2 Chronicles 26
DOYLY2 Chronicles 26:6
- And he went forth and warred &c.] From this verse to the 15th, the sacred writer shews by several instances how excellent a prince this was, and what prosperity God gave him while he was truly religious: for he shewed extreme solicitude for the welfare of his people; he was skilful in husbandry, but at the same time extremely active in warlike affairs, inasmuch as he prudently demolished the fortifications of his enemies on the frontiers, and provided his own frontiers with works,
He is smitten with leprosy. He dieth, and Jotham succeeds. Before CHRIST about 765. o Hand. 30. 7.
burn incense unto the LORD, but to the e 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.
2 Chronicles 26:19
- — and while he was wroth, — the leprosy even rose up] While Uzziah yet speaks, God strikes. Ere the words of fury come out of his mouth, the leprosy appears in his forehead. Had it broken forth on his hand, or foot, or breast, it might have been hid from the eyes of men; but now his forehead is smitten with this judgment, that God may proclaim to all beholders, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whose arrogance hath thrust him upon a sacred charge.’ The hand of God hath now done in an instant what the tongues of men had attempted in vain. Bp. Hall.
It is a rule established beyond all controversy concerning the office of the ministry, that “no man taketh it unto himself,” Heb. v. 4. Internal gifts and graces may qualify a person for an office, but they cannot put him into one. No man, however righteous and holy through faith and the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit, can have authority to act in the name of Christ, till Christ gives him that authority. Before that is done, let his life and character be what they will, his ministrations can have no validity. Whatever he may be in other respects, in this particular he is a grievous offender, and will be found guilty before God of sacrilegiously intruding into an office, to which he can have no pretensions: a crime, for which “the leprosy” once “rose up in the forehead” of a monarch; and Korah and all his company, holy as they said they all were, “went down alive into the pit.” And that none in the Christian church might imitate the presumption of Uzziah, or “go in the gainsaying of Korah,” even t hrist “took not this honour unto Himself, nor glorified Himself to be made an high priest,” (for a glory it was to Him,) till he was “called of God,” by the visible descent
2 Chronicles 26:21
- — dwelt in a several house, &c.] He dwelt in a separate house by himself, being excluded from all conversation with others, and from all management of publick affairs; thus “he was cut off from the house of the Lord,” that is, precluded from entering it for religious worship, as a just punishment for his daring entrance into the most holy place, and his attempt to perform there what belonged to the high priest exclusively. Dr. Wells. Uzziah withdraws with a dejected countenance and heavy heart; and wishes to be hid no less from himself, than from others. How easy is it for the God of heaven to bring down the highest pitch of earthly greatness, and to humble the most stubborn pride! Bp. Hall.
2 Chronicles 26:23
- — in the field of the burial] He was buried in a sepulchre by himself, and not in one where any former king had been buried; (Dr. Wells:) for it was not deemed proper or lawful to defile the royal sepulchres with a leprous body. Fyle.
The year of Uzziah’s death was distinguished by the remarkable vision of Isaiah, on his designation to the prophetical office. Is. vi. 1. Dr. Hales.
Chap. XXVII. ver. 2. — howbeit he entered not into the temple] It is the opinion of some, that he was so alarmed by the punishment which had befallen his father, that he did not so much as enter into the court of the temple, or that he never offered sacrifices there, but only in high places. But a preferable meaning seems to be, that he imitated his father in all that was good, but did not profanely enter the temple to offer incense as he had done. Bp. Patrick.
— And the people did yet corruptly.] A better Jotham subdueth the Ammonites. Ahaz reigneth wickedly. Before CHRIST 758. lower. substituted. about 742. house of the LORD, and on the wall of || Ophel be built much.