Jotham honored God through many of his actions, but the kingdom’s persistent idolatry set the stage for future conflicts.
In 2 Kings 15:36, Scripture relates, “Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?” (v.36). This verse highlights the practice of the biblical writers to refer readers to a more detailed account of each king’s life found in the official records of Judah’s history. Jotham’s deeds and accomplishments were considered noteworthy enough to be chronicled beyond the concise account in 2 Kings, suggesting he made a significant impact on the nation despite the brevity of the mention here.
Jotham, the son of King Uzziah of Judah, began his reign while his father languished with leprosy, effectively assuming rule around the mid-8th century BC. Although he “sought to please God,” Jotham did not remove the high places or rid his kingdom of idolatrous practices, which had persisted in Judah for generations. He led various building programs and tried to uphold righteousness, but the people continued to worship at illicit shrines (2 Chronicles 27). Even so, this verse’s reference to other written sources underscores that Jotham’s recorded reign was more extensive than the short notation in 2 Kings indicates.
Jotham’s place in Judah’s royal lineage was pivotal because he bridged the gap between Uzziah’s long, mostly prosperous reign and the coming challenges Judah would face under subsequent kings. Since he is briefly noted in 2 Kings 15 and later recognized in Scripture’s genealogical records (Matthew 1:9), Jotham’s legacy remains intimately connected to the ongoing story of God’s covenant people, even though the summary in 2 Kings focuses primarily on transitions of power and the continual idol worship issues that plagued the nation.
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2 Kings 15:36 meaning
In 2 Kings 15:36, Scripture relates, “Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?” (v.36). This verse highlights the practice of the biblical writers to refer readers to a more detailed account of each king’s life found in the official records of Judah’s history. Jotham’s deeds and accomplishments were considered noteworthy enough to be chronicled beyond the concise account in 2 Kings, suggesting he made a significant impact on the nation despite the brevity of the mention here.
Jotham, the son of King Uzziah of Judah, began his reign while his father languished with leprosy, effectively assuming rule around the mid-8th century BC. Although he “sought to please God,” Jotham did not remove the high places or rid his kingdom of idolatrous practices, which had persisted in Judah for generations. He led various building programs and tried to uphold righteousness, but the people continued to worship at illicit shrines (2 Chronicles 27). Even so, this verse’s reference to other written sources underscores that Jotham’s recorded reign was more extensive than the short notation in 2 Kings indicates.
Jotham’s place in Judah’s royal lineage was pivotal because he bridged the gap between Uzziah’s long, mostly prosperous reign and the coming challenges Judah would face under subsequent kings. Since he is briefly noted in 2 Kings 15 and later recognized in Scripture’s genealogical records (Matthew 1:9), Jotham’s legacy remains intimately connected to the ongoing story of God’s covenant people, even though the summary in 2 Kings focuses primarily on transitions of power and the continual idol worship issues that plagued the nation.