מלכים ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק ל״ה

The reign of King Jotham presents a sharp contrast between the everyday habits of the nation and the personal righteousness of their leader. While Jotham dedicated himself to the Temple, the people maintained their own independent places of worship. They continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense at the high places throughout the land. Even though these offerings were genuinely directed toward God, the practice of using these unauthorized altars remained widespread [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Standing apart from the general population and unlike many other rulers, Jotham was uniquely flawless in his dedication to God. He was known for his profound humility, which deeply shaped the way he governed. When his father, King Uzziah, was afflicted with leprosy, Jotham stepped in to lead the nation. Yet, for the remainder of his father's life, Jotham only judged the people in his father's name, respectfully refusing to claim the royal crown for himself [חומת אנך].

Jotham's positive legacy was firmly established through his physical contributions to the Temple, specifically his work on the upper gate that connected the royal palace to the holy grounds. The primary approach among commentators is that he did not construct this entrance from scratch, as it had already been standing since the era of King Solomon. Instead, his building efforts involved taking the existing framework and expanding it into a much larger, more impressive structure. Alternatively, the original gate may have collapsed, prompting Jotham to completely rebuild it [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. This extensive renovation was so significant that it likely became the very same entrance the prophet Jeremiah would later call the new gate of God [מצודת דוד].