2 Chronicles 26:10

10 He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land.

2 Chronicles 26:10 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 26:10

Also he built towers in the desert
In the desert of Arabia, to protect travellers from thieves and robbers, and particularly shepherds and their flocks, as appears by what follows; which a certain writer ^F16 thinks are the same which the Indians call pagodas; not such as served for temples, but were buildings encompassed with good walls, where flocks were gathered together in case of any alarm:

and digged many wells;
for the watering of the flocks, which in those hot and desert places were of great use:

for he had much cattle, both in the low country and in the plains;
both flocks and herds:

husbandmen also, and vinedressers in the mountains;
husbandmen to take care of the corn, and manure the land for that, and gather it when ripe; and vinedressers to prune the vines, and look after them; which were very often planted on mountains, and on which also corn grew, ( Psalms 72:16 )

and in Carmel;
a place in the tribe of Judah, where Nabal dwelt, ( 1 Samuel 25:2 ) or it may be put for any fruitful field:

for he loved husbandry;
not only the profit, but the exercise of it at times; and it was usual with great personages in the eastern countries to employ themselves in some such way; Saul after he was king attended the herd, ( 1 Samuel 11:5 ) , Mesha king of Moab was a sheep master, ( 2 Kings 3:4 ) , among the Romans, Quinctius Cincinnatus and Cato Major

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 were great lovers of husbandry; and we read of one of the Chinese emperors that gave himself to husbandry, held the plough himself, broke the clods, and cast in the seed, to set an example to the whole empire ^F18. Another of their emperors gave himself wholly to husbandry ^F19; an other chose an husbandman for his successor, and who also encouraged husbandry ^F20.

F16 Agreement of Customs between the East Indians and Jews, art. 13. p. 61.
F17 In Cicero de Senectute.
F18 Martin. Sinic. Hist. l. 8. p. 326.
F19 Ib. l. 4. p. 92.
F20 Ib. l. 1. p. 29, 32.

2 Chronicles 26:10 In-Context

8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and he became so powerful that his fame spread even to Egypt.

9 Uzziah strengthened the fortifications of Jerusalem by building towers at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and where the wall turned.

10 He also built fortified towers in the open country and dug many cisterns, because he had large herds of livestock in the western foothills and plains. Because he loved farming, he encouraged the people to plant vineyards in the hill country and to farm the fertile land.

11 He had a large army ready for battle. Its records were kept by his secretaries Jeiel and Maaseiah under the supervision of Hananiah, a member of the king's staff.

12 The army was commanded by 2,600 officers.