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.
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.
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.
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 valor 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 marvelously helped, till he was strong.
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 honor from the LORD God.
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.
2 Chronicles 26 is a continuation of the history of the kings of Judah, focusing on the reign of Uzziah (also known as Azariah). The chapter begins by stating that Uzziah was only 16 years old when he became king, and that he reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. The main themes of this chapter include Uzziah's accomplishments and successes, his pride and downfall, and the consequences of his actions. Through this chapter, we can learn important lessons about the dangers of pride and the importance of staying humble before God.
The first part of 2 Chronicles 26 focuses on the accomplishments and successes of Uzziah. Despite being only 16 years old, he was a strong and capable king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He sought God and followed in the footsteps of his father, Amaziah, who had also been a faithful king. As a result, God gave Uzziah success in all that he did. He defeated the enemies of Judah, including the Philistines, the Arabians, and the Meunites. He also rebuilt the cities that had been destroyed during the reign of his father.
Uzziah was also a skilled warrior, and he built up a strong army with the help of his commanders. He equipped them with shields, spears, helmets, and other weapons, and he even invented machines for use on the walls of Jerusalem to shoot arrows and hurl large stones at their enemies. His fame spread far and wide, and he became a powerful and respected king.
As Uzziah's power and wealth grew, so did his pride. The Bible tells us that he became strong because he was greatly helped by God, but he grew proud and ultimately his pride led to his downfall. Despite his many successes, Uzziah's pride caused him to become unfaithful to God. He entered the temple of the Lord and burned incense on the altar, which was a duty reserved only for the priests. When the priests confronted him about his actions, Uzziah became angry and refused to listen to them. In his pride, he thought he could do anything he wanted, even if it went against God's laws.
As a result of his disobedience, God struck Uzziah with leprosy. This not only affected him physically, but it also meant that he was no longer able to fulfill his duties as king. His son, Jotham, took over the responsibility of ruling in his place. Uzziah's pride had caused him to lose everything he had worked so hard for, and he was forced to live the rest of his life in isolation.
The consequences of Uzziah's pride and disobedience were not only limited to himself. The Bible tells us that his leprosy was a "punishment from the Lord" (2 Chronicles 26:20). This not only affected him personally, but it also had an impact on the whole nation of Judah. As king, Uzziah was responsible for leading and setting an example for his people. However, his actions had caused him to be cut off from society, and this weakened the kingdom of Judah.
Furthermore, the consequences of Uzziah's actions were not only limited to his own lifetime. The Bible tells us that his leprosy was a "mark of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 26:21), which meant that it would continue to affect him and his descendants for generations to come. This serves as a warning to us that our actions can have long-lasting consequences for ourselves and those around us.
The story of Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride. Uzziah had everything he could possibly want as king, but his pride caused him to become unfaithful to God and ultimately led to his downfall. This chapter also highlights the importance of staying humble before God and not letting success or power go to our heads. It is a reminder that no matter how much we may achieve in life, we should always remember that it is God who gives us success and that we should use it for His glory.
Furthermore, the consequences of Uzziah's actions show us the importance of being mindful of our actions and the impact they can have on others. As leaders, whether in a position of authority or influence, we have a responsibility to lead by example and make decisions that are in line with God's will.
In conclusion, 2 Chronicles 26 is a powerful chapter that teaches us important lessons about pride, humility, and the consequences of our actions. It serves as a reminder that our success and achievements are gifts from God, and we should use them to bring glory to His name rather than letting them lead us down a path of destruction.
Share this page