1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
11 Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor were two thousand and six hundred.
13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honor from the LORD God.
19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
1 Then all the people H5971 of Judah H3063 took H3947 Uzziah, H5818 who was sixteen H8337 H6240 years H8141 old, H1121 and made him king H4427 in the room of his father H1 Amaziah. H558
2 He built H1129 Eloth, H359 and restored H7725 it to Judah, H3063 after H310 that the king H4428 slept H7901 with his fathers. H1
3 Sixteen H8337 H6240 years H8141 old H1121 was Uzziah H5818 when he began to reign, H4427 and he reigned H4427 fifty H2572 and two H8147 years H8141 in Jerusalem. H3389 His mother's H517 name H8034 also was Jecoliah H3203 of Jerusalem. H3389
4 And he did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 according to all that his father H1 Amaziah H558 did. H6213
5 And he sought H1875 God H430 in the days H3117 of Zechariah, H2148 who had understanding H995 in the visions H7200 of God: H430 and as long as H3117 he sought H1875 the LORD, H3068 God H430 made him to prosper. H6743
6 And he went forth H3318 and warred H3898 against the Philistines, H6430 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Gath, H1661 and the wall H2346 of Jabneh, H2996 and the wall H2346 of Ashdod, H795 and built H1129 cities H5892 about Ashdod, H795 and among the Philistines. H6430
7 And God H430 helped H5826 him against the Philistines, H6430 and against the Arabians H6163 that dwelt H3427 in Gurbaal, H1485 and the Mehunims. H4586
8 And the Ammonites H5984 gave H5414 gifts H4503 to Uzziah: H5818 and his name H8034 spread abroad H3212 even to the entering H935 in of Egypt; H4714 for he strengthened H2388 himself exceedingly. H4605
9 Moreover Uzziah H5818 built H1129 towers H4026 in Jerusalem H3389 at the corner H6438 gate, H8179 and at the valley H1516 gate, H8179 and at the turning H4740 of the wall, and fortified H2388 them.
10 Also he built H1129 towers H4026 in the desert, H4057 and digged H2672 many H7227 wells: H953 for he had much H7227 cattle, H4735 both in the low country, H8219 and in the plains: H4334 husbandmen H406 also, and vine dressers H3755 in the mountains, H2022 and in Carmel: H3760 for he loved H157 husbandry. H127
11 Moreover Uzziah H5818 had an host H2428 of fighting H4421 men, H6213 that went out H3318 to war H6635 by bands, H1416 according to the number H4557 of their account H6486 by the hand H3027 of Jeiel H3273 the scribe H5608 and Maaseiah H4641 the ruler, H7860 under the hand H3027 of Hananiah, H2608 one of the king's H4428 captains. H8269
12 The whole number H4557 of the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of the mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 were two thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967
13 And under their hand H3027 was an army, H2428 H6635 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 that made H6213 war H4421 with mighty H2428 power, H3581 to help H5826 the king H4428 against the enemy. H341
14 And Uzziah H5818 prepared H3559 for them throughout all the host H6635 shields, H4043 and spears, H7420 and helmets, H3553 and habergeons, H8302 and bows, H7198 and slings H7050 to cast stones. H68
15 And he made H6213 in Jerusalem H3389 engines, H2810 invented H4284 by cunning men, H2803 to be on the towers H4026 and upon the bulwarks, H6438 to shoot H3384 arrows H2671 and great H1419 stones H68 withal. And his name H8034 spread H3318 far abroad; H7350 for he was marvellously H6381 helped, H5826 till H3588 he was strong. H2388
16 But when he was strong, H2393 his heart H3820 was lifted up H1361 to his destruction: H7843 for he transgressed H4603 against the LORD H3068 his God, H430 and went H935 into the temple H1964 of the LORD H3068 to burn incense H6999 upon the altar H4196 of incense. H7004
17 And Azariah H5838 the priest H3548 went in H935 after H310 him, and with him fourscore H8084 priests H3548 of the LORD, H3068 that were valiant H2428 men: H1121
18 And they withstood H5975 Uzziah H5818 the king, H4428 and said H559 unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, H5818 to burn incense H6999 unto the LORD, H3068 but to the priests H3548 the sons H1121 of Aaron, H175 that are consecrated H6942 to burn incense: H6999 go out H3318 of the sanctuary; H4720 for thou hast trespassed; H4603 neither shall it be for thine honour H3519 from the LORD H3068 God. H430
19 Then Uzziah H5818 was wroth, H2196 and had a censer H4730 in his hand H3027 to burn incense: H6999 and while he was wroth H2196 with the priests, H3548 the leprosy H6883 even rose up H2224 in his forehead H4696 before H6440 the priests H3548 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 from beside the incense H7004 altar. H4196
20 And Azariah H5838 the chief H7218 priest, H3548 and all the priests, H3548 looked H6437 upon him, and, behold, he was leprous H6879 in his forehead, H4696 and they thrust him out H926 from thence; yea, himself hasted H1765 also to go out, H3318 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5060 him.
21 And Uzziah H5818 the king H4428 was a leper H6879 unto the day H3117 of his death, H4194 and dwelt in H3427 a several H2669 H2669 house, H1004 being a leper; H6879 for he was cut off H1504 from the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and Jotham H3147 his son H1121 was over the king's H4428 house, H1004 judging H8199 the people H5971 of the land. H776
22 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Uzziah, H5818 first H7223 and last, H314 did Isaiah H3470 the prophet, H5030 the son H1121 of Amoz, H531 write. H3789
23 So Uzziah H5818 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and they buried H6912 him with his fathers H1 in the field H7704 of the burial H6900 which belonged to the kings; H4428 for they said, H559 He is a leper: H6879 and Jotham H3147 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.
4 And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Jehovah, God made him to prosper.
6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in `the country of' Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim.
8 And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong.
9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning `of the wall', and fortified them.
10 And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: `and he had' husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry.
11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' `houses', even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of Jehovah, that were valiant men:
18 and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto Jehovah, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honor from Jehovah God.
19 Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the altar of incense.
20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
1 And all the people of Judah take Uzziah (and he `is' a son of sixteen years), and cause him to reign instead of his father Amaziah.
2 He hath built Eloth, and restoreth it to Judah after the king's lying with his fathers.
3 A son of sixteen years `is' Uzziah in his reigning, and fifty and two years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother `is' Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4 And he doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that Amaziah his father did,
5 and he is as one seeking God in the days of Zechariah who hath understanding in visions of God: and in the days of his seeking Jehovah, God hath caused him to prosper.
6 And he goeth forth, and fighteth with the Philistines, and breaketh down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and buildeth cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And God helpeth him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who are dwelling in Gur-Baal and the Mehunim.
8 And the Ammonites give a present to Uzziah, and his name goeth unto the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened himself greatly.
9 And Uzziah buildeth towers in Jerusalem, by the gate of the corner, and by the gate of the valley, and by the angle, and strengtheneth them;
10 and he buildeth towers in the wilderness, and diggeth many wells, for he had much cattle, both in the low country and in the plain, husbandmen and vine-dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel; for he was a lover of the ground.
11 And Uzziah hath a force, making war, going forth to the host, by troops, in the number of their reckoning by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Masseiah the officer, by the hand of Hananiah `one' of the heads of the king.
12 The whole number of heads of the fathers of the mighty ones of valour `is' two thousand and six hundred;
13 and by their hand `is' the force of the host, three hundred thousand, and seven thousand, and five hundred warriors, with mighty power to give help to the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepareth for them, for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, even to stones of the slings.
15 And he maketh in Jerusalem inventions -- a device of an inventor -- to be on the towers, and on the corners, to shoot with arrows and with great stones, and his name goeth out unto a distance, for he hath been wonderfully helped till that he hath been strong.
16 And at his being strong his heart hath been high unto destruction, and he trespasseth against Jehovah his God, and goeth in unto the temple of Jehovah to make perfume upon the altar of perfume.
17 And Azariah the priest goeth in after him, and with him priests of Jehovah eighty, sons of valour,
18 and they stand up against Uzziah the king, and say to him, `Not for thee, O Uzziah, to make perfume to Jehovah, but for priests, sons of Aaron, who are sanctified to make perfume; go forth from the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and `it is' not to thee for honour from Jehovah God.'
19 And Uzziah is wroth, and in his hand `is' a censer to make perfume, and in his being wroth with the priests -- the leprosy hath risen in his forehead, before the priests, in the house of Jehovah, from beside the altar of perfume.
20 And Azariah the head priest looketh unto him, and all the priests, and lo, he `is' leprous in his forehead, and they hasten him thence, and also he himself hath hastened to go out, for Jehovah hath plagued him.
21 And Uzziah the king is a leper unto the day of his death, and inhabiteth a separate house -- a leper, for he hath been cut off from the house of Jehovah, and Jotham his son `is' over the house of the king, judging the people of the land.
22 And the rest of the matters of Uzziah, the first and the last, hath Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet written;
23 and Uzziah lieth with his fathers, and they bury him with his fathers, in the field of the burying-place that the kings have, for they said, `He `is' a leper;' and reign doth Jotham his son in his stead.
1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
2 It was he that built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and in the days that he sought Jehovah, God made him to prosper.
6 And he went forth and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-Baal, and the Maonites.
8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad to the entrance of Egypt; for he became exceeding strong.
9 And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the angle, and fortified them.
10 And he built towers in the desert and digged many cisterns; for he had much cattle, both in the lowland and on the plateau, husbandmen [also] and vinedressers on the mountains and in Carmel; for he loved husbandry.
11 And Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the chief fathers of the mighty men of valour was two thousand six hundred.
13 And under their hand was an army-host of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy.
14 And Uzziah prepared for them, throughout the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and even slinging-stones.
15 And he made in Jerusalem machines invented by skilful men, to be upon the towers and upon the bulwarks, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he became strong.
16 But when he became strong his heart was lifted up to [his] downfall; and he transgressed against Jehovah his God, and went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him priests of Jehovah, eighty valiant men;
18 and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It is not for thee, Uzziah, to burn incense to Jehovah, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed; neither shall it be for thine honour from Jehovah Elohim.
19 And Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; even he himself hasted to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him.
21 And Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah. And Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 And the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz write.
23 And Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the burial-ground of the kings, for they said, He is a leper. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.
4 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper.
6 He went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in [the country of] Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
8 The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong.
9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the wall], and fortified them.
10 He built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: [and he had] farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming.
11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' [houses], even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
13 Under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
15 He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong.
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17 Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were valiant men:
18 and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It pertains not to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from Yahweh God.
19 Then Uzziah was angry; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
20 Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
21 Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
2 He was the builder of Eloth, which he got back for Judah after the death of the king.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he was ruling in Jerusalem for fifty-two years; his mother's name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.
4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Amaziah had done.
5 He gave himself to searching after God in the days of Zechariah, who made men wise in the fear of God; and as long as he was true to the Lord, God made things go well for him.
6 He went out and made war against the Philistines, pulling down the walls of Gath and Jabneh and Ashdod, and building towns in the country round Ashdod and among the Philistines.
7 And God gave him help against the Philistines, and against the Arabians living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunim.
8 The Ammonites gave offerings to Uzziah: and news of him went out as far as the limit of Egypt; for he became very great in power.
9 Uzziah made towers in Jerusalem, at the doorway in the angle and at the doorway in the valley and at the turn of the wall, arming them.
10 And he put up towers in the waste land and made places for storing water, for he had much cattle, in the low hills and in the table land; and he had farmers and vine-keepers in the mountains and in the fertile land, for he was a lover of farming.
11 In addition, Uzziah had an army of fighting-men who went out to war in bands, as they had been listed by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The heads of families, the strong men of war, were two thousand, six hundred.
13 And under their orders was a trained army of three hundred and seven thousand, five hundred, of great strength in war, helping the king against any who came against him.
14 And Uzziah had all these forces armed with body-covers and spears and head-covers and coats of metal and bows and stones for sending from leather bands.
15 And in Jerusalem he made machines, the invention of expert men, to be placed on the towers and angles of the walls for sending arrows and great stones. And his name was honoured far and wide; for he was greatly helped till he was strong.
16 But when he had become strong, his heart was lifted up in pride, causing his destruction; and he did evil against the Lord his God; for he went into the Temple of the Lord for the purpose of burning perfumes on the altar of perfumes.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty of the Lord's priests, who were strong men;
18 And they made protests to Uzziah the king, and said to him, The burning of perfumes, Uzziah, is not your business but that of the priests, the sons of Aaron, who have been made holy for this work: go out of the holy place, for you have done wrong, and it will not be to your honour before God.
19 Then Uzziah was angry; and he had in his hand a vessel for burning perfume; and while his wrath was bitter against the priests, the mark of the leper's disease came out on his brow, before the eyes of the priests in the house of the Lord by the altar of perfumes.
20 And Azariah, the chief priest, and all the priests, looking at him, saw the mark of the leper on his brow, and they sent him out quickly and he himself went out straight away, for the Lord's punishment had come on him.
21 So King Uzziah was a leper till the day of his death, living separately in his private house; for he was cut off from the house of God; and Jotham his son was ruling over his house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, were recorded by Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
23 So Uzziah went to rest with his fathers; and they put his body into the earth in the field used for the resting-place of the kings, for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son became king in his place.
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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
The statements as to Uzziah's attainment of dominion, the building of the seaport town Elath on the Red Sea, the length and character of his reign (2 Chronicles 26:1-4), agree entirely with 2 Kings 14:21-22, and 2 Kings 15:2-3; see the commentary on these passages. Uzziah ( עזּיּהוּ ) is called in 1 Chronicles 3:12 and in 2 Kings (generally) Azariah ( עזריה ); cf. on the use of the two names, the commentary on 2 Kings 14:21. - In 2 Chronicles 26:5, instead of the standing formula, “only the high places were not removed,” etc.) Kings), Uzziah's attitude towards the Lord is more exactly defined thus: “He was seeking God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God; and in the days when he sought Jahve, God gave him success.” In לדרשׁ ויהי the infinitive with ל is subordinated to היה , to express the duration of his seeking, for which the participle is elsewhere used. Nothing further is known of the Zechariah here mentioned: the commentators hold him to have been an important prophet; for had he been a priest, or the high priest, probably הכּהן would have been used. The reading האלהים בּראות (Keth.) is surprising. ה המּבין ב can only denote, who had insight into (or understanding for the) seeing of God; cf. Daniel 1:17. But Kimchi's idea, which other old commentators share, that this is a periphrasis to denote the prophetic endowment or activity of the man, is opposed by this, that “the seeing of God” which was granted to the elders of Israel at the making of the covenant, Exodus 24:10, cannot be regarded as a thing within the sphere of human action or practice, while the prophetic beholding in vision is essentially different from the seeing of God, and is, moreover, never so called. בראות would therefore seem to be an orthographical error for ביראת , some MSS having ביראות or ביראת (cf. de Rossi, variae lectt .); and the lxx, Syr., Targ., Arab., Raschi, Kimchi, and others giving the reading בּיראת ה המּבין , who was a teacher (instructor) in the fear of God, in favour of which also Vitringa, proll. in Jes. p. 4, has decided.
Wars, buildings, and army of Uzziah . - Of the successful undertakings by which Uzziah raised the kingdom of Judah to greater worldly power and prosperity, nothing is said in the book of Kings; but the fact itself is placed beyond all doubt, for it is confirmed by the portrayal of the might and greatness of Judah in the prophecies of Isaiah (Isa 2-4), which date from the times of Uzziah and Jotham.
2 Chronicles 26:6
After Uzziah had, in the very beginning of his reign, completed the subjection of the Edomites commenced by his father by the capture and fortification of the seaport Elath (2 Chronicles 26:2), he took the field to chastise the Philistines and Arabians, who had under Joram made an inroad upon Judah and plundered Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 21:16.). In the war against the Philistines he broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod (i.e., after capturing these cities), and built cities in Ashdod, i.e., in the domain of Ashdod, and בּפּלשׁתּים , i.e., in other domains of the Philistines, whence we gather that he had wholly subdued Philistia. The city of Gath had been already taken from the Philistines by David; see 1 Chronicles 18:1; and as to situation, see on 1 Chronicles 11:8. Jabneh, here named for the first time, but probably occurring in Joshua 15:11 under the name Jabneel, is often mentioned under the name Jamnia in the books of the Maccabees and in Josephus. It is now a considerable village, Jebnah, four hours south of Joppa, and one and a half hours from the sea; see on Joshua 15:11. Ashdod is now a village called Esdud; see on Joshua 13:3.
2 Chronicles 26:7
As against the Philistines, so also against the Arabians, who dwelt in Gur-baal, God helped him, and against the Maanites, so that he overcame them and made them tributary. Gur-baal occurs only here, and its position is unknown. According to the Targum, the city Gerar is supposed to be intended; Lxx translate ἐπὶ τῆς Πέτρας , having probably had the capital city of the Edomites, Petra, in their thoughts. The מעוּנים are the inhabitants of Maan; see on 1 Chronicles 4:41.
2 Chronicles 26:8
And the Ammonites also paid him tribute ( מנחה ), and his name spread abroad even to the neighbourhood of Egypt; i.e., in this connection, not merely that his fame spread abroad to that distance, but that the report of his victorious power reached so far, he having extended his rule to near the frontiers of Egypt, for he was exceedingly powerful. החזיק , to show power, as in Daniel 11:7.
2 Chronicles 26:9
In order enduringly to establish the power of his kingdom, he still more strongly fortified Jerusalem by building towers at the gates, and the wall of the citadel. At the corner gate, i.e., at the north-west corner of the city (see on 2 Chronicles 25:23 and 2 Kings 14:13), and at the valley gate, i.e., on the west side, where the Jaffa gate now is. From these sides Jerusalem was most open to attack. המּקצוע , at the corner, i.e., according to Nehemiah 3:19., Nehemiah 3:24., on the east side of Zion, at the place where the wall of Zion crossed over at an angle to the Ophel, and joined itself to the south wall of the temple hill, so that the tower at this corner defended both Zion and the temple hill against attack from the valley to the south-east. ויחזּקם , he made them (there) strong or firm; not, he put them in a condition of defence (Berth.), although the making strong was for that end.
2 Chronicles 26:10
Moreover, Uzziah took measures for the defence of his herds, which formed one main part of his revenues and wealth. He built towers in the wilderness, in the steppe-lands on the west side of the Dead Sea, so well fitted for cattle-breeding (i.e., in the wilderness of Judah), to protect the herds against the attacks of the robber peoples of Edom and Arabia. And he dug many wells to water the cattle; “for he had much cattle” in the wilderness just mentioned, and “in the lowland” ( Shephelah ) on the Mediterranean Sea (see 1 Chronicles 27:28), and “in the plain” ( מישׁור ), i.e., the flat land on the east side of the Dead Sea, extending from Arnon to near Heshbon in the north, and to the northeast as far as Rabbath Ammon (see on Deuteronomy 3:10), i.e., the tribal land of Reuben, which accordingly at that time belonged to Judah. Probably it had been taken from the Israelites by the Moabites and Ammonites, and reconquered from them by Uzziah, and incorporated with his kingdom; for, according to 2 Chronicles 26:8, he had made the Ammonites tributary; cf. on 1 Chronicles 5:17. Husbandmen and vine-dressers had he in the mountains and upon Carmel, for he loved husbandry. After וגו אכּרים , לו היוּ is to be supplied. אדמה , the land, which is cultivated, stands here for agriculture. As to Carmel, see on Joshua 19:26.
His army. He had a host of fighting men that went out to war by bands ( לגדוּד , in bands), “in the number of their muster by Jeiel the scribe, and Maaseiah the steward ( שׁטר ), under Hananiah, one of the king's captains.” The meaning is: that the mustering by which the host was arranged in bands or detachments for war service, was undertaken by ( בּיד ) two officials practised in writing and the making up of lists, who were given as assistants to Hananiah, one of the princes of the kingdom ( יד על ), or placed at his disposal.
2 Chronicles 26:12-13
The total number of the heads of the fathers'-houses in valiant heroes ( לגבּורי with ל of subordination) was 2600, and under these ( ידם על , to their hand, i.e., subordinate to them) an army of 307,500 warriors with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. The army was consequently divided according to the fathers'-houses, so that probably each father's-house formed a detachment ( גּדוּד ) led by the most valiant among them.
2 Chronicles 26:14
Uzziah supplied this force with the necessary weapons-shield, lance, helmet, and coat of mail, bows and sling-stones. להם is more closely defined by לכל .
Besides this, he provided Jerusalem with machines for defence on the towers and battlements. חשּׁבנות from השּׁבון , literally excogitata , i.e., machinae , with the addition “invention of the artificers,” are ingenious machines, and as we learn from the following וגו לירוא , slinging machines, similar or corresponding to the catapultae and ballistae of the Romans, by which arrows were shot and great stones propelled. Thus his name spread far abroad (cf. 2 Chronicles 26:8), for he was marvellously helped till he was strong.
Uzziah's pride, and chastisement by leprosy. His death and burial . - The fact that the Lord smote Uzziah with leprosy, which continued until his death, so that he was compelled to dwell in a hospital, and to allow his son Jotham to conduct the government, is narrated also in 2 Kings 15:5; but the cause of this punishment inflicted on him by God is stated only in our verses.
2 Chronicles 26:16
“When Uzziah had become mighty ( כּחזקתו as in 2 Chronicles 12:1), his heart was lifted up (in pride) unto destructive deeds.” He transgressed against Jahve his God, and came into the sanctuary of Jahve to offer incense upon the altar of incense. With a lofty feeling of his power, Uzziah wished to make himself high priest of his kingdom, like the kings of Egypt and of other nations, whose kings were also summi pontifices , and to unite all power in his person, like Moses, who consecrated Aaron and his sons to be priests. Then. and Ewald, indeed, think that the powerful Uzziah wished merely to restore the high-priesthood exercised by David and Solomon; but though both these kings did indeed arrange and conduct religious festal solemnities, yet they never interfered in any way with the official duties reserved for the priests by the law. The arrangement of a religious solemnity, the dedicatory prayer at the dedication of the temple, and the offering of sacrifices, are not specifically priestly functions, as the service by the altars, and the entering into the holy place of the temple, and other sacrificial acts were.
2 Chronicles 26:17-20
The king's purpose was consequently opposed by the high priest Azariah and eighty priests, valiant men, who had the courage to represent to him that to burn incense to the Lord did not appertain to the king, but only to the sanctified Aaronite priests; but the king, with the censer in his hand, was angry, and the leprosy suddenly broke out upon his forehead. When the priests saw the leprosy, they removed the king immediately from the holy place; and Uzziah himself also hurried to go forth, because Jahve had smitten him; for he recognised in the sudden breaking out of the leprosy a punishment from God. Azariah is called הראשׁ כּהן , i.e., a high priest, and is in all probability the same person as the high priest mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:10 (see on the passage). לכבוד לך לא , “It (the offering of incense) is not for thine honour before Jahve.” זעף , to foam up in anger. וּבזעפּו , and while he foamed against the priests, i.e., was hot against them, the leprosy had broken out. מעל־למּזבּח , from by = near, the altar. Thus was Uzziah visited with the same punishment, for his haughty disregard of the divinely appointed privileges of the priesthood, as was once inflicted upon Miriam for her rebellion against the prerogatives assigned to Moses by God (Numbers 12:10).
2 Chronicles 26:21
But Uzziah had to bear his punishment until his death, and dwelt the rest of his life in a separate house, while his son conducted the government for him. This is also recorded in 2 Kings 15:5 (cf. for החפשׁית בּית the commentary on that passage). The reason of the separation of the king from intercourse with others, by his dwelling in the hospital, is given in the Chronicle in the words: “for he was cut off (shut out) from the house of Jahve.” This reason can only mean, that because he, as a leper, was shut out from the house of the Lord, he could not live in fellowship with the people of God, but must dwell in a separate house. For the rest, we cannot exactly say how long Uzziah continued to live under the leprosy; but from the fact that his son Jotham, who at Uzziah's death was twenty-five years old, conducted the government for him, so much is clear, viz., that it can only have lasted a year or two.
2 Chronicles 26:22
The history of his reign was written by the prophet Isaiah (see the Introduction).
At his death, Uzziah, having died in leprosy, was not buried in the graves of the kings, but only in the neighbourhood of them, in the burial-field which belonged to the kings, that his body might not defile the royal graves.