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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 26
2Ch 26:1-8. Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah and Reigns Well in the Days of Zechariah.
1. Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah—(See on 2Ki 14:21; 2Ki 15:1).
2. He built Eloth—or, "He it was who built Eloth." The account of the fortifications of this port on the Red Sea, which Uzziah restored to the kingdom of Judah (2Ch 33:13), is placed before the chronological notices (2Ch 26:3), either on account of the importance attached to the conquest of Eloth, or from the desire of the historian to introduce Uzziah as the king, who was known as the conqueror of Eloth. Besides, it indicates that the conquest occurred in the early part of his reign, that it was important as a port, and that Hebrew merchants maintained the old trade between it and the countries of the East [Bertheau].
5. he sought God in the days of Zechariah—a wise and pious counsellor, who was skilled in understanding the meaning and lessons of the ancient prophecies, and who wielded a salutary influence over Uzziah.
6, 7. he went forth and warred against the Philistines—He overcame them in many engagements—dismantled their towns, and erected fortified cities in various parts of the country, to keep them in subjection.
Jabneh—the same as Jabneel (Jos 15:11).
7. Gur-baal—thought by some to be Gerar, and by others Gebal.
8. the Ammonites gave gifts—The countries east of the Jordan became tributary to him, and by the rapid succession and extent of his victories, his kingdom was extended to the Egyptian frontier.
2Ch 26:9, 10. His Buildings.
9. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem, &c.—whence resistance could be made, or missiles discharged against assailants. The sites of the principal of these towers were: at the corner gate (2Ch 25:23), the northwest corner of the city; at the valley gate on the west, where the Joppa gate now is; at the "turning"—a curve in the city wall on the eastern side of Zion. The town, at this point, commanded the horse gate which defended Zion and the temple hill on the southeast [Bertheau].
10. Also he built towers in the desert—for the threefold purpose of defense, of observation, and of shelter to his cattle. He dug also a great many wells, for he loved and encouraged all branches of agriculture. Some of these "were in the desert," that is, in the district to the southeast of Jerusalem, on the west of the Dead Sea, an extensive grazing district "in the low country" lying between the mountains of Judah and the Mediterranean; "and in the plains," east of the Jordan, within the territory of Reuben (De 4:43; Jos 20:8).
in Carmel—This mountain, being within the boundary of Israel, did not belong to Uzziah; and as it is here placed in opposition to the vine-bearing mountains, it is probably used, not as a proper name, but to signify, as the word denotes, "fruitful fields" (Margin).
2Ch 26:11-15. His Host, and Engines of War.
11-15. an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands—He raised a strong body of militia, divided into companies or regiments of uniform size, which served in rotation. The enumeration was performed by two functionaries expert in the drawing up of military muster-rolls, under the superintendence of Hananiah, one of the high officers of the crown. The army consisted of 307,500 picked men, under the command of two thousand gallant officers, chiefs or heads of fathers' houses, so that each father's house formed a distinct band. They were fully equipped with every kind of military accoutrements, from brazen helmets, a habergeon or coat of mail, to a sling for stones.
15. he made … engines, invented by cunning men … to shoot arrows and great stones—This is the first notice that occurs in history of the use of machines for throwing projectiles. The invention is apparently ascribed to the reign of Uzziah, and Pliny expressly says they originated in Syria.
he was marvellously helped till he was strong—He conducted himself as became the viceroy of the Divine King, and prospered.
2Ch 26:16-21. He Invades the Priest's Office, and Is Smitten with Leprosy.
16-21. he transgressed against the Lord, &c.—(See on 2Ki 15:5). This daring and wicked act is in both records traced to the intoxicating influence of overweening pride and vanity. But here the additional circumstances are stated, that his entrance was opposed, and strong remonstrances made (1Ch 6:10) by the high priest, who was accompanied by eighty inferior priests. Rage and threats were the only answers he deigned to return, but God took care to vindicate the sacredness of the priestly office. At the moment the king lifted the censer, He struck him with leprosy. The earthquake mentioned (Am 1:1) is said to have been felt at the moment [Josephus].
21. dwelt in a several house—in an infirmary [Bertheau].
23. they buried him … in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings—He was interred not in, but near, the sepulcher of the kings, as the corpse of a leper would have polluted it.