2 Chronicles 26 Study Notes

26:16 Although Uzziah did not commit idolatry, he still overstepped his royal authority by assuming a role that God had denied to any person who was not a descendant of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. He went into the holy place and burned incense, something that only a priest was allowed to do.

26:17-18 It was not an easy matter to call the king to account for his wrongdoing, but a priest, Azariah, and eighty of his colleagues did just that. They confronted the king and told him that what he was about to do was wrong. The priests declared to Uzziah that even if God did not punish him, he would not accept the king’s worship, as expressed by the phrase, You will not receive honor.

26:19-21 Uzziah already had the incense firepan in his hand. Rather than listen to the priests, he became furious and continued. Immediately God punished him by having a skin disease break out on his forehead. The king dropped what he was doing and allowed himself to be led out of the temple into seclusion for the rest of his life. Though he was still officially the king, his son Jotham was placed in charge of the day-to-day duties of king.

26:22 This refers to a writing of the prophet Isaiah that we do not have, but see Is 6:1.

26:23 Uzziah received a proper royal burial, though his tomb may have been separated from those of the previous kings because of the unclean condition caused by his skin disease.