2 Chronicles 26:1-15

Listen to 2 Chronicles 26:1-15

Uzziah Reigns in Judah

1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, [a] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 1
2 Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Eloth [b] and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah [c] rested with his fathers.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
5 He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear [d] of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.
6 Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.
7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.
8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful.
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them.
10 Since he had much livestock in the foothills [e] and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields.
11 Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers.
12 The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600.
13 Under their authority was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.
14 Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.
15 And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot [f] arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously until he became powerful.

2 Chronicles 26:1-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 26

This chapter relates the good reign of Uzziah, 2Ch 26:1-5, his wars and victories, his buildings, the number of his soldiers, and his military stores, 2Ch 26:6-15, his invasion of the priest's office, in attempting to offer incense, for which he was smitten with a leprosy, which continued to his death, 2Ch 26:16-23.

the three following verses, see the notes on 2Ki 14:21,22, 15:2,3 where Uzziah is called Azariah. \\See Gill on "2Ki 14:21"\\ \\See Gill on "2Ki 14:22"\\ \\See Gill on "2Ki 15:2"\\ \\See Gill on "2Ki 15:3"\\ 19692-950125-1735-2Ch26.2

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Cross References 1

  • 1. (2 Kings 14:21–22; 2 Kings 15:1–7)

Footnotes 6

  • [a] Uzziah is also called Azariah; throughout this chapter; see 2 Kings 14:21.
  • [b] Eloth is a variant of Elath; see LXX, 2 Kings 14:22, and 2 Kings 16:6.
  • [c] Literally after the king
  • [d] Many Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts through the vision
  • [e] Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea
  • [f] Or to protect those who shoot
The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially placed into the public domain