Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 26

Verse 5

2 Chronicles 26:5. Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God— Who had instructed [him] in the fear of God. Houbigant.

Verse 7

2 Chronicles 26:7. And the Mehunims— Houbigant, with the Vulgate, reads the Ammonites; and the next verse, as well as the fifth of the next chapter, gives us reason to believe that this reading is just.

Verse 10

2 Chronicles 26:10. He built towers in the desert— William of Tyre describes a country not far from the Euphrates, as inhabited by Syrian and Armenian Christians, that fed great flocks and herds there, but were in subjection to the Turks; who, though few in number, yet living in strong places among them, kept them under, and received tribute from these poor peasants, who inhabited the villages, and employed themselves in rural business. I do not know whether this may not give a juster idea of the design of these towers which Uzziah built in the wilderness, than commentators have done; who have supposed that they were conveniencies made for sheltering the shepherds from bad weather, or for defending them from the incursions of enemies; for they might rather be designed to keep the nations that pastured there in awe, to prevent their disputing with his servants about wells, and to induce them quietly to pay that tribute to which the 7th and 8th verses seem to refer. Observations, p. 346.

Verse 15

2 Chronicles 26:15. He made in Jerusalem engines, &c.— This is the first time that we read of any machine either for besieging or defending towns; which is plainly the reason why sieges were of so long a continuance before the invention of these. Homer, who is the most ancient Greek writer that we know of who treats of sieges, describes a kind of entrenchment, (though a poor one,) some lines of circumvallation, and a ditch with palisades; but we hear not a word of any machines, such as the ballistae, and catapultae, which were used for the hurling of stones and throwing darts; and therefore we need less wonder that the famous siege of Troy continued so long. Sardanapalus, king of Assyria, maintained himself in Nineveh for seven years, because the besiegers (as Diodorus observes, lib. 2:) wanted such engines as were fit for demolishing and taking of cities, they being not then invented. Salmanezer lay three years before Samaria, 2 Kings 17:5-6., and as some say, Psammiticus twenty before Azoth. See Aristeas de LXX Interp. Now, of Uzziah it is said, that he made in Jerusalem engines invented by cunning men, to be on the towers, and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones; so that it must needs be a mistake to attribute the invention of the ballista, the scorpio, or the onager, (whereof Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. 23: cap. 2 has given us the descriptions,) to the Greeks or Romans, because we find them made use of in the east before the Greeks had brought the military art to any great perfection. Uzziah was certainly the first inventor of them; and therefore it is said, that for these and other warlike preparations his name was spread abroad. From this time they began to be employed both in attacking and defending towns; and therefore we find the prophet Ezekiel describing the future sieges of Jerusalem and Tyre, where he makes mention of battering rams and engines of war, or, as it should be rendered, machines of cords, which, in all probability, were what later ages called their ballistae and catapultae.

Verse 18

2 Chronicles 26:18. For thou hast trespassed, &c.— For it is not lawful for thee to assume that honour, contrary to the will of God. Houbigant. What it was that tempted the king to this extravagant folly, is difficult to imagine; but the most likely conjecture is, that he had a vain ambition to imitate heathen princes, who in several countries joined the regal and sacerdotal offices together. But, however it may be in all other countries, the priesthood in Judea was confined to the house of Aaron only; and every one who pretended to usurp that office was, by the law of the land, to be put to death. See Numbers 18:7. Therefore God smote Uzziah with such a disease as was a kind of death, because it separated the person afflicted with it from the commerce and society of men, even as if he were departed this world. See Joseph. Bell. Jude 1:25; Jud 1:9 cap. 11 and Calmet.

Verse 22

2 Chronicles 26:22. Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah—did—Isaiah—write— It appears probable from this, that Isaiah composed an entire history of the reign of Uzziah, which has not reached our times. See 2 Kings 14:25.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, Uzziah followed the best ways of his father Amaziah; and under the influence of Zechariah, a man favoured with prophetic visions, or deeply conversant with the writings of the prophets before him, kept close to the worship of the true God, and prospered in all his undertakings.

1. He was victorious in all his battles. God enabled him to vanquish the Philistines and Arabians, and seize their country. The Ammonites, fearing his arms, sought humbly to obtain his favour with presents, and his spreading fame overawed the neighbouring nations. Note; As long as we cleave to God, he will help us against all our foes.

2. He repaired and fortified Jerusalem; the wall of which, in his father's time, had been broken down; and built cities or garrisons in the conquered countries, and places for the protection of his cattle in the wilderness; for he abounded in flocks and herds, and was a great lover of husbandry, an employment and amusement not unworthy of the greatest king.
3. He kept up a great army, ready for any emergency, parties of which were sent out against the neighbouring people, who made inroads on the borders; the rest served to garrison the cities. They were well armed, men of great courage, and provided with warlike engines, either for defending or assaulting besieged cities. Such forces and mighty preparations for war exceedingly strengthened his kingdom, and made him feared and respected.
2nd, Puffed up with the prosperity to which he was advanced, Uzziah blots his fair character by an act of daring intrusion into the priest's office: so busy a sin is pride, and so ready to creep into the hearts even of pious men!
1. He would offer incense upon the golden altar, and enter that holy place to which all access was forbidden, except to the priests alone; and, as his transgression was wilful and obstinate, his sin was great against the Lord.
2. Azariah the high-priest, with fourscore of his brethren, bravely opposed the profane attempt; not by violence, but by a serious remonstrance. They urge the king to an immediate departure from the place into which he had intruded; warn him of the transgression that he had already committed; remind him of the unlawfulness of the service that he intended; and threaten him with the danger to which he was exposed: far from contributing to his honour, it would end in his perpetual shame and disgrace. Note; (1.) God's institutions are sacred, and it is at our peril if we violate them. (2.) They who at all hazard will gratify their pride, often bring themselves to deserved shame.

3. Uzziah, far from submitting, was angry at the remonstrance, and refused to quit his censer. Note; The wisest and most just rebuke often exasperates the wilful.

4. God therefore appeared to decide the controversy. The leprosy, foul and incurable, seized him, and the marks of it were visible in his forehead: emboldened hereby, the priests hurried him forth from the holy place; and, far from resisting, the stroke that he felt bowed his stubborn heart, and he hasted to be gone, lest worse evils should overtake him: and now he no more dares approach God's house; nay, he is excluded from his own palace while he lives, and from the sepulchre of his ancestors when he dies; a punishment admirably suited to his sin, and to deter others from imitating so bad an example. Note; (1.) They who will not submit to admonition rush on their ruin. (2.) When we feel God's displeasure, it is madness to persist: humiliation is the only door of escape that remains. (3.) Though our iniquity may be pardoned of God, some sins leave a disgrace among men which is indelible.