Queen Jerusha, daughter of Zadok, was the wife of King Azariah (r. 792-740 BC), and mother of King Jotham of Judah (r. 750-732 BC).
Her father, Zadok, is recorded to be a descendant of Eleazar the son of Aaron.
After King Solomon (r. 971-931 BC) built the First Temple in Jerusalem, Zadok was the first High Priest to serve there.
Around 586 BC, the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605-562 BC) took King Jehoiachin of Judah (r. 597 BC) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother (Queen Neshushta), his wives, his officials and the prominent people of the land. The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of fighting men, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans. He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 BC), king of Persia, issued a proclamation that the exiled Jews return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.
Among the priests who returned were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jakin, Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub. Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.
Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, who was the son of King Jehoiachin, returned to the Kingdom of Judah after the exile and functioned as the governor of Jerusalem under King Darius I (r. 521-486 BC).
Queen Jerusha’s husband, Azariah (Uzziah), was the son of King Amaziah of Judah (r. 796-767 BC) and Queen Jehoaddin. Like his father before him, King Amaziah, whose wife was Queen Jecoliah, was assassinated.
Their son, King Jotham (r. 750-732 BC) succeeded him as king. Jotham became governor of the palace and the land at while his father lived in a separate house as a leper. He became sole ruler c. 740, until the end of his reign.
Jotham began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Pekah of Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years.
A seal bearing Jotham’s name was found at Elath. The first mention of Elath, following the Exodus, states that “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.”
Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his men—sailors who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men.
Centuries later, Jesus would be crucified in Jerusalem (c. 33 AD).
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Like this post? Stop by and read “Queen Jecoliah: Wife of King Amaziah and Mother of King Azariah (Uzziah).” Her son, Azariah (r. 792-740 BC), succeeded King Amaziah of Judah.
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