability, building, and military success. But it also shows that Judah’s hope could not rest in an only partly faithful king. The passage fits the larger biblical pattern that points beyond the best kings of Judah to the need for a greater Davidic ruler who can bring lasting righteousness and true renewal for God’s people.

Believers should value faithful, steady obedience to the Lord, especially in leadership. We should also learn from Jotham’s example that good outward results do not mean every spiritual problem is solved. It is wise to build, protect, and govern well, but it is even more important to please the Lord. And when we see sin remain in a community, we should not assume that surface success is enough.

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