27Jotham became king at the age of 25, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His mother was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. ²He did what was pleasing to the Lord, just as his father had done; but unlike his father he did not sin by burning incense^p in the Temple. The people, however, went on sinning.

³It was Jotham who built the North Gate of the Temple and did extensive work on the city wall in the area of Jerusalem called Ophel. ⁴In the mountains of Judah he built cities, and in the forests he built forts and towers.

⁵He fought against the king of Ammon and his army and defeated them. Then he forced the Ammonites to pay him the following tribute each year for three years: 3,400 kilogrammes of silver, 1,000 tonnes of wheat, and 1,000 tonnes of barley. ⁶Jotham grew powerful because he faithfully obeyed the Lord his God. ⁷The other events of Jotham’s reign, his wars, and his policies, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel and Judah. ⁸Jotham was 25 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years.

⁹He died and was buried in David’s City and his son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

phe did not sin by burning incense; or he did not take part in the worship.