Jerusha

Background and Family

Jerusha lived during the middle of the 8th century BC, a time when the Kingdom of Judah was experiencing a period of relative prosperity and military strength under the long reign of her husband, Uzziah (also known as Azariah). According to 2 Kings 15:33 and 2 Chronicles 27:1, Jerusha was the daughter of a man named Zadok.

While the text does not explicitly identify this Zadok as a member of the high-priestly family, the name Zadok was historically associated with the line of high priests serving in the Jerusalem Temple. If Jerusha was indeed from a priestly background, her marriage to King Uzziah would have represented a powerful union between the Davidic monarchy and the religious leadership of Jerusalem. Such a connection would have been particularly relevant given Uzziah’s later conflict with the priesthood regarding his attempt to offer incense in the Temple (2 Chronicles 26:16-20).

Major Life Events

No specific biographical events are recorded for Jerusha beyond her role in the royal succession. However, her tenure as the wife of Uzziah would have coincided with one of the most stable periods in Judean history. Her son, Jotham, was twenty-five years old when he began his formal reign, which suggests Jerusha was present during the difficult years when Uzziah was afflicted with leprosy and Jotham served as regent over the palace and judge over the land (2 Kings 15:5).

Upon Jotham’s formal ascension to the throne following Uzziah’s death, Jerusha is officially named as the mother of the king. This title often conferred the status of Gebirah (Great Lady or Queen Mother), a position of significant influence in the Judean court. The mention of her name in 2 Chronicles 27:1 serves to validate Jotham’s credentials as a legitimate successor in the Davidic line.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Jerusha’s primary significance in the biblical narrative is defined by her relationships to three men: her father Zadok, her husband Uzziah, and her son Jotham. Through these connections, she serves as a bridge between generations. By her husband Uzziah, she was part of a reign that saw the expansion of Judah's borders and the fortification of Jerusalem. Through her son Jotham, she is linked to a king who is described as doing "what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 15:34).

Notably, through her son Jotham, Jerusha is an ancestor to the subsequent kings of Judah, including Hezekiah and Josiah, and ultimately appears in the genealogical heritage that leads to the New Testament accounts of the lineage of Jesus Christ, although she is not mentioned by name in the Gospel genealogies.

Spiritual Significance

In the historiography of the Old Testament, the naming of the Queen Mother is rarely incidental. It serves to identify the lineage of the king and, in many cases, implies the influence the mother had on the king’s upbringing and his adherence to the covenant of Yahweh. Since Jotham is characterized as a righteous king who "ordered his ways before the Lord his God" (2 Chronicles 27:6), Jerusha is traditionally viewed by scholars as a figure who likely supported the religious traditions of her people, particularly if her father Zadok belonged to the priestly class.

While the biblical text remains silent on her personal character, her presence in the sacred record ensures that she is remembered as a vital link in the continuity of the Davidic promise during the Divided Monarchy.