10
He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.
11
Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials.
12
These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders.
13
The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.
14
Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.
15
And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.
16
But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD ’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.
17
Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men.
18
They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD . That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!”
19
Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD ’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead.
20
When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him.