猶大王烏西雅

26 全體猶大人立十六歲的烏西雅為王,繼承他父親亞瑪謝的王位。 亞瑪謝與祖先同眠後,烏西雅為猶大收復了以祿城,並重新修建。 烏西雅十六歲登基,在耶路撒冷執政五十二年。他母親叫耶可利雅,是耶路撒冷人。 他效法他父親亞瑪謝,做耶和華視為正的事。 撒迦利亞在世之日,烏西雅尋求上帝,撒迦利亞教導他敬畏上帝。當他尋求上帝時,上帝就使他亨通。

他出兵攻打非利士人,把迦特、雅比尼和亞實突的城牆夷平後,在亞實突境內及非利士人的其他地區興建城邑。 上帝幫助他攻打非利士人和住在姑珥·巴力的阿拉伯人及米烏尼人。 亞捫人向他進貢,烏西雅的名聲傳到埃及,因他極其強大。

烏西雅在耶路撒冷的角門、谷門和城牆拐角的地方建造城樓,並加固城樓, 10 又在曠野建造瞭望塔,挖了許多水井,因為他在高原和平原有很多牲畜。他雇人在山區和沃野為他耕種和照料葡萄園,因為他喜愛農耕。

11 烏西雅有支可以隨時列隊出戰的軍兵,歸書記耶利和官長瑪西雅召集,由王的將軍哈拿尼雅統領。 12 率領戰士的族長有兩千六百名, 13 他們手下有三十萬七千五百精兵,隨時幫助王攻打敵人。 14 烏西雅為全軍備有盾牌、矛槍、頭盔、鎧甲、弓箭和投石器用的石頭, 15 又讓巧匠在耶路撒冷設計和製造兵器,安放在城樓和角樓上,用來發射弓箭和石頭。烏西雅威名遠揚,因為他得到非常的幫助,極其強盛。

16 烏西雅強盛後,便心高氣傲,以致走向滅亡。他干犯他的上帝耶和華,擅自進入耶和華的殿在香壇上燒香。 17 祭司亞撒利雅率領八十位耶和華勇敢的祭司跟著進殿, 18 阻止烏西雅王,說:「烏西雅啊,給耶和華燒香不是你可以做的事,乃是承受聖職做祭司的亞倫子孫的事。離開聖所吧!你已干犯耶和華上帝,必不能從祂那裡得榮耀。」 19 手拿香爐要燒香的烏西雅大怒,正當他在耶和華殿裡的香壇旁向眾祭司發怒的時候,他額頭上突然患了痲瘋病。 20 亞撒利雅大祭司和眾祭司見狀,就催促他出殿,他急忙出去了,因為耶和華降災給他。 21 烏西雅王到死一直有痲瘋病。他被隔離在別的宮中,不得進耶和華的殿。他兒子約坦管理王室,治理國家。

22 烏西雅其他的事蹟,自始至終都是亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞先知記載的。 23 烏西雅與祖先同眠後,葬在他祖墳附近、王室的墳場,因為他有痲瘋病。他兒子約坦繼位。

26 Then kol HaAm Yehudah took Uziyahu, who was sixteen years old, and made him Melech in the place of Aviv Amatzyahu.

He built up Eilat, and restored it to Yehudah, after that HaMelech [Amatzyahu] slept with Avotav.

Sixteen years old was Uziyahu when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two shanah in Yerushalayim. Shem immo also was Yecholyahu of Yerushalayim.

And he did that which was yashar in the eyes of Hashem, according to all that Aviv Amatzyahu did.

And he sought Elohim in the days of Zecharyahu, who had understanding in the visions of HaElohim; and as long as he sought Hashem, HaElohim made him to have success.

And he went forth and warred against the Pelishtim (Philistines), and broke down the chomat Gat, and the chomat Yavneh, and the chomat Ashdod, and built towns near Ashdod, and among the Pelishtim (Philistines).

And HaElohim helped him against the Pelishtim (Philistines), and against the Arabs that dwelt in Gur Ba’al, and the Me’unim.

And the Amonim gave minchah to Uziyahu, and shmo spread abroad even to the approach to Mitzrayim; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

Moreover Uziyahu built migdalim (towers) in Yerushalayim at the Sha’ar HaPinnah, and at the Sha’ar of the Gey, and at the Miktzo’a, and he fortified them.

10 Also he built migdalim in the midbar, and dug borot rabbim (many wells), for he had much livestock, both in the Shefelah (Lowlands), and in the Mishor (Plains, Level Country); ikkarim (field workers, farmers) also, and koremim (vineyard workers, vine-keepers) in the hills, and in the Carmel, for he loved adamah (the soil).

11 Moreover Uziyahu had an army of fighting men that went out to tzava (battle) in troops, according to the number of their mustering by the yad Ye’i’el the Sofer and Ma’aseiyahu the Shoter (Officer), under the yad Chananyahu, one of the officials of HaMelech.

12 The whole mispar (number) of the Rashei HaAvot over the mighty warriors were two thousand and six hundred.

13 And under their yad was a battle group, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made milchamah with mighty ko’ach, to help HaMelech against the enemy.

14 And Uziyahu prepared for them throughout all the army moginim (shields), and spears, and helmets, and armor, and bows, and slingstones.

15 And he made in Yerushalayim machines designed by inventive engineers, for use on the migdalim and upon the corners of the city wall, to shoot khitzim (arrows) and avanim gedolot. And shmo spread far abroad, for he was marvellously helped, until when chazak (he became powerful).

16 But when he became powerful, his lev was lifted up to his downfall, for he was unfaithful against Hashem Elohav, and he entered into the Heikhal Hashem to burn ketoret upon the Mizbe’ach HaKetoret.

17 And Azaryahu HaKohen went in after him, and with him shemonim Kohanim of Hashem, that were men of courage.

18 And they stood up against Uziyahu HaMelech, and said unto him, It is not for you, Uziyahu, to burn ketoret unto Hashem, but to the Kohanim the Bnei Aharon, that are hamekudashim (consecrated and ritually pure) to burn ketoret. Go out from the Mikdash, for thou hast been treacherous; neither shall it be for thine kavod (honor) from Hashem Elohim.

19 Then Uziyahu became angry, and had a mikteret (censer) in his yad to burn ketoret, and while he was raging with the Kohanim, the tzara’at even broke out on his metzach (forehead) before the Kohanim in the Beis Hashem, near the Mizbe’ach HaKetoret.

20 And Azaryahu the Kohen HaRosh, and all the Kohanim, looked upon him, and, hinei, he was leprous on his metzach, and they thrust him out from there; yea, he himself hasted also to go out, because Hashem nun-gimmel-ayin-vav [had smitten him, afflicted him, see Isaiah 53:8, 10 where Hashem has the "nega" fall on not on this Ben Dovid Uziyahu, but on Moshiach Ben Dovid].

21 And Uziyahu HaMelech was metzorah (a leper) unto his yom mot, and dwelt in a leper asylum house, because of his leprosy; for he was nigzar [see Isaiah 53:8 which uses same word nigzar, "excluded," of Moshiach who was nigzar from the land of the living, meaning Moshiach died] from the Beis Hashem; and Yotam bno was over the Bais HaMelech, governing the Am HaAretz.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uziyah, harishonim and ha’acharonim, did Yeshayahu ben Amoz, HaNavi, record.

23 So Uziyahu slept with Avotav, and they buried him with Avotav in the sadeh hakevurah which belonged to the Melachim; for they said, He is a metzorah. And Yotam bno reigned in his place.

Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

26 And all the people of Judah took [a]Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. Uzziah was (A)sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was [b]Jechiliah of Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. (B)He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, (C)who had understanding [c]through the vision of God; and [d](D)as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.

Uzziah Succeeds in War

Now he went out and (E)warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. (F)God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites also gave (G)tribute to Uzziah, and his [e]fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at (H)the Corner Gate and at the (I)Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. 10 He built towers in the wilderness and (J)hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the [f]lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which [g]entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, [h]prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. 12 The total number of the heads of the [i]households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600. 13 Under their direction was an [j]elite army of (K)307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared [k]for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones. 15 In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his [l]fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

16 But (L)when he became strong, his heart was so [m]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for (M)he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then (N)Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 (O)They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “(P)It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, (Q)but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.” 19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, (R)the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the Lord had smitten him. 21 (S)King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in (T)a separate 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 to last, the prophet (U)Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers (V)in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:1 In 2 Kin 14:21, Azariah
  2. 2 Chronicles 26:3 In 2 Kin 15:2, Jecoliah
  3. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Many mss read in the fear of God
  4. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Lit in the days of his seeking
  5. 2 Chronicles 26:8 Lit name went to the entering of Egypt
  6. 2 Chronicles 26:10 Heb shephelah
  7. 2 Chronicles 26:11 Lit goes out to
  8. 2 Chronicles 26:11 Lit by the hand of
  9. 2 Chronicles 26:12 Lit fathers
  10. 2 Chronicles 26:13 Lit powerful
  11. 2 Chronicles 26:14 Lit for them, for all
  12. 2 Chronicles 26:15 Lit name
  13. 2 Chronicles 26:16 Lit lifted up