2 Ch. 27: Jotham City

2 Chronicles 27:6 "Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God."

Jotham takes over for Uzziah. He took over at 16, probably because leprosy finally made his old man virtually useless on the throne. Jotham is an infrastructure man as well...rebuilding walls and cities and stuff. He actually improved on his dad's record, as Jotham didn't venture into the temple to try to do the priests' job. 

What's interesting here, is that the scripture says that the people continued their corrupt practices. Did the people finally stop being the sheep they usually were and do their own thing? Albeit evil, apparently, the king had a lesser influence on them? I'm curious as to what these corrupt practices were. Was it the judges? The authorities? Or did street crime jump to Philadelphia type levels? 2 Kings 15 speaks about how the high places were not removed, and people continued to offer sacrifices there. That could be it. So in a way, that is related to Jotham's policies of high-place keeping.

So he conquered the Ammonites, a continual irritant to the Israelites, and conquered them to the point that they brought tribute to Jotham. For at least three years.

The Bible once again attributes a king's success and power to walking steadfastly before God. That's pretty good. But his son Ahaz was a screw up, of course.

2 Ki. 15: As The World Turns

2 Kings 15:29 "In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria." 

This chapter briefly lists several kings of Israel, and a couple kings of Judah. None of them appear to have done anything really noteworthy. They were evil, killed pregnant women, lost a lot of land...you know...generally clowns.

Judah

Azariah (Uzziah) - Took the throne at 16, reigned 52 years. Was apparently good. Didn't remove the high places for offerings. Was afflicted with leprosy, and Jotham took care of the day-to-day operations of the kingshippery. That's a long time to have leprosy. I suppose any length of time is, but...

Jotham - Took the throne at 25, reigned 16 years. What is with these people not removing the high places? That seems to be the one thing keeping a king from having a truly great reign. Succeeded by his son Ahaz.

Israel

Zechariah - Reigned 6 months. Generally evil. This was the fourth and final generation removed from Jehu, as Elisha prophesied. And sure enough, he was assassinated publicly by Shallum, who assumed power.

Shallum - Reigned 1 month. Probably didn't have time to be evil or good, but I would assume he would have been evil, had the brutal Mehahem not overthrown him.

Menahem - Reigned 10 years. Ripped open the pregnant women of Tiphsah because they wouldn't open their gates to his marauders. Menahem was the first democrat, because he taxed the wealthy men. This money was used to pay off Pul, the invading Assyrian king. 

Pekahiah - Reigned 2 years, did evil. Besides his name sounding like someone telling a Black-rumped Flameback what to do, Pekahiah was assassinated in the palace by one of his chief officers, Pekah, who assumed the throne.

Pekah - Reigned 20 years, did evil. Pekah had a lot of trouble with the invading Assyrians. The king, Tiglath-Peliser took a bunch of land, and deported a bunch of land, and deported people to his land. Perhaps a nod to Dt 4:7. Hoshea follows the assassination trend, and kills Pekah, assuming the throne.

So this is the common thread between Israel and Judah. Israel refused to not be like Jeroboam, and Judah wouldn't centralize the offerings and sacrifices. Where were their priests?