The name Jerusha, which signifies “possession” or “the inheritance,” is a name of royal significance in the history of the divided kingdom of Judah. It is attributed to the mother of King Jotham, who was herself the daughter of Zadok.
Jerusha is mentioned in 2 Kings 15:33 and 2 Chronicles 27:1. The scriptural record notes that Jotham reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. While the Bible provides limited personal detail regarding her, her identity as the daughter of Zadok suggests she belonged to a house of significant standing—Zadok being the name of the high priest who remained faithful to David during the rebellion of Absalom. Being the mother of a king who “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD” places her in the vital line of those who helped preserve the influence of the godly within the palace.
Her life is a testament to the fact that the influence of a mother upon a son who sits on the throne can be a pillar of righteousness. In an era when many of the kings of Judah turned away from the Lord, the reign of Jotham is noted for its stability and commitment to the truth, a legacy in which Jerusha undoubtedly played an essential, though quiet, role. Her name, “Inheritance,” carries a beautiful weight: she was part of the heritage of the faithful in Judah, and through her son, she helped ensure that the spiritual inheritance of the Davidic covenant continued to be guarded.
Her presence in the historical text reminds us that behind the public figures who shape the history of a nation, there are often families and households that provide the foundation of faith and character. Though her story is told in the briefest of verses, her role as the mother of a king who sought the Lord is a lasting part of the historical record that God deemed worthy of preservation.