Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
Then. This chapter largely complementary to 2 Kings 15:1-7 .
Uzziah. Another spelling is Azariah. In Chronicles and the Prophets it is usually Uzziah, except in 1 Chronicles 3:12 .
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
king: i.e. Amaziah.
slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
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.
began to reign. 2 Kings 15:1 says he began to reign in the 27th of Jeroboam. This leaves a gap of thirteen years (714-701). See App-50 .
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
right. Compare 2 Chronicles 25:2 and 2 Kings 15:3 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
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.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. with Art. = the [true] God. App-4 .
who had understanding in the visions of God. This is the Figure of speech Periphrasis ( App-6 ) for a prophet.
and. Note: a more or less complete Polysyndeton runs through this account of Uzziah, to emphasize the details.
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.
Jabneh, now " Yebnah ". Between Joppa and Ashdod, on northern boundary of Judah.
cities = fortresses.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.
Mehuniins. See note on 2 Chronicles 20:1 and 1 Chronicles 4:41 .
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
spread abroad. Compare 2 Chronicles 26:15 , and see Structure above.
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.
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.
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.
host = force.
by bands = troops, or for foray.
by the hand = under the direction of.
The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.
chiefs = head.
the mighty men. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .
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.
And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
habergeons = bucklers, or coats of mail.
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 marvellously helped, till he was strong.
engines. The Roman balista, or catapults that would cast stones up to 300 lb. a quarter of a mile.
Cunning. Old Eng. = knowing, or skilful.
marvellously helped: or, marvelled at for being helped.
till he was strong. This is the zone of real danger. When we are weak, then are we strong (2 Corinthians 12:9 , 2 Corinthians 12:10 ; 2 Corinthians 13:4 ).
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.
when he was strong. See note on 2 Chronicles 26:15 .
transgressed. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
valiant men = sons of valour.
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 honour from the LORD God.
consecrated = sanctified, or set apart. See note on Exodus 28:41 .
trespassed. Same word as "transgressed" (2 Chronicles 26:16 ).
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.
was wroth. One of eleven rulers offended with God's faithful servants. See note on Exodus 10:28 .
the leprosy. One of nine so affected. See note on Exodus 4:6 . The death penalty of Numbers 18:7 was thus limited.
in his forehead. In contrast with the high priest's frontlet, "Holiness to Jehovah".
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.
the chief priest. See note on Leviticus 4:3 .
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
himself hasted. As Haman (Esther 6:12 ).
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.
several house = the separate house, or lazar house.
Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
Isaiah. Raised up to prophesy in his reign. Wrote parts of 2 Kings, and his prophecy, Compare 2 Chronicles 32:32 .
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.
slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
the field of the burial. Not in the royal sepulchres.