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.
The valley H1516 gate H8179 repaired H2388 Hanun, H2586 and the inhabitants H3427 of Zanoah; H2182 they built H1129 it, and set up H5975 the doors H1817 thereof, the locks H4514 thereof, and the bars H1280 thereof, and a thousand H505 cubits H520 on the wall H2346 unto the dung H830 gate. H8179
And Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Jehoash H3060 the son H1121 of Ahaziah, H274 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 unto the corner H6438 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
And Joash H3101 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz, H3059 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 to the corner H6437 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
And I went out H3318 by night H3915 by the gate H8179 of the valley, H1516 even before H6440 the dragon H8577 well, H5869 H5886 and to the dung H830 port, H8179 and viewed H7663 H7665 the walls H2346 of Jerusalem, H3389 which were broken down, H6555 and the gates H8179 thereof were consumed H398 with fire. H784
Then went I up H5927 in the night H3915 by the brook, H5158 and viewed H7663 H7665 the wall, H2346 and turned back, H7725 and entered H935 by the gate H8179 of the valley, H1516 and so returned. H7725
And next to him H3027 repaired H2388 Ezer H5829 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 the ruler H8269 of Mizpah, H4709 another H8145 piece H4060 over against the going up H5927 to the armoury H5402 at the turning H4740 of the wall. After H310 him Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Zabbai H2079 earnestly H2734 repaired H2388 the other H8145 piece, H4060 from the turning H4740 of the wall unto the door H6607 of the house H1004 of Eliashib H475 the high H1419 priest. H3548
After H310 him repaired H2388 Binnui H1131 the son H1121 of Henadad H2582 another H8145 piece, H4060 from the house H1004 of Azariah H5838 unto the turning H4740 of the wall, even unto the corner. H6438
All the land H776 shall be turned H5437 as a plain H6160 from Geba H1387 to Rimmon H7417 south H5045 of Jerusalem: H3389 and it shall be lifted up, H7213 and inhabited H3427 in her place, from Benjamin's H1144 gate H8179 unto the place H4725 of the first H7223 gate, H8179 unto the corner H6434 gate, H8179 and from the tower H4026 of Hananeel H2606 unto the king's H4428 winepresses. H3342
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.