King Jotham of Judah^(A)

27 Jotham was 25 years old when he began to rule. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. ² He did what the Lord considered right, as his father Uzziah had done. But unlike his father, he didn’t ⌞illegally⌟ enter the Lord’s temple. Nevertheless, the people continued their corrupt ways.

³ Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple and did extensive building of the wall at the Ophel. ⁴ He built cities in the hills of Judah, and he built forts and towers in the wooded areas. ⁵ He fought with the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 60,000 bushels of wheat, and 60,000 bushels of barley. The Ammonites gave him the same amount for two more years. ⁶ Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to live as the Lord his God wanted.

⁷ Everything else about Jotham—all his wars and his life—is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸ He was 25 years old when he began to rule as king. He ruled for 16 years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham lay down in death with his ancestors, and they buried him in the City of David. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king.