Divrey Hayamim Bais 26

1 6 Then kol HaAm Yehudah took Uziyahu, who was sixteen years old, and made him Melech in the place of Aviv Amatzyahu.

2 He built up Eilat, and restored it to Yehudah, after that HaMelech [Amatzyahu] slept with Avotav.

3 Sixteen years old was Uziyahu when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two shanah in Yerushalayim. Shem immo also was Yecholyahu of Yerushalayim.

4 And he did that which was yashar in the eyes of Hashem, according to all that Aviv Amatzyahu did.

5 And he sought Elohim in the days of Zecharyahu, who had understanding in the visions of HaElohim; and as long as he sought Hashem, HaElohim made him to have success.

6 And he went forth and warred against the Pelishtim (Philistines), and broke down the chomat Gat, and the chomat Yavneh, and the chomat Ashdod, and built towns near Ashdod, and among the Pelishtim (Philistines).

7 And HaElohim helped him against the Pelishtim (Philistines), and against the Arabs that dwelt in Gur Ba’al, and the Me’unim.

8 And the Amonim gave minchah to Uziyahu, and shmo spread abroad even to the approach to Mitzrayim; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

9 Moreover Uziyahu built migdalim (towers) in Yerushalayim at the Sha’ar HaPinnah, and at the Sha’ar of the Gey, and at the Miktzo’a, and he fortified them.

10 Also he built migdalim in the midbar, and dug borot rabbim (many wells), for he had much livestock, both in the Shefelah (Lowlands), and in the Mishor (Plains, Level Country); ikkarim (field workers, farmers) also, and koremim (vineyard workers, vine-keepers) in the hills, and in the Carmel, for he loved adamah (the soil).

11 Moreover Uziyahu had an army of fighting men that went out to tzava (battle) in troops, according to the number of their mustering by the yad Ye’i’el the Sofer and Ma’aseiyahu the Shoter (Officer), under the yad Chananyahu, one of the officials of HaMelech.

12 The whole mispar (number) of the Rashei HaAvot over the mighty warriors were two thousand and six hundred.

13 And under their yad was a battle group, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made milchamah with mighty ko’ach, to help HaMelech against the enemy.

14 And Uziyahu prepared for them throughout all the army moginim (shields), and spears, and helmets, and armor, and bows, and slingstones.

15 And he made in Yerushalayim machines designed by inventive engineers, for use on the migdalim and upon the corners of the city wall, to shoot khitzim (arrows) and avanim gedolot. And shmo spread far abroad, for he was marvellously helped, until when chazak (he became powerful).

16 But when he became powerful, his lev was lifted up to his downfall, for he was unfaithful against Hashem Elohav, and he entered into the Heikhal Hashem to burn ketoret upon the Mizbe’ach HaKetoret.

17 And Azaryahu HaKohen went in after him, and with him shemonim Kohanim of Hashem, that were men of courage.

18 And they stood up against Uziyahu HaMelech, and said unto him, It is not for you, Uziyahu, to burn ketoret unto Hashem, but to the Kohanim the Bnei Aharon, that are hamekudashim (consecrated and ritually pure) to burn ketoret. Go out from the Mikdash, for thou hast been treacherous; neither shall it be for thine kavod (honor) from Hashem Elohim.

19 Then Uziyahu became angry, and had a mikteret (censer) in his yad to burn ketoret, and while he was raging with the Kohanim, the tzara’at even broke out on his metzach (forehead) before the Kohanim in the Beis Hashem, near the Mizbe’ach HaKetoret.

20 And Azaryahu the Kohen HaRosh, and all the Kohanim, looked upon him, and, hinei, he was leprous on his metzach, and they thrust him out from there; yea, he himself hasted also to go out, because Hashem nun-gimmel-ayin-vav [had smitten him, afflicted him, see Isaiah 53:8, 10 where Hashem has the "nega" fall on not on this Ben Dovid Uziyahu, but on Moshiach Ben Dovid].

21 And Uziyahu HaMelech was metzorah (a leper) unto his yom mot, and dwelt in a leper asylum house, because of his leprosy; for he was nigzar [see Isaiah 53:8 which uses same word nigzar, "excluded," of Moshiach who was nigzar from the land of the living, meaning Moshiach died] from the Beis Hashem; and Yotam bno was over the Bais HaMelech, governing the Am HaAretz.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uziyah, harishonim and ha’acharonim, did Yeshayahu ben Amoz, HaNavi, record.

23 So Uziyahu slept with Avotav, and they buried him with Avotav in the sadeh hakevurah which belonged to the Melachim; for they said, He is a metzorah. And Yotam bno reigned in his place.

Divrey Hayamim Bais 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