2 Chronicles 26

2 Chronicles 26:1-15

Here is, 1. The good character of Uzziah, ver. 1—5. 2. His great prosperity, ver. 6—75. 3. His presumption in assuming the priest’s office, for which he was struck with a leprosy unto the day of his death, ver. 10—23.

1. • THEN all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 2. He built Eloith, and refused it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3. 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. 4. And he did that which was right in the light of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5. And he fought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he fought the LORD, God made him to prosper. 6. 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 Afhdod, and built cities about Afhdod, and among the Philistines. 7. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunites. 8. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his name spread abroad, even to the enting in of Egypt, for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9. Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner-gate, and at the valley-gate, and at the turning of the wall, and if fortified them. 10. 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: hufbandmen alja, and vine-direffers in the mountains, and in a Carmel: for he loved a hufbandry. 11. 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 Maaziah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12. The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour, were two thousand and six hundred. 13. 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. 14. And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host, thicks and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and flings to call thores. 15. 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.

Uzziah followed the best ways of his father Amaziah, and under the influence of Zechariah, a man favoured with prophetic visions, or deeply conversant with the writings of the prophets before him, kept clade to the worship of the true God, and prospered in all his undertakings.

1. He was victorious in all his battles. God enabled him to vanquish the Philistines and Arabians, and there their country. The Ammonites fearing his arms, fired humbly to obtain his honour with presents, and his spreading fame uncovered the neighbouring nations. Note, As long as we cleave to God, he will help us against all our foes.

2. He repaired and fortified Jerusalem; the wall of which in his father’s time had been broken down; and built cities or garrison in the conquered countries; and places for the promotion of his cattle in the wilderness; for he abounded in flocks and herds, and was a great lover of hufbandry, an employment and punishment not unworthy the greatest king.

3. He kept up a great army, ready for any emergency, parting of which were sent out against the neighbouring people, who made inroads on the borders; the rest served to parrish the cities. They were well armed, men of great courage, and provided with warlike engines, whether for defending or assaulting befuged cities. Such to ces and mighty preparations for war exceedingly strengthened his kingdom, and made him feared and respected.

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. 17. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourfcore priests of the LORD that were valiant men: 18. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, “It apperisierth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but” to the priest’s the sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the farthuary, for thou hast trespassed, * neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a center in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priest in the house of the LORD from beside the incense-altar. 20. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priest’s looked upon him, and behold he was he prouve in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence, yea, himself haffed also to go out, because the LORD had thirteen him. 21. 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. 22. ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Izziah the prophet the Son of Aaron wrote. 23. ¶ 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.

2 Chronicles 26:16-23

Puffed up with the prosperity to which he was advanced, Uzziah blots his fair character, by an act of daring intrudies into the priest’s office. So holy a sin is pride, and so ready to creep into the hearts of truly pious men.

1. He would offer incense upon the golden altar, and enter that holy place, to which all accents was forbidden, except to the priest’s alone: and as his transgression was wilful and obliuate, his sin was great against the Lord.

2. Azariah the high-priest, with fourfcore of his brethren, bravely opposed the profane attempt; and by violence, had by a serious remonstrance. They urge the king to an immediate departure from the place into which he had intruded, warn him of the transgression he had already committed, remind him of the unlawfulness of the service he intended, and threaten him with the danger to which he was exposed; for from contributing to his honour, it would end in his perpetual shame and disgrace. Note, (1.) God’s institutions are sacred; it is at our peril if we violate them. (2.) They who at all hazard will gratify their pride, often bring themselves to deferred shame.

3. Uzziah, far from fubmitting, was angry at the remonstrance, and refused to quit his confer. Note, The wifest and justest rebukes, often exasperates the wilful.

4. God therefore appeared to decide the controversy. The leprosy, foul and incurable, fended him, and the marks of it appeared visible in his forehead: unsholdened hereby, the priest hurried him forth from the holy place; and far from resisting, the stroke he felt bowed his stubborn heart, and he haffed to be gone, left worfe evils should overtake him. And now no more dares he approach God’s house; nay, he is excluded from his own palace whilst he lives, and from the feudence of his son, ceffors when he dies: a punishment admirably suited to his sin, and to deter others from imitating so bad an example. Note, (1.) They who will not submit to admonition, rush on their ruin. (2.) When we feel God’s displeasure, it is madness to persist: humiliation is the only dose of refuge which remains. (3.) Though our iniquity may be pardoned of God, some has leave a disgrace among men which is indelible.