2 CHRONICLES LESSON 26
We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 26:1 "Then all the
people of Judah took Uzziah, who [was] sixteen years old, and made him
king in the room of his father Amaziah."
The last lesson ended with the death of Amaziah. The name
"Uzziah" means strength of Jehovah. Uzziah was spoken of as Azariah,
as well. He was very young, when he became king at the death of his
father. That was not unusual in these days.
II Chronicles 26:2 "He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah,
after that the king slept with his fathers."
Eloth was at the head of the gulf of Akaba. Judah had lost this
city under the rule of Amaziah. It appears it was in ruins when they
got it back, and now, Uzziah would build it back.
II Chronicles 26:3 "Sixteen years old [was] Uzziah when he began
to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His
mother's name also [was] Jecoliah of Jerusalem."
He will rule longer than his father, or his grandfather. He,
also, will be 68 at the end of his reign over Judah. "Jecoliah" means
Jehovah is strong. This indicates that his mother was, probably, a
Godly woman, and taught him about the LORD.
II Chronicles 26:4 "And he did [that which was] right in the
sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did."
In the beginning of Amaziah's reign, he did what was right in the
sight of the LORD, but in the latter part of his reign he worshipped
false gods. Uzziah, it appears, at this point, was a Godly man, also.
II Chronicles 26:5 "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought
the LORD, God made him to prosper."
Zechariah was a prophet of God, who understood visions that God
gave. It appears as if he greatly influenced the life of Uzziah. He
kept Uzziah seeking the will of the LORD. As long as Uzziah was
obedient to the will of God, he greatly prospered.
II Chronicles 26:6 "And he went forth and warred against the
Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh,
and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the
Philistines."
God was with Uzziah. The Philistines were God's enemies, as well
as enemies of Uzziah. It appears, Uzziah took these walled cities for
the LORD. Ashdod was a very prominent location, because it was on the
way to Egypt. We see that Uzziah built other cities around these, and
fortified all of them, so the enemy could not get to him from this
side.
II Chronicles 26:7 "And God helped him against the Philistines,
and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims."
II Chronicles 26:8 "And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his
name spread abroad [even] to the entering in of Egypt; for he
strengthened [himself] exceedingly."
As long as Uzziah had faith in God, he could not fail. God helped
him against the Arabs, Philistines, Ammonites, and all of their other
enemies. When Jerusalem was attacked, it was usually from the
direction of Egypt. Now, God had helped Uzziah get this area under his
control. These lands he overcame, were glad to give gifts to Uzziah in
exchange for letting them live.
II Chronicles 26:9 "Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at
the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the
wall], and fortified them."
Jerusalem was fortified better than any of the other cities. The
temple of the LORD was there. These towers were lifted up from the
wall, so the men could see from afar. They were extra precautions made
to protect Jerusalem.
II Chronicles 26:10 "Also he built towers in the desert, and
digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country,
and in the plains: husbandmen [also], and vine dressers in the
mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry."
This was an area near the Dead Sea. Water that was drinkable was
not available here. The wells were dug to feed the cattle, and to
water the gardens. Mount Carmel is a very green small mountain. It
would be an excellent place for grazing sheep. It would, also, be an
ideal place for growing grapes, or anything else.
II Chronicles 26:11 "Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men,
that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their
account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under
the hand of Hananiah, [one] of the king's captains."
Uzziah was so blessed at this time, that he had plenty of men for
harvesting the crops, and also, had plenty of men for battle, if
necessary. Jeiel seemed to be the record keeper. Maaseiah was a
steward, who helped arrange the armies that went out. Hananiah was a
captain in the army of Uzziah.
II Chronicles 26:12 "The whole number of the chief of the fathers
of the mighty men of valour [were] two thousand and six hundred."
This is saying, there were 2,600 officers in this army of men.
II Chronicles 26:13 "And under their hand [was] an army, three
hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war
with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy."
This is speaking of the men in the army, who were not officers.
307,500 men were the regular army.
II Chronicles 26:14 "And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all
the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows,
and slings [to cast] stones."
These are items used in war. A habergeon is a breastplate. The
army of Uzziah was well equipped in the weapons of war.
II Chronicles 26:15 "And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented
by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot
arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he
was marvellously helped, till he was strong."
The engine, here, is speaking of an invention of a catapult to
throw the stones great distances. He was marvellously helped by God,
would be a correct statement. As long as he stayed true to the LORD,
he was greatly blessed.
II Chronicles 26:16 "But when he was strong, his heart was
lifted up to [his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD
his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the
altar of incense."
His strength from blessings from the LORD caused him to think
very highly of himself. He decided he could burn his own incense
before the LORD, instead of taking it and letting the priest do this
for him. It was forbidden for him to burn the incense, since he was
not a Levite and had not been anointed to be priest.
II Chronicles 26:17 "And Azariah the priest went in after him,
and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, [that were] valiant men:"
II Chronicles 26:18 "And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto
him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the
LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to
burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed;
neither [shall it be] for thine honour from the LORD God."
The high priest Azariah, and the 80 priests with him, tried to
stop Uzziah from committing this terrible act. The king was not
authorized of God to burn incense. The priests stood face to face with
the king, and told him not to do this. They asked him to leave, and he
would not.
II Chronicles 26:19 "Then Uzziah was wroth, and [had] a censer in
his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the
leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house
of the LORD, from beside the incense altar."
Uzziah was determined to burn the incense. He became very angry
with the priests. When he reached the incense burner, leprosy came on
his forehead. His mind was perverted to do this thing. Leprosy
symbolizes sin.
II Chronicles 26:20 "And Azariah the chief priest, and all the
priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he [was] leprous in his
forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted
also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him."
The priests removed the king bodily, and he was, now, willing to
go, because the leprosy had come upon him. The LORD had marked him
with the leprosy for his willful sin.
II Chronicles 26:21 "And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day
of his death, and dwelt in a several house, [being] a leper; for he
was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son [was] over
the king's house, judging the people of the land."
Uzziah's son, Jotham, became acting king, when Uzziah had to
leave the king's house, because of his leprosy. No one with leprosy
could enter the house of the LORD, so he was cut off from there, as
well.
II Chronicles 26:22 "Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first
and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write."
This is verified in Isaiah 1:1 "The vision of Isaiah the son of
Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah." Isaiah 6:1 "In
the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."
II Chronicles 26:23 "So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they
buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which
[belonged] to the kings; for they said, He [is] a leper: and Jotham
his son reigned in his stead."
It appears, that his actual burial, even though it was near that
of his fathers, and was, indeed, in Jerusalem, was not in the exact
spot. The fact that he was a leper caused his separation, even in
death.
2 Chronicles 26 Questions
1. How old was Uzziah, when he became king?
2. What does "Uzziah" mean?
3. What did Uzziah build and restore to Judah?
4. How many years did Uzziah reign?
5. Who was the mother of Uzziah?
6. What did her name mean?
7. Verse 4 says, he did ________ in the sight of the LORD.
8. What special understanding did Zechariah have?
9. What caused him to prosper?
10. Who did Uzziah war against?
11. Why was Ashdod an important city?
12. When Uzziah placed his faith in God, God helped him against whom?
13. What did Uzziah build at Jerusalem?
14. Why did they dig wells?
15. Who was the scribe under Uzziah?
16. How many officers did he have over his army?
17. How large was the regular army?
18. What is a habergeon?
19. What were some of the things Uzziah prepared for his army?
20. What are the engines, in verse 15, speaking of?
21. What did Uzziah do, that would mean his destruction?
22. Who were the only ones allowed to burn incense before the LORD?
23. Who tried to stop him?
24. What happened to Uzziah, when he became angry at the priest for
trying to stop him?
25. Leprosy symbolizes ______.
26. How long did his leprosy continue?
27. Where did he live, while he had the leprosy?
28. Who reigned in his stead?
29. Uzziah was cut off from the house of the _________.
30. Where was he buried?
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