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26:11-14 Uzziah’s large and well-equipped army enabled him to expand and defend his territory. His name has been found on a fragmentary text of Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, identifying Uzziah as head of a coalition.
26:1-5 The Chronicler gave Uzziah (called Azariah in Kings) a double introduction (26:1-2, 3-5), quoting two passages found in Kings (2 Kgs 14:21-22; 15:2-3).
26:16-18 Uzziah’s leprosy was a judgment on the covenant violation of burning incense within the Temple, an activity reserved exclusively for priests (Exod 30:7-9; Num 16).
26:21 The leprosy forced King Uzziah to spend the end of his life in quarantine in a separate house (literally a free house). The significance of this term is not known; it is often interpreted to mean that he was free from the duties of the monarchy. In Ugaritic texts, it seems to be a euphemism for a place of total confinement.
Uzziah
Uzziah Uzziah, son of Amaziah and Jecoliah, reigned over Judah for 52 years (792–740 BC; see 2 Kgs 14:21-22; 15:1-2; 2 Chr 26:1-3). He reigned as co-regent with his father from the age of sixteen for approximately 25 years. Later, when his father was assassinated, Uzziah became the sole ruler. He served as a capable, energetic, and well-organized king who pleased the Lord through most of his reign. During most of Uzziah’s reign, Jeroboam II ruled the northern kingdom of Israel (793–753 BC). Both kings were successful and brought a long period of prosperity to Israel and Judah. Uzziah successfully fought the Philistines, and he built many fortifications in Jerusalem and throughout Judah. He “sought guidance from the Lord” (2 Chr 26:5), and as long as he did, the Lord blessed him in all his undertakings and he prospered. Several prophets were active during Uzziah’s reign. Amos and Hosea both prophesied during his life (Hos 1:1; Amos 1:1), though most of their oracles were directed toward the northern kingdom. And the prophet Isaiah received his call the year Uzziah died (Isa 1:1; 6:1). Uzziah became proud of his many successes and had a sad downfall (2 Chr 26:16). He took...
genesis 2:15-17
genesis 3:1-6
exodus 19:12-13
exodus 30:7-9
exodus 31:14-15
leviticus 10:1-20
leviticus 24:16-17
numbers 1:51
Violation of the Sacred
Violation of the Sacred Ever since Eden, humans have attempted to take God’s sacred space as their own (Gen 2:15-17; 3:1-6). Scripture shows us God’s anger and swift punishment when people treat his holy commands with contempt or casual disdain. Nadab and Abihu were supposed to lead Israel in proper worship, so when they ignored God’s specific instructions about priestly duties, they lost their lives for their sin (Lev 10:1-20). Jesus himself expressed the righteous anger of God when he entered the Temple with a whip and drove out the merchants and money changers who were defiling the holy space for their own profit (John 2:13-16). There can be no violations with respect to God’s holy presence, and that certainly included the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple represented God’s presence in creation, so all of its rituals needed to reflect its status as sacred and set apart for God alone. This meant that no one could enter it to make offerings except those anointed for the task. One particularly egregious sin was when King Uzziah entered the Temple to burn incense (2 Chr 26:16). The kings of Israel (unlike kings of other ancient Near Eastern cultures) were excluded from the sa...