מלכים ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק ל״ב

The historical narrative shifts its focus to the Kingdom of Judah, marking the beginning of the reign of Jotham, the son of Uzziah [אברבנאל]. The timing of his rise to power aligns specifically with the leadership of the neighboring Kingdom of Israel. Pekah, the king of Israel, took the throne during the fifty-second and final year of Uzziah's life. Because Pekah ruled for one year while the older king was still alive, Jotham inherited the throne exactly at the start of Pekah's second year in power [רד״ק, רלב״ג, מצודת דוד].

As Jotham assumes leadership, he is recognized for following the right path and continuing the righteous legacy of his father. Upon taking power, one of his major achievements was the construction of the Upper Gate of the Temple of God. Even though King Solomon had originally built this gate generations earlier, the accomplishment is directly credited to Jotham. He significantly expanded and beautified the existing structure, transforming it into a much larger and more honorable building than it had been originally [אברבנאל].