After the record of the reign of Azariah, the Biblical account continues with the reigns of five kings of Israel, all of whom came to the throne during Azariah’s reign. The last of these, Pekah, began to reign in the 52d year of Azariah (v. 27), the year of Azariah’s death (v. 2). Hence the record now returns to Judah and the reign of Jotham, who succeeded his father Azariah.
To reign.
Jotham had begun to bear the burdens of state when Uzziah was smitten with leprosy and was forced to live in a house by himself (v. 5).