In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even amidst the seemingly endless cycles of kings and their deeds, this verse subtly highlights a moment of potential stability and righteous leadership. Jotham's reign in Judah begins here, and unlike many of his successors, his story in the following verses is marked by relative faithfulness and a focus on building up the kingdom, offering a brief breath of good news in a often dark historical narrative.
In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse kicks off a section detailing the kings of Judah and Israel, acting as a chronological marker between accounts of more prominent rulers. It sets the stage for the reigns of Jotham in Judah and Pekah in Israel, bridging the narratives of their fathers, Uzziah and Menahem, and setting up the prophetic ministry of Isaiah during this period. This quiet introductory verse grounds the following chapters in a specific historical moment, highlighting a time of relative stability in Judah under Jotham before the greater challenges to come.
Have you ever noticed how history books can feel like a blur of names and dates? This verse is a perfect example, listing kings and years. But there's a deeper story here about two nations drifting apart.
Two Kingdoms, One Divided History
This verse places us in a specific moment where the kings of Judah and Israel are named. It's easy to skim over, but it highlights a critical reality: the unified kingdom of Israel had split into two separate nations generations earlier.
This division wasn't just political; it had profound spiritual implications. The Northern Kingdom of Israel often strayed from God's covenant, while Judah, though also struggling, had a more consistent connection to the Davidic line and the Temple in Jerusalem.
This verse marks a time when both kingdoms are mentioned, underscoring their distinct existence and foreshadowing future conflicts and separate destinies.
Why bother listing king after king, especially when many seem to have done wicked things? The genealogies and reigns mentioned in Scripture are more than just historical markers; they point to God's faithfulness.
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God's Promises in Royal Succession
The mention of "Jotham the son of Uzziah" and "Pekah the son of Remaliah" isn't just a history lesson. It's a way of tracking God's covenant promises through the messiness of human history.
These royal names anchor the biblical narrative, showing how God works through flawed human leadership to accomplish His purposes and remain true to His word, even as nations rise and fall.
This verse marks the beginning of a co-regency, placing Jotham of Judah on the throne alongside his powerful father Uzziah, while simultaneously indicating a king, Pekah, in a Northern Kingdom of Israel that was teetering on the brink of Assyrian conquest and internal upheaval.
c. 786-746 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II in Israel
Jeroboam II's long and prosperous reign brought a period of stability and expansion to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
c. 791-739 BC
Reign of Uzziah in Judah
Uzziah (also known as Azariah) was a powerful and long-reigning king of Judah, known for his military successes and building projects.
c. 752-732 BC— this verse
Reign of Jotham in Judah
Jotham officially began his reign as co-regent with his father Uzziah, and later ruled independently, continuing his father's positive legacy.
c. 752-732 BC— this verse
Reign of Pekah in Israel
Pekah ruled as king of Israel during a tumultuous period, marked by Assyrian encroachment and internal instability.
734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel attempted to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian alliance, attacking Jerusalem when it refused.
732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Israel
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria conquered significant parts of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many citizens and deposing Pekah.
This verse immediately precedes the passage about Jotham's father, Uzziah, and sets the stage for Jotham's reign by mentioning his father's rule.
2 Kings 15:1-7This section provides the broader context for Jotham's reign, detailing the reigns of kings in Judah and Israel during this turbulent period.
2 Chronicles 27:1-9This parallel account in Chronicles offers a more detailed and positive perspective on Jotham's reign, highlighting his righteousness and the prosperity that followed.
Jeremiah 26:20This later prophetic passage mentions Uriah the priest, who was a contemporary of Jotham, showing how his influence extended beyond his immediate reign.
Even amidst the seemingly endless cycles of kings and their deeds, this verse subtly highlights a moment of potential stability and righteous leadership. Jotham's reign in Judah begins here, and unlike many of his successors, his story in the following verses is marked by relative faithfulness and a focus on building up the kingdom, offering a brief breath of good news in a often dark historical narrative.
This verse kicks off a section detailing the kings of Judah and Israel, acting as a chronological marker between accounts of more prominent rulers. It sets the stage for the reigns of Jotham in Judah and Pekah in Israel, bridging the narratives of their fathers, Uzziah and Menahem, and setting up the prophetic ministry of Isaiah during this period. This quiet introductory verse grounds the following chapters in a specific historical moment, highlighting a time of relative stability in Judah under Jotham before the greater challenges to come.
This verse kicks off a section detailing the kings of Judah and Israel, acting as a chronological marker between accounts of more prominent rulers. It sets the stage for the reigns of Jotham in Judah and Pekah in Israel, bridging the narratives of their fathers, Uzziah and Menahem, and setting up the prophetic ministry of Isaiah during this period. This quiet introductory verse grounds the following chapters in a specific historical moment, highlighting a time of relative stability in Judah under Jotham before the greater challenges to come.
"In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign." — Even amidst the seemingly endless cycles of kings and their deeds, this verse subtly highlights a moment of potential stability and righteous leadership. Jotham's reign in Judah begins here, and unli…
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Last reviewed October 2026