Jotham King of Judah^(A)

27 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ² Jotham did what ·the Lord said was right [^Lwas pleasing/proper in the eyes/sight of the Lord], just as his father Uzziah had done. But Jotham did not enter the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord [^Ca reference to Uzziah’s sin, 26:16–21]. But the people continued ·doing wrong [sinning; in their corrupt practices]. ³ Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord, and he added greatly to the wall at Ophel. ⁴ He also built towns in the hill country of Judah, as well as ·walled cities [fortresses] and towers in the forests.

⁵ Jotham also fought the king of the Ammonites and ·defeated [conquered] them. So each year for three years they ·gave [paid] Jotham ·about seventy-five hundred pounds [^Lone hundred talents] of silver, ·about sixty-two thousand bushels [^Lten thousand kors] of wheat, and ·about sixty-two thousand bushels [^Lten thousand kors] of barley. ⁶ Jotham became powerful, because he ·always obeyed [walked purposefully before; ^Lordered his ways before] the Lord his God.

⁷ The ·other things Jotham did while he was king [rest of the events/acts/history of Jotham’s reign] and all his wars ·are [^Lare they not…?] written in the ·book [scroll] of the kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] sixteen years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham ·died [^Llay down/^Tslept with his fathers/ancestors] and was buried in the City of David [^CJerusalem]. Then Jotham’s son Ahaz became king in his place.