Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
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2 Chronicles 26
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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.
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And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
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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.
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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.
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And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
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And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor were two thousand and six hundred.
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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.
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And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
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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 marvelously helped, till he was strong.
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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.
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And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:
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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 honor from the LORD God.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Chapter Study & Analysis
Overview
2 Chronicles 26 details the reign of Uzziah. He was marvelously helped by God and became very powerful. However, his heart was lifted up in pride, and he was struck with leprosy for trying to burn incense in the Temple.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS
1. Success as a Test: Uzziah was "marvellously helped, till he was strong" (v. 15). Strength and success are often greater tests of character than failure and weakness.2. Respecting God’s Boundaries: Uzziah tried to take on a role (priesthood) that God had not given him (v. 18). We must be content with the gifts and callings God has assigned to us.
3. Pride Precedes the Fall: A heart "lifted up" is the beginning of destruction. We must remain small in our own eyes even when God makes us great in the eyes of others.
Practical Lessons
FORMAL PRAYER
Keep us, O Lord, from the snare of pride. We thank Thee for Thy help and success, but help us to remember that we are but servants, called to walk within the boundaries of Thy Word. Amen.