2 Chronicles 27:1

¶ Jotham [was] twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.

Jotham {H3147} was twenty {H6242} and five {H2568} years {H8141} old {H1121} when he began to reign {H4427}, and he reigned {H4427} sixteen {H8337}{H6240} years {H8141} in Jerusalem {H3389}. His mother's {H517} name {H8034} also was Jerushah {H3388}, the daughter {H1323} of Zadok {H6659}.

Yotam was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for sixteen years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Yerushah the daughter of Tzadok.

Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.

Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 27:1 introduces Jotham, the twelfth king of Judah, marking the beginning of his sixteen-year reign in Jerusalem. This concise verse provides fundamental details about his accession, age, duration of rule, and maternal lineage, setting the stage for the fuller account of his reign.

Historical and Cultural Context

Jotham's ascent to the throne followed the lengthy and impactful reign of his father, King Uzziah (also known as Azariah), who, despite his initial successes, suffered from leprosy in his later years due to pride (2 Chronicles 26:19). During Uzziah's illness, Jotham likely served as co-regent, gaining valuable experience in governance. The book of 2 Chronicles, written from a priestly perspective, often emphasizes the spiritual faithfulness or unfaithfulness of Judah's kings and its consequences. The mention of his mother, Jerushah, daughter of Zadok, is a standard feature in biblical introductions to kings, providing a clear record of his heritage and legitimacy within the royal line. This Zadok was likely a prominent figure, distinguishing Jotham's maternal ancestry.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Succession and Stability: The verse highlights the orderly transition of power from Uzziah to Jotham, signaling continuity and stability for the kingdom of Judah.
  • Chronological Marker: It precisely dates Jotham's reign, providing crucial historical context for understanding the timeline of Judah's monarchy and the events that occurred during his time.
  • Identity and Lineage: The inclusion of his mother's name and paternal grandfather underscores Jotham's identity and connection to established families, a common practice in ancient royal records.
  • Introduction to a Righteous King: While this verse is purely factual, it serves as the prologue to a reign that is largely portrayed as righteous and dedicated to the Lord, unlike some of his predecessors or successors (as seen in 2 Chronicles 27:6).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text of this verse is straightforward, primarily serving as a genealogical and chronological record. The phrase "began to reign" (Hebrew: malak) simply denotes the commencement of his official rule, a common verb used for kings throughout the Old Testament. There are no complex linguistic nuances requiring deeper explanation for this specific verse.

Practical Application

Even a seemingly simple historical verse like this offers insights:

  • The Weight of Leadership: Every leader's tenure is recorded, and their actions leave a legacy. Jotham's introduction reminds us that leadership is a stewardship, with responsibilities and consequences.
  • God's Sovereignty in Succession: The continuous line of kings, despite challenges, points to God's hand in orchestrating historical events and the rise and fall of leaders.
  • Importance of Foundation: While Jotham's own actions would define his reign, his background and the preceding reign of his father provided a context for his rule, emphasizing that past events often shape present realities.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 3:12

    Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,

  • Micah 1:1

    ¶ The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 1:1

    ¶ The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

  • 2 Kings 15:32

    ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

  • 2 Kings 15:38

    And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

  • Matthew 1:9

    And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

  • Hosea 1:1

    ¶ The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
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