2 Kings 15:33

Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

2 Kings 15:33 (KJV)

Context

This verse introduces Jotham, king of Judah, recording his age at accession, the length of his reign in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name. Such royal notices are typical in the books of Kings, giving an orderly record of Judah’s monarchy. Jotham was the son of Uzziah, also called Azariah, who had been struck with leprosy for unlawfully burning incense in the temple (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Because of his father’s condition, Jotham governed the king’s house and judged the people before formally becoming king (2 Kings 15:5).

Meaning

Jotham began to reign at twenty-five years old and ruled sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. The mention of Zadok connects Jotham to a priestly family, as Zadok was a significant priestly name in Israel’s history. The inclusion of the mother’s name reflects the importance of maternal lineage in the biblical record, often indicating family or city of origin.

Biblical connections

The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 confirms these details and notes that Jotham did what was right in the sight of the LORD, though the people still acted corruptly. He followed the ways of his father Uzziah in doing what was right, yet the high places were not removed, and the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense there (2 Kings 15:34-35). This shows that even a righteous king could not fully reform the nation’s worship.

Application

Jotham’s reign reminds us that faithful leadership can be limited by the spiritual condition of the people. His example encourages believers to do what is right before God, even when others around them continue in wrong practices. The careful recording of names and dates demonstrates the historical reliability of Scripture and God’s sovereign oversight of human history.

Reflection

God preserved the Davidic line through successive generations, a line that ultimately leads to Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. Jotham’s place in that line shows that God works through ordinary human events to accomplish His purposes. This verse calls us to trust that God remains faithful to His promises, even in times of political complexity and moral decline.