Jotham

In the second year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah over Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. As for…

Conspiracies stack up. Kings murdered by their successors. Israel spirals toward collapse with five kings in twenty years.

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. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. In addition, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still behaved corruptly. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He also built…

A good king in a single paragraph. He builds, he conquers, he grows powerful — because he walked steadily before God.

Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

The New Testament opens with a genealogy — and every name carries a story. Two great promises converge in one person. This is where it all comes together.