Jotham

Jotham, son of Uzziah, governed Judah during his father's leprous years and then reigned in his own right twenty years (sixteen years independently, after a co-regency). 2 Kings 15:34 records that he 'did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.' He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD (2 Kings 15:35) and did extensive building on the wall of Ophel and in the cities of Judah and the forts and towers (2 Chronicles 27:3-4). He fought against the Ammonites and defeated them; for three years they brought him 100 talents of silver and 10,000 cors each of wheat and barley. 'So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God' (2 Chronicles 27:6). It was in his days that the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah (2 Kings 15:37) — the prelude to the Syro-Ephraimite war that would burst over his son Ahaz. The prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah all dated their early ministry by his reign; Isaiah 1:1 and Hosea 1:1 and Micah 1:1 all begin 'in the days of … Jotham … kings of Judah.' He was buried with his fathers in the city of David.