2 Chronicles 26

THen all the people of Judah took Uzziah Called also Azariah, 2 King. 14. 21. both Names signifying the same thing; Gods Strength or Help. See of this and v. 2, 3, 4. on 2 King. 14. 21, 22. & 15. 2, 3., who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

Sixteen years old was Uzziah, when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem: his mothers name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did To wit, for a Time, but not perfectly nor constantly, which was Amaziahs Case also..

And he sought God i. e. He persisted in the True Religion and Worship of God. in the days of Zechariah As long as he lived. Compare ch. 24. 2., who had understanding Who was a very knowing and experienced Person. Or, who made him understanding; or, who instructed him; who was his Tutor and Teacher, and had great Authority and Influence upon him; and so restrained from those Exorbitancies to which he was otherwise inclined. in the visions of God Either 1. In Prophetical Visions, which he either received from God himself; or understood and explained the Prophetical Visions of others, which was a special Gift of God: Of which see Gen. 41. 15. Dan. 1. 17. & 2. 19. Or, 2. In the Law and Word of God, which sometimes cometh under that Name, as Prov. 29. 18. and Isa. 22. 1, 5.: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

And he went forth and warred against the Philistins, and brake down the wail of Gath Which had been taken by Hazael in the days of Joash his Grandfather, 2 King. 12. 17. but was either relinquished by him, because it lay so far from his other Dominions: or retaken by the Philistins, who had now repaired its Fortifications, and kept it., and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistins.

And God helped him against the Philistins, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.

And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad, even to the entring in of Egypt, for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

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 Partly to guard his Cattel from the Inroads and depredations which the Arabians were accustomed to make: and partly to give Notice of the Approach of any Enemy, and to give some stop to their March on that Side., and digged many wells, for he had much cattel, 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 army of fightingmen, that went out to war by bands i. e. Some Bands at one time and some at another, as Occasion required. See the Notes on 1 Chron. 27. 1, &c. & 2 Chron. 13. 14., according to the number of their account, by the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maasejah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the kings captains.

The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour, were two thousand and six hundred.

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.

And he made in Jerusalem engins 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.

But when he was strong When he was strengthned in his Kingdom, and free from the fear of any Enemy., his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD Into the Holy place where the Altar of Incense stood, and into which none but the Priests might enter, much less offer Incense., to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

And Azariah the Priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:

And they withstood Uzziah Heb. Stood up against Uzziah, not by force or laying hands upon him to restrain him, for in the next Verse you still find the Censer in his hand; but only by admonition and reproof, which here follows. 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 Expect that God will punish thee, or put some brand of Infamy upon thee for this presumption. But this they express modestly, and by a figure called Meiosis, where more is meant than is expressed, because they considered that he to whom they spake, though an Offender, was their Lord and Soveraign..

Then Uzziah was wroth With the Priests., 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 So as he could not hide his shame though it is probable it was also in the rest of his Body., before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar By a stroke from an invisible hand coming from the Altar; that he might be assured that this was the effect of Gods just displeasure against him..

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 Not by force, as was noted on v. 18. which needed not, for he voluntarily hasted away, as it follows, but by vehement perswasions and denunciations of Gods further Judgments upon him if he did not depart. Some suppose that the Earthquake mentioned Amos 1. 1. Zech. 14. 5. happened upon this occasion, as another token of Gods displeasure against this unparallel'd arrogancy., yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death God would have this Leprosy to be incurable, as a lasting monument of his Anger against such presumptuous Invaders of the Priests office., and dwelt in a † several house being a leper As he was obliged to do by Law, Levit. 13. 46. which he durst not now resist, being under the hand and stroke of God, and under the fear of further and worse plagues, if he did so., for So the following words are a reason of the former; he dwelt in a several house, because he might not come into the Temple or Courts, nor consequently into any publick Assembly, or the society of others. Or, and therefore, as the Hebrew Chi oft signifies: and the Particle and is oft understood. So it is an inference from the next foregoing words, He was a Leper, and therefore he was cut off, &c. He who could not content himself with Gods allowance, but usurped the Priests place and office, is now deprived of the priviledge of the meanest of his People. A just and most suitable Judgment. he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the kings house, judging the people of the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz write.

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.