Judah’s King Jotham

27 Jotham was 25 years old^(A) when he became king and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem.^(B) His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok. ² He did what was right in the Lord’s sight as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he didn’t enter the Lord’s sanctuary,^(C) 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.^{(D) 4} He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.^{(E) 5} He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds^[a] of silver, 50,000 bushels^[b] of wheat, and 50,000 bushels^[c] of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years. ⁶ So Jotham strengthened himself because he did not waver in obeying^[d] the Lord his God.^(F)

⁷ As for the rest of the events^(G) 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 25 years old when he became king and reigned 16 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.