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Uzziah Reigns over 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. And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. (B)And 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 Yahweh, God made him succeed.

Uzziah’s Fame Spreads Afar

Then he went out and (E)fought 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)And 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 strengthened them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and (J)hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the [f]Shephelah 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 a military force which could wage war, which went out for military duty by divisions according to the number of their muster, prepared by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12 The total number of the heads of the [g]households, of mighty men of valor, was 2,600. 13 And under their hand was a [h]mighty army of (K)307,500, who could wage war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared [i]for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for sling. 15 In Jerusalem he also made devices of war devised by skillful designers to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his [j]fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Uzziah’s Pride

16 But (L)when he became strong, his heart was so [k]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to Yahweh his God. And (M)he entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then (N)Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, men of valor. 18 (O)And they stood against Uzziah the king and said to him, “(P)It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, (Q)but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are set apart as holy to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from Yahweh 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 Yahweh, beside the altar of incense. 20 And 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 Yahweh had smitten him. 21 (S)So 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 Yahweh. 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 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 Or lowland
  7. 2 Chronicles 26:12 Lit fathers
  8. 2 Chronicles 26:13 Lit powerful
  9. 2 Chronicles 26:14 Lit for them, for all
  10. 2 Chronicles 26:15 Lit name
  11. 2 Chronicles 26:16 Lit lifted up

26 And all the people of Judah took [a]Uzziah, 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: and his mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who [b]had understanding in [c]the vision of God: and as long as he sought Jehovah, God made him to prosper.

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 he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong. 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. 10 And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the [d]plain: and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in [e]the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred. 13 And under their hand was [f]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, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging. 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the [g]battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, [h]so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of Jehovah, that were valiant men: 18 and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto Jehovah, 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 honor from Jehovah God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy [i]brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the altar of incense. 20 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 quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a [j]separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah: 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 Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:1 In 2 Kin. 14:21, Azariah.
  2. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Or, gave instruction
  3. 2 Chronicles 26:5 Hebrew the seeing.
  4. 2 Chronicles 26:10 Or, table-land
  5. 2 Chronicles 26:10 Or, Carmel. See 1 Sam. 25:2.
  6. 2 Chronicles 26:13 Hebrew the power of an army.
  7. 2 Chronicles 26:15 Or, corner towers
  8. 2 Chronicles 26:16 Or, to his destruction
  9. 2 Chronicles 26:19 Hebrew rose (as the sun).
  10. 2 Chronicles 26:21 Or, infirmary