SUMMARY
The brief reign of Jotham essentially reports his building activities. He is, however, a refreshing model of obedience and blessingBlessing is the asking for or the giving of God's favor. Isaac was tricked into blessing Jacob instead of his firstborn Esau. At the Last Supper Jesus offered a blessing over bread and wine. To be blessed is to be favored by God. More.
ANALYSIS
Once again the Chronicler has structured his account concentrically. Two descriptions of Jotham’s success–building projects (vv. 3-4) and military victory (v. 5)–are surrounded by the reasons for his success, doing “what was right in the sight of the LORD” (v. 2) and ordering “his ways before the LORD his God” (v. 6). This little homily on the rewards of a pious life is enclosed by royal formulas drawn from 2 Kings 15:33-38 (vv. 1, 7-9).
This brief account is significant, however, because it signals an end to the pattern that has governed the presentation of the last three kings (Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah), whose reigns had been divided into a positive first period characterized by piety and blessing, followed by a negative second period characterized by sin.
