What happensPermalink
King Jotham of Judah seeks God, and Judah prospers even more than it did under his father Uzziah: he oversees improvement projects in Jerusalem and new cities, forts, and towers in the hill country. He defeats the Ammonites and exacts tribute.
Why it mattersPermalink
The chapter contrasts the faithfulness of the king with the continued corruption of the people. Judah grows in strength and prosperity under Jotham’s obedience, but the people continue in sinful practices, showing that righteous leadership alone cannot guarantee a faithful nation.
Key versePermalink
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices.