2 Chronicles 26:16

16 But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. He went into the LORD's temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

2 Chronicles 26:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 26:16

When he was strong
Became great and powerful, through his victories, the enlargement of his dominions, and having a numerous army, and these well accoutred, and many fortified cities and towers:

his heart was lifted up to his destruction;
he grew vain and proud, elated with his flourishing circumstances, which issued in his ruin:

for he transgressed against the Lord his God;
who had helped him, and made him so great, and had bestowed so many favours upon him; the Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord his God;''

what his transgression was, follows:

and went into the temple of the Lord;
the holy place, into which none but the priests might enter:

to burn incense upon the altar of incense;
which stood there.

2 Chronicles 26:16 In-Context

14 For the entire army Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for slings.

15 In Jerusalem he made machines designed by inventive people. The machines were placed on the towers and corners to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. Uzziah's fame spread far and wide because he had strong support until he became powerful.

16 But when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. He went into the LORD's temple to burn incense on the incense altar.

17 The priest Azariah went in after him with 80 of the LORD's courageous priests.

18 They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him, "Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to the LORD. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron's descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. The LORD God will not honor you for this."