Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
2 Chronicles 26:13

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)

Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument to punish the rebellious southern kingdom (25:1-28; see notes on 2 Kings 14:1-22).

Under the rule of Jeroboam II in the north (2 Kings 14:23-29) and Uzziah (or Azariah) in the south, both kingdoms enjoyed remarkable growth and prosperity. Unfortunately, this made Uzziah proud, and he arrogantly took to himself the rights of a priest. The writer points out that although the priesthood and the kingship were both appointed by God, they were separate and independent systems. One could not take over the functions of the other (26:1-23; see notes on 2 Kings 15:1-7).

Jotham followed the good policies of his father, while being careful not to repeat his father’s errors. In the Chronicler’s view, Jotham’s fear of God was the source of his strength and success (27:1-9; see notes on 2 Kings 15:32-38).

The great prosperity throughout both kingdoms was followed by unbelievable chaos. In the north the kingdom of Israel almost collapsed (2 Kings 15:8-31), and in the south the disastrous reign of Ahaz almost brought destruction to Judah (28:1-27; see notes on 2 Kings 16:1-20). Within a short time the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria and its people carried away captive. This was the end of the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17:1-41).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

THE RECORD OF UZZIAH'S MIGHTY ACHIEVEMENTS

"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 he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Ammonites that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad, even to the entrance of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong. 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. And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry. Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. The whole number of the heads of the fathers' houses, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred. 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. And Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be upon the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong."

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Compare 2 Chronicles 25:5. It will be seen that Uzziah had not added much to the military strength of the nation by his conquests. His army exceeds that of his father Amaziah by 7,500 men only.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 26

Chapter 26 we find the beginning of the reign of Uzziah. Now he was only sixteen years old when he began to reign and he had one of the longest reigns outside of Manasseh, the longest reign of any king in Israel. He reigned for some fifty-one years. Uzziah was a good king. Uzziah was a popular king. Uzziah became a powerful king.

He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah. He reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 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 ( 2 Chronicles 26:2-5 ).

Very interesting scripture. "As long as he sought the Lord." As long as you put God first in your life. Jesus said that you should not be worried about what you're going to eat, what you're going to drink, what you're going to wear. For after these things do the pagans worry. But "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" ( Matthew 6:33 ). As long as he sought the Lord, as long as he put God first, God made his ways to prosper.

We need to put God first in our lives. "As long as he sought the Lord," very important scripture.

So he went forth and he warred against the Philistines, he broke down the wall of Gath, and Jabneh, and Ashdod, and he built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians, and the Mehunims. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. He built towers for defense there in Jerusalem and at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and he fortified them. And he built towers in the desert, he dug many wells: for he had a lot of cattle ( 2 Chronicles 26:6-10 ),

And he had a lot of vineyards and all. There was just general prosperity under Uzziah. He had a host of fighting men that went out to war by bands. And there were 2,600 captains over them.

He made in Jerusalem weapons of war, engines of war that were invented by cunning men, that they would put them on the towers to hurl stones and to shoot arrows. And his name spread far abroad ( 2 Chronicles 26:15 );

So he became a powerful king, a powerful ruler. The kingdom was strengthened under him.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD, for he went into the temple to burn incense at the altar of incense ( 2 Chronicles 26:16 ).

Now, this was the duty that was to be exclusively the priest's. As the king he had no business intruding into the temple to offer incense. It was a job only for the priests. And so Azariah the priest with another eighty priests who were all valiant men came in and challenged him. As he was swinging the incense there before the altar of incense, they challenged him. They said, "Get out of here. You have no business being in here." And he became angry with them and turned against them. But as he did, leprosy broke out on his forehead. And so the priests grabbed him and thrust him out physically because of the leprosy. And he became a leper. He had to dwell outside until the day of his death. And his son took over as the king.

Now Uzziah was a good king, for the most part. It was in the time of his strength that he fell. But because of all that he had done, he was a popular king, the nation prospered under his reign, and his name spread abroad throughout all of the land. And twice it talks about, in verse 2 Chronicles 26:15 , "And his name spread far abroad for he was marvelously helped and he was strong." And in verse 2 Chronicles 26:8 , "And his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt." He was a king that the people had great confidence in, because as long as he was on the throne, because he was a very cunning man, a very skillful man, he had built up all of these defenses, they had developed all of these weapons of war. They had invented many excellent weapons for battle. And the people felt a security. Things prospered under his reign. His name was spread abroad so that people were looking at him. Confidence was in him.

And I point that out because in the sixth chapter of Isaiah, and Isaiah the prophet lived at this time. He began his prophesying during the time or shortly after the death of Uzziah. So we are now coming historically into the period of the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet. And in the sixth chapter of Isaiah, he makes this interesting statement concerning Uzziah: "In the year king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and His train did fill the temple" ( Isaiah 6:1 ).

Up until that time, Isaiah's eyes were upon Uzziah, just like everybody else. He was captivated by the abilities of this man. Uzziah was sort of the hero for all of the people. And God had to move Uzziah out of the way in order that Isaiah might see the Lord.

It's terrible when a man hides our vision of God. Even though he is good, even though he has done a lot of good, we must not get our eyes upon men. Now at the time of his death there was a great despair. "Oh, Uzziah is dead. What are we going to do? We've prospered now for fifty years. The kingdom is strong and powerful. What are we going to do? The throne is empty of this popular, powerful king. What are we going to do? Uzziah is dead."

But God gave to Isaiah a vision of the throne. But God was sitting upon it. Behind the scenes, God reigns. "I saw the Lord high and lifted up sitting on the throne, and His train, His glory did fill the temple." So the death of Uzziah and his son Jotham who began to reign in his stead.

"

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

J. Uzziah ch. 26

The Chronicler gave us much more information about Uzziah than we have in Kings (2 Kings 15:1-7). Uzziah ("Yahweh is strong") was evidently the king’s throne name, and Azariah ("Yahweh helps") his personal name.

Uzziah, as his father, began well but ended poorly. The writer documented his fidelity to Yahweh and God’s consequent blessing of him and his kingdom at length (2 Chronicles 26:1-15). Perhaps 2 Chronicles 26:5 summarizes this best. To seek the Lord meant to seek to please Him by trusting and obeying Him.

Unfortunately, Uzziah took personal credit for what God had given him (2 Chronicles 26:16). The writer noted several times that Uzziah was strong (2 Chronicles 26:8; 2 Chronicles 26:15-16). His pride led to self-exaltation; he put himself above God.

"If he had only remembered the message of his names, that he was powerful because of the Lord’s help, he would not have fallen." [Note: Thompson, p. 330.]

The Mosaic Law permitted only the priests to offer incense in the temple (Exodus 30:1-10; Numbers 3:10; Numbers 3:38; Numbers 16:40; Numbers 18:1-7). The Davidic kings could offer sacrifices on the bronze altar in the temple courtyard, as could the ordinary Israelites. But Uzziah’s presumptuous act of offering incense in the holy place manifested rebellion against God’s will. For this reason God struck him with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:19). [Note: See E. V. Hulse, "The Nature of Biblical Leprosy," Palestine Exploration Quarterly 107 (1975):87-105.]

"He had not been one of the weak kings of Judah who was easily swayed by others (like Jehoshaphat) or too open and accommodating with the leaders in the north. But as is often the case with strong leaders, this virtue gave way to a headstrong, I-can-do-no-wrong attitude. It was precisely his strength that blinded him to the effrontery of his action." [Note: Thompson, p. 331.]

Uzziah’s leprosy meant he could no longer enjoy personal worship at the temple (2 Chronicles 26:21). Rather than caring for the temple and building it up as God had said David’s son would do, Uzziah could not even enter its courtyard. The king’s leprosy was an outward evidence of his inward uncleanness (cf. Isaiah 6:5).

Uzziah’s reign was the third in a "royal trilogy" of kings who began well but ended poorly: Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah. Their histories show the reader how difficult, yet how important, it is to hold the confidence of right standing with God that we have at the beginning of our lives firm until the end (Hebrews 3:14). [Note: Allen, p. 345.]

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred,.... Which was larger than that in his father's time by 7500, 2 Chronicles 25:5 besides officers:

that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy; they were ready to fight, and fight valiantly, whenever the king had any occasion for them, or the land was invaded.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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.   2 He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.   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.   4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.   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.   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.   7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.   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.   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.   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.   11 Moreover Uzziah had a 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.   12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.   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.   14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.   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.

      We have here an account of two things concerning Uzziah:--

      I. His piety. In this he was not very eminent or zealous; yet he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He kept up the pure worship of the true God as his father did, and was better than his father, inasmuch as we have no reason to think he ever worshipped idols as his father did, no, not in his latter days, when his heart was lifted up. It is said (2 Chronicles 26:5; 2 Chronicles 26:5), He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who, some think, was the son of the Zechariah whom his grandfather Joash slew. This Zechariah was one that had understanding in the visions of God, either the visions which he himself was favoured with or the visions of the preceding prophets. He was well versed in prophecy, and conversed much with the upper world, was an intelligent, devout, good man; and, it seems, had great influence with Uzziah. Happy are the great men who have such about them and are willing to be advised by them; but unhappy those who seek God only while they have such with them and have not a principle in themselves to bear them out to the end.

      II. His prosperity.

      1. In general, as long as he sought the Lord, and minded religion, God made him to prosper. Note, (1.) Those only prosper whom God makes to prosper; for prosperity is his gift. (2.) Religion and piety are very friendly to outward prosperity. Many have found and owned this, that as long as they sought the Lord and kept close to their duty they prospered; but since they forsook God every thing has gone cross.

      2. Here are several particular instances of his prosperity:-- (1.) His success in his wars: God helped him (2 Chronicles 26:7; 2 Chronicles 26:7), and then he triumphed over the Philistines (those old enemies of God's people), demolished the fortifications of their cities, and put garrisons of his own among them, 2 Chronicles 26:6; 2 Chronicles 26:6. He obliged the Ammonites to pay him tribute, 2 Chronicles 26:8; 2 Chronicles 26:8. He made all quiet about him, and kept them in awe. (2.) The greatness of his fame and reputation. His name was celebrated throughout all the neighbouring countries (2 Chronicles 26:8; 2 Chronicles 26:8) and it was a good name, a name for good things with God and good people. This is true fame, and makes a man truly honourable. (3.) His buildings. While he acted offensively abroad, he did not neglect the defence of his kingdom at home, but built towers in Jerusalem and fortified them, 2 Chronicles 26:9; 2 Chronicles 26:9. Much of the wall of Jerusalem was in his father's time broken down, particularly at the corner gate. But his best fortification of Jerusalem was his close adherence to the worship of God: if his father had not forsaken this the wall of Jerusalem would not have been broken down. While he fortified the city, he did not forget the country, but built towers in the desert too (2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 26:10), to protect the country people from the inroads of the plunderers, bands of whom sometimes alarmed them and plundered them, as 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 21:16. (4.) His husbandry. He dealt much in cattle and corn, employed many hands, and got much wealth by his dealing; for he took a pleasure in it: he loved husbandry (2 Chronicles 26:10; 2 Chronicles 26:10), and probably did himself inspect his affairs in the country, which was no disparagement to him, but an advantage, as it encouraged industry among his subjects. It is an honour to the husbandman's calling that one of the most illustrious princes of the house of David followed it and loved it. He was not one of those that delight in war, nor did he addict himself to sport and pleasure, but delighted in the innocent and quiet employments of the husbandman. (5.) His standing armies. He had, as it should seem, two military establishments. [1.] A host of fighting men that were to make excursions abroad. These went out to war by bands,2 Chronicles 26:11; 2 Chronicles 26:11. They fetched in spoil from the neighbouring countries by way of reprisal for the depredations they had so often made upon Judah, [2.] Another army for guards and garrisons, that were ready to defend the country in case it should be invaded, 2 Chronicles 26:12; 2 Chronicles 26:13. So great were their number and valour that they made war with mighty power; no enemy durst face them, or, at least, could stand before them. Men unarmed can do little in war. Uzziah therefore furnished himself with a great armoury, whence his soldiers were supplied with arms offensive and defensive (2 Chronicles 26:14; 2 Chronicles 26:14), spears, bows, and slings, shields, helmets, and habergeons: swords are not mentioned, because it is probable that every man had a sword of his own, which he wore constantly. Engines were invented, in his time, for annoying besiegers with darts and stones shot from the towers and bulwarks, 2 Chronicles 26:15; 2 Chronicles 26:15. What a pity it is that the wars and fightings which come from men's lusts have made it necessary for cunning men to employ their skill in inventing instruments of death.