[1] Jotham was twenty-five years old at the time he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerushah, daughter of Zadok. [2] He followed the generally good example of his father, Uzziah-who had, however, sinned by invading the Temple-but even so his people became very corrupt. [3] He built the Upper Gate of the Temple and also did extensive rebuilding of the walls on the hill where the Temple was situated. [4] And he built cities in the hill country of Judah and erected fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. [5] His war against the Ammonites was successful so that for the next three years he received from them an annual tribute of $200,000 in silver, 10,000 sacks of wheat, and 10,000 sacks of barley. [6] King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to follow the path of the Lord his God. [7] The remainder of his history, including his wars and other activities, is written in The Annals of the Kings of Israel and Judah. [8] In summary, then, he was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. [9] When he died, he was buried in Jerusalem, and his son Ahaz became the new king.
