Chronicles II 26

1 Then all the people of the land took Ozias, and he was sixteen years old, and they made him king in the room of his father Amasias.

2 He built Aelath, he recovered it to Juda, after the king slept with his fathers.

3 Ozias began to reign at the age of sixteen years, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jechelia of Jerusalem.

4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Amasias his father did.

5 And he sought the Lord in the days of Zacharias, who understood the fear of the Lord; and in his days he sought the Lord, and the Lord prospered him.

6 And he went out and fought against the Philistines, and pulled down the walls of Geth, and the walls of Jabner, and the walls of Azotus, and he built cities Azotus, and among the Philistines.

7 And the Lord strengthened him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt on the rock, and against the Minaeans.

8 And the Minaeans gave gifts to Ozias; and his fame spread as far as the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened exceedingly.

9 And Ozias built towers in Jerusalem, both at the gate of the corners, and at the valley gate, and at the corners and he fortified them.

10 And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many wells, for he had many cattle in the low country and in the plain; and vinedressers in the mountain country and in Carmel: for he was a husbandman.

11 And Ozias had a host of warriors, and that went out orderly to war, and returned orderly in number; and their number was by the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maasias the judge, by the hand of Ananias the king's deputy.

12 The whole number of the chiefs of families of the mighty men of war two thousand six hundred;

13 and with them was a warrior force, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred: these waged war mightily to help the king against enemies.

14 And Ozias prepared for them, for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and breastplates, and bows, and slings for stones.

15 And he made in Jerusalem machines invented by a wise contriver, to be upon the towers and upon the corners, to cast darts and great stones: and of their preparation was heard at a distance; for he was wonderfully helped, till he was strong.

16 And when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction; and he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to turn incense on the altar of incense.

17 And there went in after him Azarias the priest, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, mighty men.

18 And they withstood Ozias the king, and said to him, not for thee, Ozias, to burn incense to the Lord, but only for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to sacrifice: go forth of the sanctuary, for thou hast departed from the Lord; and this shall not be for glory to thee from the Lord god.

19 And Ozias was angry, and in his hand the censer to burn incense in the temple: and when he was angry with the priests, then the leprosy rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, over the altar of incense.

20 And Azarias the chief priest, and the priests, turned at him, and, behold, he leprous in his forehead; and they got him hastily out thence, for he also hasted to go out, because the Lord had rebuked him.

21 And Ozias the king was a leper to the day of his death, and he dwelt a leper in a separate house; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord: and Joathan his son over his kingdom, judging the people of the land.

22 And the rest of the acts of Ozias, the first and the last, written by Jessias the prophet.

23 And Ozias slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial of the kings, for they said, He is a leper; and Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

Chronicles II 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Uzziah's good reign in Judah. (1-15) Uzziah's attempt to burn incense. (16-23)

Verses 1-15 As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, and minded religion, God made him to prosper. Those only prosper whom God makes to prosper; for prosperity is his gift. Many have owned, that as long as they sought the Lord, and kept close to their duty, they prospered; but when they forsook God, every thing went cross. God never continues either to bless the indolent or to withhold his blessing from the diligent. He will never suffer any to seek his face in vain. Uzziah's name was famed throughout all the neighbouring countries. A name with God and good people makes truly honourable. He did not delight in war, nor addict himself to sports, but delighted in husbandry.

Verses 16-23 The transgression of the kings before Uzziah was, forsaking the temple of the Lord, and burning incense upon idolatrous altars. But his transgression was, going into the holy place, and attempting to burn incense upon the altar of God. See how hard it is to avoid one extreme, and not run into another. Pride of heart was at the bottom of his sin; a lust that ruins many. Instead of lifting up the name God in gratitude to him who had done so much for him, his heart was lifted up to his hurt. Men's pretending to forbidden knowledge, and seeking things too high for them, are owing to pride of heart. The incense of our prayers must be, by faith, put into the hands of our Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of our profession, else we cannot expect it to be accepted by God, ( Revelation 8:3 ) . Though Uzziah strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker. But he was punished for his transgression; he continued a leper to his death, shut out from society. The punishment answered the sin as face to face in a glass. Pride was at the bottom of his transgression, and thus God humbled him, and put dishonour upon him. Those that covet forbidden honours, forfeit allowed ones. Adam, by catching at the tree of knowledge which he might not eat of, debarred himself of the tree of life which he might have eaten of. Let all that read say, The Lord is righteous. And when the Lord sees good to throw prosperous and useful men aside, as broken vessels, if he raises up others to fill their places, they may rejoice to renounce all worldly concerns, and employ their remaining days in preparation for death.

Chapter Summary

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