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Judah’s King Jotham

¹ Jotham was twenty-five years old^(C1) when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.^(C2) His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. ² He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,^(C1) but the people still behaved corruptly.

³ Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.^{(C1) 4} He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.^{(C1) 5} He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds^(F1) of silver, 50,000 bushels^(F2) of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. ⁶ So Jotham strengthened his position because he did not waver in obeying^(F1) the Lord his God.^(C1)

⁷ As for the rest of the events^(C1) of Jotham’s reign, along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.