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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 Eloth, and restored 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 sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. |
1,2 - Uzziah The whole reign is summarized. These two verses, except for spelling, are as in 2ki1421f. |
5 And he sought God in the
days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as
long as he sought 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 Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. .7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. .8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. |
In
the days of Zechariah (See Uzziah above).
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. . . . But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction:. . ." Uzziah was filled with wrath, that he, the king, should be dictated to by the priests, and while "he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord. . . . 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; 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." (From Ellen White, Review, August 14, 1900.) |
.9
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 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: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. |
10 - Carmel "Orchards" might have been a better translation although there was a place by this name south of Hebron. |
.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 Maaseiah 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 shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. 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. |
14 - Slings to cast stones Actually "stones of slings." |
.16
¶ 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 fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah 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. |
16
- Heart lifted up When we are poor and weak, it is natural to depend
on the Lord. How important is that day-by-day consecration.
16 - Transgressed Only priests were allowed by the Lord to enter the temple and only priests were to offer incense nu1801. 17 - Azariah ... with fourscore priests Apparently Uzziah had planned and announced his intentions to be priest as well as king giving Azariah time to call the 80 priests. He might have expected the high priest's resistance and have gone in with a group of men to assure his success. |
.19
Then Uzziah was wroth, 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
before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
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 from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten 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 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 the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead. |
19
- Wroth That is, angry. His attitude was evidence of his rebellion.
19 - Leprosy Uzziah undoubtedly knew the history of the Israelites but must have doubted that they really went through the sea and that God had punished Miriam nu12, Korah Dathan and Abiram nu16, and others. How easy today to consider the distant past as somehow disconnected with reality. 22 - Isaiah ... write Isaiah received his call to be a prophet in the year of Uzziah's death is06. |
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