Bible Dictionaries
Jotham

Holman Bible Dictionary

(joh' thuhm) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh has shown Himself to be perfect.” 1. In Judges 9:5 , the youngest of Gideon's seventy sons. He survived the mass killing of Gideon's sons by Abimelech, their half brother, because he hid himself. Afterwards, when Abimelech had been hailed as king at Shechem, Jotham addressed a fable to the people of Shechem designed to mock the idea of Abimelech acting as a king. After he had told the fable and given its interpretation, Jotham fled for his life. See Judges.

2. In 2 Kings 15:32 , the son and successor of Uzziah as king of Judah (750-732 B.C.). He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha. The sixteen-year period given for his reign may include the time that he acted as regent for his father Uzziah. Uzziah contracted leprosy during the final years of his reign and thus could not perform the functions required of royalty. Jotham evidently was an effective ruler. His reign was marked by building projects, material prosperity, and military successes. See Chronology.