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
And the younger, H6810 she also bare H3205 a son, H1121 and called H7121 his name H8034 Benammi: H1151 the same is the father H1 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 unto this day. H3117
And he smote H5221 Moab, H4124 and measured H4058 them with a line, H2256 casting them down H7901 to the ground; H776 even with two H8147 lines H2256 measured H4058 he to put to death, H4191 and with one full H4393 line H2256 to keep alive. H2421 And so the Moabites H4124 became David's H1732 servants, H5650 and brought H5375 gifts. H4503
Also some of the Philistines H6430 brought H935 Jehoshaphat H3092 presents, H4503 and tribute H4853 silver; H3701 and the Arabians H6163 brought H935 him flocks, H6629 seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 rams, H352 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 he goats. H8495
And I will make of thee H6213 a great H1419 nation, H1471 and I will bless H1288 thee, and make H1431 thy name H8034 great; H1431 and thou shalt be a blessing: H1293
And when thou comest nigh H7126 over against H4136 the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 distress H6696 them not, nor meddle H1624 with them: for I will not give H5414 thee of the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any possession; H3425 because I have given H5414 it unto the children H1121 of Lot H3876 for a possession. H3425
And said H559 unto him, Thus saith H559 Jephthah, H3316 Israel H3478 took not away H3947 the land H776 of Moab, H4124 nor the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon: H5983 But when Israel H3478 came up H5927 from Egypt, H4714 and walked H3212 through the wilderness H4057 unto the Red H5488 sea, H3220 and came H935 to Kadesh; H6946 Then Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 saying, H559 Let me, I pray thee, pass through H5674 thy land: H776 but the king H4428 of Edom H123 would not hearken H8085 thereto. And in like manner they sent H7971 unto the king H4428 of Moab: H4124 but he would H14 not consent: and Israel H3478 abode H3427 in Kadesh. H6946 Then they went along H3212 through the wilderness, H4057 and compassed H5437 the land H776 of Edom, H123 and the land H776 of Moab, H4124 and came H935 by the east side H4217 H8121 of the land H776 of Moab, H4124 and pitched H2583 on the other side H5676 of Arnon, H769 but came H935 not within the border H1366 of Moab: H4124 for Arnon H769 was the border H1366 of Moab. H4124
Then Nahash H5176 the Ammonite H5984 came up, H5927 and encamped H2583 against Jabeshgilead: H3003 H1568 and all the men H582 of Jabesh H3003 said H559 unto Nahash, H5176 Make H3772 a covenant H1285 with us, and we will serve H5647 thee.
It came to pass after this H310 also, that the children H1121 of Moab, H4124 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and with them other beside the Ammonites, H5984 came H935 against Jehoshaphat H3092 to battle. H4421
And G2532 his G846 fame G189 went G565 throughout G1519 all G3650 Syria: G4947 and G2532 they brought G4374 unto him G846 all G3956 sick G2560 people G2192 that were taken with G4912 divers G4164 diseases G3554 and G2532 torments, G931 and G2532 those which were possessed with devils, G1139 and G2532 those which were lunatick, G4583 and G2532 those that had the palsy; G3885 and G2532 he healed G2323 them. G846
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.