Jotham יוֹתָם
King of Judah and son of Uzziah
Who is Jotham in the Bible?
Jotham was a king of Judah who reigned for approximately sixteen years from 750 to 735 BC, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:32-33 and 2 Chronicles 27:1. He was the son of King Uzziah and initially served as co-regent when his father was struck with leprosy for burning incense in the temple (2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 26:21), then assumed full control after Uzziah's death (2 Chronicles 26:23). During his reign, Jotham is described as doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, rebuilding the Upper Gate of the temple and strengthening Jerusalem's defenses at Ophel (2 Chronicles 27:3), while also subduing the Ammonites and collecting tribute from them (2 Chronicles 27:5). His name appears in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah (Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1), marking his reign as a significant period in Judah's history before the Assyrian crisis that would dominate the next generation.
Biography
Jotham was a king of Judah who reigned for sixteen years, from approximately 750 to 735 BC (2Ki.15.32-33; 2Ch.27.1). He was the son of Uzziah (also known as Azariah) and succeeded him as king (2Ki.15.7; 2Ch.26.23).
Jotham became co-regent with his father Uzziah when Uzziah was struck with leprosy for burning incense in the temple (2Ki.15.5; 2Ch.26.21). After Uzziah's death, Jotham assumed full control of the kingdom (2Ki.15.7; 2Ch.26.23).
During his reign, Jotham is described as doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, following the example of his father Uzziah (2Ki.15.34; 2Ch.27.2). He rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple and carried out construction projects on the wall at Ophel (2Ch.27.3).
Jotham also successfully waged war against the Ammonites, subjecting them to tribute (2Ch.27.5). He became powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God (2Ch.27.6).
The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah prophesied during Jotham's reign (Isa.1.1; Hos.1.1; Mic.1.1). Jotham died and was buried with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Ahaz succeeded him as king (2Ki.15.38; 2Ch.27.7, 9).
Family
In Scripture
7 biblical books ; 4 with study content2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 15:5
"And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land."
- 2 Kings 15:7
"And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 15:30
"Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 15:32
"In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah."
- 2 Kings 15:36
"As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?"
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 3:12
"Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,"
- 1 Chronicles 5:17
"All of them were recorded in the genealogies during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel."
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 26:21
"So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land."
- 2 Chronicles 26:23
"And Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field of burial that belonged to the kings, for the people said, “He was a leper.” And his son Jotham reigned in his place."
- 2 Chronicles 27:1
"Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok."
- 2 Chronicles 27:6
"So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God."
- 2 Chronicles 27:7
"As for the rest of the acts of Jotham, along with all his wars and his ways, they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah."
Isaiah 2 verses
- Isaiah 1:1
"This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 7:1
"Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city."
Study Isaiah →
Hosea 1 verse
- Hosea 1:1
"This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel."
Study Hosea →
Micah 1 verse
- Micah 1:1
"This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:"
Study Micah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹתָם |
| Greek | Greek | Ἰωάθαμ |