What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 27:1?
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king
– At twenty-five, Jotham sits between the very young kings like Joash (2 Chronicles 24:1) and Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:1) and the older ascenders such as Solomon (1 Kings 2:12).
– Scripture shows God working through rulers of every age; what matters is the heart surrendered to Him (1 Samuel 16:7).
– Jotham’s age suggests a measure of maturity: he had already watched his father Uzziah’s fall (2 Chronicles 26:16-21), giving him a living lesson on the danger of pride.
– Cross references to similar royal beginnings:
• Amaziah, twenty-five when crowned (2 Kings 14:2).
• Hezekiah, twenty-five when crowned (2 Kings 18:2).
– God’s consistent record of these ages underlines the historical reliability of the narrative (Luke 1:1-4).
and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years– Sixteen years may seem brief beside David’s forty (2 Samuel 5:4-5), yet God measures faithfulness, not calendar pages (Matthew 25:21).
– “In Jerusalem” roots Jotham firmly in the Davidic covenant city where the LORD chose to set His Name (2 Chronicles 6:6).
– His reign avoided the dramatic judgments that struck his father and later Ahaz;2 Kings 15:34 says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.”
– The chronicler’s mention of length reinforces a theme: God records every reign, whether long or short, because each king’s obedience or rebellion affects the nation (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
– Cross references:
• Asa’s forty-one years (2 Chronicles 16:13) show longevity tied to faithfulness.
• Jehoahaz’s three months (2 Kings 23:31-32) illustrate the opposite.
His mother’s name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok– Chronicling the mother’s name highlights her formative influence, a pattern also seen with Hezekiah’s mother Abijah (2 Chronicles 29:1).
– “Jerushah” connects Jotham to a godly heritage; her father Zadok likely belongs to the priestly line tracing back to Zadok the priest who served David (1 Kings 2:35).
– The pairing of royal and priestly bloodlines reminds us of God’s design for leadership grounded in both authority and worship (2 Chronicles 23:16).
– A righteous mother can help shape a righteous king;Proverbs 31:1 shows a mother instructing her royal son.
– Cross references:
• Uzziah’s mother Jecholiah is noted in2 Chronicles 26:3, showing the chronicler’s pattern.
• King Lemuel’s mother’s counsel (Proverbs 31:1-9) exemplifies maternal impact.
summary2 Chronicles 27:1 introduces Jotham with three simple facts—his age, his tenure, and his maternal lineage—but each point underscores God’s meticulous oversight of rulers. At twenty-five, Jotham steps into a throne that demands humility learned from his father’s mistakes. His sixteen-year reign in Jerusalem testifies that faithfulness counts more than duration. And the mention of Jerushah, daughter of Zadok, spotlights the spiritual legacy that helped shape a king who “ordered his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).
