The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 5 · Section 19 · Concurrent kings · Judah · Jotham
The 11th. King of Judah, JOTHAMJOTHAM was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned ſixteen years. He did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord as his father had done before him; that is, he maintained and encouraged the true worſhip of God as his Father had done, but did not go into the Temple to burn incenſe as his Father had done; ſo that he was like him not in the evil he did but in the good only. Howbeit the people did yet very corruptly, and by their Prieſts (who too much complied with them therein) offered ſacrifice, and burnt incenſe on the high places, which had Jotham removed he might have prevented the people's corrupting themſelves in that thing, and therefore his not doing it is noted as a blemiſh of his government. About this time (namely in the year wherein Ʋzziah died) the Prophet Iſaiah ſaw that glorious viſion of the Lord ſitting on his throne, and compaſſed about with his holy Angels, ſinging Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabbath. And he foreſaw the people of the Jews from this time forward growing more and more obdurate and blind every day than other, reſiſting the counſel of the Prophets, and ſo obſtructing the means God afforded them for their converſion and healing, Iſa. 6. Jotham was a great builder, he built (or renewed and repaired) the high-gate of the houſe of the Lord, which was (as it ſeems) the Gate whereby they went into the Kings Palace, 2 Chron. 23.20. And on the wall of Ophel *Ophel was a Tower on the outſide of the City, and was the place where in thoſe times the Nethinims dwelt, Nehem. 3.26.he built much. He built alſo divers Cities in the hills of Judah, and in the Forreſts he built Caſtles and Towers to prevent incurſions of enemies.
He ſubdued the Ammonites, and forced them to pay him tribute by the ſpace of three years, viz. an hundred talents of ſilver, and of wheat and barley ten thouſand meaſures of each. So he became mighty becauſe he ordered his counſels and actions as in the ſight of the Lord, and ſo as he might pleaſe him.
The Prophet MICAH.In his days the Prophet Micah began to Propheſie, and under him and his two next ſucceſſors he executed his Prophetick function together with Iſaiah and Hoſea. He propheſied a great while as appears Jer. 26.18. He is very like the Prophet Iſaiah both in matter and loftineſs of ſtile. He propheſied both againſt Judah and Iſrael. He declareth Gods wrath againſt them, he laments their condition, and foretells their deſtruction and captivities by the Aſſyrians and Babylonians, for the manifold ſins that all ſorts had committed, viz. Princes, Prophets and people, Ch. 1.2. & 3. Then he comforteth thoſe that repent with promiſes of temporal bleſſings and deliverances from their enemies, but chiefly with promiſes and predictions of Chriſt, foretelling the place of his nativity, and the manifold bleſſings of his Kingdom, Ch. 4. & 5. In the next place he expoſtulates with all ſorts for their ſo ill requiting Gods great kindneſs and mercy to them, and provoking him ſo highly by their manifold ſins, Ch. 6. Then he complains of the paucity and ſcarceneſs of good men; and he endeth his Propheſie with conſolations to the Church exhorting her to expect Gods time to plead her cauſe to the ſhame of her inſulting enemies, and her own marvellous comfort, Ch. 7.
Towards the latter end of Jotham's reign Rezin King of Syria, and Pekah King of Iſrael began to conſpire againſt Judah, but they did not invade the land till his Sons days, the Lord therein ſhewing mercy to him in taking him away before thoſe heavy calamities fell upon Judah. He was buried in the City of David, and Ahaz his Son reigned in his ſtead.
2 King. 15. from 32, to the end.
2 Chron. 27. whole Chapter.