Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 15
While Pekah was ruling northern and central Israel, Jotham became the king of Judah. Although Jotham was just a young man, he had already had experience as a ruler. It was Jotham who had responsibility for the palace and for the government during the illness of his father Azariah (also called Uzziah). At that time, Jotham showed that he was capable to do the work of the king (15:5).
Like his father, Jotham was a good king who served the true God. Unlike his father, Jotham respected the temple (the house of God) and he did not wrongly try to do the work of a priest (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). He rebuilt one of the gates or principal entrances to the temple. This would have been a large building that surrounded the actual entrance, and very beautiful. There is a description of such a gate in Ezekiel 40:5-16. Jotham would have considered it a great honour that he was able to do this great work for God.
However, Jotham lived at a time when the people in Judah were not loyal to the true God. That is clear from the books of the prophets (holy men) Isaiah, Hosea and Micah, who all lived during Jotham’s rule. Those books describe the evil acts of Judah’s people – and especially, its leaders and powerful people – at this time (Isaiah 3:13-15 and 5:1-25).
Even Ahaz – Jotham’s son who would become king after him – did not serve the true God. We shall soon read about his evil acts (2 Kings chapter 16).
So, although Jotham was loyal to the true God, he could not control the people. They continued to gather in the hills for the purpose of wrong acts of religion – and sometimes, to follow evil religions. This was the kind of religion that Jotham’s son, Ahaz, loved (16:4).
Next part: Jotham's wars and his death (2 Kings 15:36-38)
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