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Uzziah King of Judah

2 Chronicles 26:1-23



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Uzziah King of Judah Text: 2 Chronicles 26:1-23, 1. All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. 2. Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away. 3. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. 4. He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5. He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed. 6. Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory. 7. God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. 8. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power. 9. Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. 10. He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture.



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11. Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official. 12. The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600. 13. They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies. 14. Uzziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army. 15. In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for he received tremendous support and became powerful. 16. But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. 17. Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the Lord followed him in. 18. They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!” 19. Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the Lord’s temple near the incense altar.



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20. When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king himself wanted to leave quickly because the Lord had afflicted him. 21. King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the Lord’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. 22. The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23. Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET) Introduction: I. Uzziah’s (Azariah’s) reign, Hicks noted, can be outlined as follows: (See Also The Pulpit Commentary) . . .

A. Introduction

1. 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed. (NET)



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B. Good years

1. 2 Chronicles 26:6-15, Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory. God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power.Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture.Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official. The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600. They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies. zziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for



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he received tremendous support and became powerful. (NET)

C. Evil years

1. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21, But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!” Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the Lord’s temple near the incense altar. When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king himself wanted to leave quickly because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the Lord’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. (NET)



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D. Conclusion:

1. 2 Chronicles 26:22-23, The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET)

II. Parallel passages:

A. 2 Kings 14:21-22, All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. Azariah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after the king had passed away. (NET)

B. 2 Kings 15:1-7, In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Amaziah’s son Azariah became king over Judah. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. The Lord afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, including all his accomplishments,



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are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Azariah passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET)

C. 2 Chronicles 26:1-23, All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed. Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory. God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power. Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture. Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer



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under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official. The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600. They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies. Uzziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for he received tremendous support and became powerful. But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!” Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the Lord’s temple near the incense altar. When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king himself wanted to leave quickly because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the Lord’s temple. His son Jotham was



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in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET)

Commentary: 2 Chronicles 26:1, All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah’s place. (NET) I. Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah (Amariah), who was sixteen (16) years old, and . . .

A. Surely, there had to be a better form of government than one which previously made a seven (7) year old boy (Joash) and now a sixteen (16) year old adolescent heads of state.

B. Uzziah’s coronation had popular support.

Note: Uzziah (Strength of Jehovah) and Azariah (Help of Jehovah) are both names of this king of Judah. (The Pulpit Commentary) II. made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

A. Coffman wrote, “The youth of Uzziah probably accounts for the fact that the conspirators against Amaziah wanted so long to murder him; for they had surely determined to do so



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as soon as he worshiped the gods of Edom, an even that took place when Uzziah was an infant.”

B. Hicks is of like persuasion and wrote, “The conspirators who assassinated Amaziah had been planning his death from the time that Amaziah turned away from the Lord. Apparently, there was a religious reform party in Judah who resented Amaziah’s introduction of Edomite gods. Perhaps this group also gave Uzziah his reformist mentality. The conspirators were not alone because all the people of Judah took Uzziah and made him king.”

2 Chronicles 26:2, Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away. (NET) I. He was the one who rebuilt Elath (Eloth) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers.

A. Elath was a seaport town on the northeast corner of the Gulf of Elath, or Aqaba, on the Red Sea. Both David and Solomon established an extensive trade there. (Youngblood)

1. 2 Chronicles 8:17-18, Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom. Huram sent him ships and some of his sailors, men who were well acquainted with the sea. They sailed with Solomon’s men to Ophir, and took from there 450 talents of gold, which they brought back to King Solomon. (NET)

2. 1 Kings 9:26-28, King Solomon also built ships in Ezion Geber, which is located near Elat in the



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land of Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. Hiram sent his fleet and some of his sailors, who were well acquainted with the sea, to serve with Solomon’s men. They sailed to Ophir, took from there 420 talents of gold, and then brought them to King Solomon. (NET)

B. Edom had subsequently taken possession of Elath.

1. Amaziah had defeated and greatly weakened Edom. (The Pulpit Commentary)

2. Now Uzziah, Amaziah’s son, took advantage of Edom’s weakness and repossessed Elath. (The Pulpit Commentary)

2 Chronicles 26:3, Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. (NET) I. Uzziah was sixteen (16) years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two (52) years.

A. Coffman, quoting Baker, wrote, Uzziah’s “was a long and powerful reign indeed. He successfully defended Judah against the belligerent Ammonites, Philistines and Arabians, developed a strong standing army, and rebuilt the nation’s fortifications. He even reopened the Red Sea port of Eloth (Ezion-geber), and promoted commerce.”

II. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.



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A. Jecoliah (Jecholiah), is able or made strong of Jehovah) was Uzziah’s (Amariah’s) mother and wife of Uzziah’s father, Amaziah.

2 Chronicles 26:4, He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. (NET) I. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, . . .

A. Coffman stated that “this only means that he began well, as was the case with his father.”

B. Later in life, when he had become powerful, “his pride led to his downfall” and “he became unfaithful to the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 26:16)

C. Hicks observed that Uzziah was the third successive king of Judah, following Joash and Amaziah, whose reign was characterized by righteousness early but by evil in the latter years of his reign.

II. just as his father Amaziah had done.

A. Both Amaziah and Uzziah began well, but wandered away from God as years passed.

2 Chronicles 26:5, He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed. (NET) I. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God.



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A. Uzziah sought God as long as his righteous mentor, Zechariah, lived.

B. Uzziah did as his grandfather Joash had done.

1. 2 Chronicles 24:2, Joash did what the Lord approved throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. (NET)

C. This Zechariah, one of about thirty (30) men in the Bible of this name, otherwise unknown in Scripture, educated Uzziah in the fear of the Lord. (Hicks)

1. Zechariah was a prophet and/or teacher, tutor in the royal court. (Hicks)

2. The “fear of the Lord” was the curriculum in which Uzziah was instructed.

a. Proverbs 1:7, Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NET)

b. Isaiah 11:3, He will take delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. (NET)

II. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

A. God blesses those who seek him, and he forsakes those who forsake him,” Hicks wrote.



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1. 2 Chronicles 14:7, He said to the people of Judah: “Let’s build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the Lord our God and he has made us secure on all sides.” So they built the cities and prospered. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 31:21, He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God’s temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God. (NET) 3. 1 Chronicles 28:9, “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. (NET)

II. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. III. Hicks categorizes Uzziah’s successes as follows: . . .

A. territorial expansion

1. 2 Chronicles 26:6-8, Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory. God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistine, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah



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and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power. (NET)

B. economic development

1. 2 Chronicles 26:9-10, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture. (NET)

C. military buildup

1. 2 Chronicles 26:11-15, Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official. The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600. They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies.Uzziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for he received tremendous support and became powerful. (NET)



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2 Chronicles 26:6, Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory. (NET) I. He went to war against the Philistines and . . .

A. Philistines were an aggressive nation that occupied part of southwest Palestine from about 1200 to 600 B.C. Philistines were continuing adversaries of Israel-Judah. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Note: “Uzziah extended his territorial borders in the west-southwest (Philistines), southeast (Arabs and Meunites) and east (Ammonites), Hicks wrote. II. broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod.

A. Gath and Ashdod were two of the Philistines’ principal cities located near the Mediterranean Coast.

B. Jabneh (also known as Jabneel) was also a Philistine city of importance located northwest of Judah.

1. Joshua 15:10-12, It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah. It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended



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at the sea. The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans. (NET)

C. This expansion to the south and southwest may have given Uzziah control of the international coastal highway which “financed” his economic growth and military buildup”. (See Hicks.)

III. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

A. While Judah, due to lack of faith, was not able to drive the Philistines out of their territory, these cities would place the area under the firm control of Judah and dilute the remaining military threat presented by the Philistines. (The Pulpit Commentary)

2 Chronicles 26:7, God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. (NET)

I. God helped him against the Philistines and . . .

A. When God helps us, we succeed, but when God forsakes us, we fail.

II. against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and . .

A. Little is otherwise known of Gur Baal (perhaps the same as Gari east of Beersheba), (dwelling of Baal). It may have been located someplace in Edom. (See Bromiley and Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

III. against the Meunites.



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A. Meunites (Meunim) were an Arabian tribe that lived in and around their capital at Maon located about twelve (12) miles southeast of Petra. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Menunites lived south and southeast of Judah. (Hicks)

2 Chronicles 26:8, The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power. (NET) I. The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and . . .

A. The Ammonites were a nomadic race descended from Ben-Ammi, Lot’s son by his younger daughter. The Ammonites were continual enemies of Israel-Judah.

1. Ammonites lived east of the Jordan River (Hicks) and northeast of Moab. (The Pulpit Commentary)

II. his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, . . .

A. Even the great nation of Egypt took notice of Uzziah’s successes.

B. Uzziah’s influence was becoming increasingly significant in the area.

Note: As long as Uzzrah sought God, he prospered. 1 Chronicles 22:11, 13, “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord



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your God, just as he announced you would. Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 1 Chronicles 28:9, “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. (NET) When Urriah no longer sought God, he failed miserably! III. because he had become very powerful.

A. Neighboring nations were taking notice of Uzziah! 2 Chronicles 26:9, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. (NET) I. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, . . .

A. 2 Kings 14:13, King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET)

B. 2 Chronicles 25:23, King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of



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Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET)

C. 2 Chronicles 26:9, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. (NET)

D. Jeremiah 31:38, “Indeed a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my special city. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate. (NET)

E. Zechariah 14:10, All the land will change and become like the Arabah from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be raised up and will stay in its own place from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate and on to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. (NET)

F. Hicks observed, “Uzziah’s prosperity is evidenced in his building and agricultural projects.”

1. “Building projects repaired the damage done by Jehoash of Israel.” (See Hicks.)

a. 2 Chronicles 25:23, King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET)



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2. “Economic growth came both through trade (controlling the intercostal highway) and agricultural development,” Hicks further wrote.

II. at the Valley gate and . . .

A. 2 Chronicles 26:9, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. (NET)

B. Nehemiah 2:13, 15, I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons and the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. I continued up the valley during the night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and came to the Valley Gate, and so returned. (NET)

C. Nehemiah 3:13, Hanun and the residents of Zanoah worked on the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars, in addition to working on fifteen hundred feet of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. (NET)

D. The Valley Gate may be the same as the Gehenna Gate.

III. at the angle (turning, corner) of the wall, and . . .

A. The Pulpit Commentary suggests this corner is the south-east corner of the temple plateau.



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IV. he fortified them. A. Israel had damaged Jerusalem’s walls which required their repair and refortification. 2 Chronicles 26:10, He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture. (NET) I. He also built towers in the desert (wilderness) and dug many cisterns, . . .

A. Uzziah loved agriculture which required an adequate water supply.

1. Cisterns were tanks designed to hold water rather than springs or wells.

B. This wilderness/desert was the cattle pasture west and south-west of the Dead Sea. (The Pulpit Commentary)

C. These towers were needed to defend against marauders and “cattle rustlers”. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

1. Towers were needed for the defense of flocks, shepherds and husbandmen. (Clarke)

II. because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain.

A. Uzziah had become a “cattle baron”.



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III. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, . . .

A. Reduction of the Philistine threat to the Shephelah (the foothills between the coast and the mountainous terrain of Jerusalem and Hebron) opened this area for Judean agriculture, Hicks observed.

B. “Carmel” (KJV) is, according to The Pulpit Commentary, more likely in this place is a reference to “fertile fields” than to a specific town named Carmel.

1. There are various biblical uses of the original for Carmel as a proper name for a place and as meaning “fruitful or fertile fields.”

IV. for he loved the soil (husbandry – KJV).

A. Clarke declared, “ . . . there can be no true national prosperity if agriculture does not prosper,” Clarke wrote.

2 Chronicles 26:11, Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official. (NET) I. Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions (bands) according to their numbers . . .

A. “Uzziah protected his economic” and territorial “growth through a military buildup,” Hicks wrote.



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B. Uzziah’s forces were ready for immediate deployment to meet unexpected threats.

II. as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials.

A. Hananiah (the Lord is gracious), one of fifteen (15) Old Testament men of this name, was a commander in King Uzziah’s army. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. The Pulpit Commentary states that “Hananiah was head of the whole matter of registering” soldiers.

B. Jeiel, the name of nine or ten men in the Old Testament, was a scribe who helped prepare the roll of military personnel for King Uzziah. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

C. Maaseiah, the name of several men in the Old Testament, was one of Uzziah’s officers. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

2 Chronicles 26:12, The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600. (NET) I. The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600.

A. “Family leaders” indicates the presence of tribal and clan influences in the military organization.



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2 Chronicles 26:13, They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies. (NET) I. Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, . . . II. a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.

A. Hicks noted that, according to non-biblical sources, Uzziah was part of a coalition in 742 B.C. that resisted the encroaching imperial interests of the Assyrian king Tiglathpileser III. Uzziah’s army, in coalition with others, prevented Assyrian incursions during his reign.”

2 Chronicles 26:14, Uzziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army. (NET) I. Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor (habergeons), bows and slingstones for the entire army.

A. Uzziah’s army was well supplied.

B. References:

1. Judges 20:16, Among this army were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target. (NET)

2. 1 Samuel 17:40, He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream,



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placed them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine. (NET)

3. 2 Kings 3:25, They tore down the cities and each man threw a stone into every cultivated field until they were covered. They stopped up every spring and chopped down every productive tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left intact, but the slingers surrounded it and attacked it. (NET)

2 Chronicles 26:15, In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for he received tremendous support and became powerful. (NET) I. In Jerusalem he made machines (inventions) designed by skillful men for use on the towers and on the corner defenses . . . II. to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. III. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

A. The Lord was Uzziah’s great helper, but he evidently had continuing general support from all areas of Judaean society.

2 Chronicles 26:16, But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. (NET)



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I. But after Uzziah became powerful, . . .

A. The Lord made Uzziah powerful, but instead of being humbly grateful he became arrogantly, pridefully self-centered.

B. God’s blessings should cause us to recognize our dependence on him, but often it tempts people to feel they no longer need God.

1. 1 Chronicles 28:9, “And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. (NET)

II. his pride led to his downfall.

A. “Prosperity was the occasion of Uzziah’s fall. . . . prosperity demands integrity. Uzziah failed the test of prosperity,” Hicks observed.

B. Pride led to Uzziah’s downfall!

1. 1 Chronicles 5:25, But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them. (NET)

2. 1 Chronicles 9:1, Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll



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of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. (NET)

3. 1 Chronicles 10:13, So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. (NET)

4. 2 Chronicles 26:16, 18, But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!” (NET)

5. 2 Chronicles 28:19, The Lord humiliated Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very unfaithful to the Lord. (NET)

6. 2 Chronicles 29:6, For our fathers were unfaithful; they did what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God and abandoned him! They turned away from the Lord’s dwelling place and rejected him. (NET)



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7. 2 Chronicles 30:7, Don’t be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the Lord God of their ancestors, provoking him to destroy them, as you can see. (NET)

8. 2 Chronicles 36:14, All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. (NET)

III. He (transgressed) was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and . . . IV. entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

A. This was contrary to the Mosaic law.

1. Exodus 30:1-10, “You are to make an altar for burning incense; you are to make it of acacia wood. Its length is to be a foot and a half and its width a foot and a half; it will be square. Its height is to be three feet, with its horns of one piece with it. You are to overlay it with pure gold—its top, its four walls, and its horns—and make a surrounding border of gold for it. You are to make two gold rings for it under its border, on its two flanks; you are to make them on its two sides. The rings will be places for poles to carry it with. You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. “You are to put it in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the testimony (before the atonement lid that



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is over the testimony), where I will meet you. Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it morning by morning; when he attends to the lamps he is to burn incense. When Aaron sets up the lamps around sundown he is to burn incense on it; it is to be a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. You must not offer strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering, and you must not pour out a drink offering on it. Aaron is to make atonement on its horns once in the year with some of the blood of the sin offering for atonement; once in the year he is to make atonement on it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” (NET)

2. Numbers 16:40, It was a memorial for the Israelites, that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to burn incense before the Lord, that he might not become like Korah and his company—just as the Lord had spoken by the authority of Moses. (NET)

3. Numbers 18:1-7, your sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood. “Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join with you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come



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near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. They must join with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person may approach you. You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites. I myself have chosen your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties of the tent of meeting. But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death.” (NET)

B. Burning of incense was exclusively a priestly prerogative.

2 Chronicles 26:17, Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the Lord followed him in. (NET) I. Azariah the (high) priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in.

A. Azariah, the name of twenty-eight (28) Old Testament men, was chief priest during this period of King Azariah’s (Uzziah’s) reign. (Youngblood)

1. When two people as here have the same name, extra care is needed to avoid confusion.



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B. These priests put loyalty to God before life itself!

1. These were indeed courageous “sons of valors” which expressions have military connotations.

a. 1 Chronicles 5:18, The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war. (NET)

b. 1 Chronicles 11:22, Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. (NET)

c. 1 Chronicles 26:7-9, 30, 32, The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected. All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom. Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected—eighteen in all. As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan;



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they did the Lord’s work and the king’s service. Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders. King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king. (NET)

d. 2 Chronicles 28:6, In one day King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel killed 120,000 warriors in Judah, because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. (NET)

2 Chronicles 26:18, They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you!” (NET) I. They confronted him and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord.

A. The fact that David, Solomon and Ahaz had also been guilty of this sin did not lessen its present seriousness.

1. Exodus 29:29, “The holy garments that belong to Aaron are to belong to his sons after him, so that they may be anointed in them and consecrated in them. (NET)



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II. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. III. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and . . .

A. The priests were now in the process of evicting the king from the temple and this made the king very angry.

B. After all, the Canaanite kings were heads of their respective religions. (See Hicks.)

IV. you will not be honored by the Lord God.” 2 Chronicles 26:19, Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the Lord’s temple near the incense altar. (NET) I. Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry.

A. There was no doubt of Uzziah’s guilt.

1. He was caught by eighty-one (81) priestly witnesses in the very act! (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

II. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, . . .

A. Uzziah’s rage did not change God’s law one bit!



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B. Others had found rage to be totally without influence in regard to God.

1. 2 Chronicles 16:10, Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, When I close up the sky so that it doesn’t rain, or command locusts to devour the land’s vegetation, or send a plague among my people, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (NET)

III. leprosy broke out on his forehead.

A. If Uzziah had humbly submitted himself to God, he would not have died a leper.

1. 2 Chronicles 27:6, Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the Lord his God. (NET)

2. Numbers 12:10, When the cloud departed from above the tent, Miriam became leprous as snow. Then Aaron looked at Miriam, and she was leprous! (NET)

B. The High Priest wore a turban with a gold pendant over the forehead which read, “Holy to the Lord.” (Johnstone via Hicks)



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1. Exodus 28:36-38, “You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it the way a seal is engraved: “Holiness to the Lord.” You are to attach to it a blue cord so that it will be on the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the Israelites are to sanctify by all their holy gifts; it will always be on his forehead, for their acceptance before the Lord. (NET)

2. Uzziah’s forehead wore a turban of leprosy declaring, “Unclean before the Lord”. (See Hicks.)

a. Leviticus 13:36, then the priest is to examine it, and if the scall has spread on the skin the priest is not to search further for reddish yellow hair. The person is unclean. (NET)

b. Numbers 5:1-4, Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Command the Israelites to expel from the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled by a corpse. You must expel both men and women; you must put them outside the camp, so that they will not defile their camps, among which I live.” So the Israelites did so, and expelled them outside the camp. As the Lord had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did. (NET)



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c. Numbers 12:15, So Miriam was shut outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought back in. (NET)

d. 2 Kings 7:3, Now four men with a skin disease were sitting at the entrance of the city gate. They said to one another, “Why are we just sitting here waiting to die? (NET)

2 Chronicles 26:20, When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king himself wanted to leave quickly because the Lord had afflicted him. (NET) I. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, . . .

A. The priests, seeing this desecration of the temple by this now leprous, ceremonially unclean person, must have utterly horrified them! (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

II. they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, . . .

A. The Lord had smitten Uzziah because of his presumptive sin of taking upon himself the functions of the priest.

III. so they hurried (urged) him out.

A. No ceremonially unclean person was allowed in the temple.



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B. The priests urged the king to leave the temple.

1. The priests would not have wanted to touch the leper king because they would by touching have themselves become unclean.

IV. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.

A. Uzziah realized the severity of the plague that had befallen him and was urgent to leave the temple as well.

B. Uzziah had gotten over his rage.

1. He now realized how serious his sin was.

2. Many now don’t realize how serious their sins are until it is too late.

a. Numbers 16:31-35, When he had finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households, and all Korah’s men, and all their goods. They and all that they had went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed over them. So they perished from among the community. All the Israelites who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “What if the earth swallows us too?” Then a fire went out from



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the Lord and devoured the 250 men who offered incense. (NET)

b. Numbers 18:5-7, You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites. I myself have chosen your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties of the tent of meeting. But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death.” (NET)

2 Chronicles 26:21, King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the Lord’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. (NET) I. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died.

A. This was an incurable, terminal sin which produced illness.

II. He lived in a separate house – leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord.



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A. “Uzziah lived his last ten (10) years in isolation from his kingdom, family, and God,”Hicks declared.

B. Uzziah was an outcast from all society, civil and religious.

1. The house in which he lived was kept free from contact with others.

2. Was this solitary confinement?

3. Leviticus 13:46, The whole time he has the infection he will be continually unclean. He must live in isolation, and his place of residence must be outside the camp. (NET)

C. The wages of sin is death!

III. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

A. Jotham served as co-regent with his father beginning circa 750 B.C.

1. 2 Kings 15:5, The Lord afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land. (NET)

B. Uzziah was no longer able to perform the functions, duties of King of Judah.



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2 Chronicles 26:22, The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. (NET) I. The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, . . .

A. A thorough history of Uzziah’s reign from start to finish was compiled by Isaiah.

B. However, this record is not contained in the biblical book of Isaiah, but was a separate work which has been lost to history.

II. are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amon.

A. Isaiah was a major prophet who wrote the lengthy biblical book that bears his name.

1. Isaiah’s call to prophecy first came in the year of Uzziah’s death.

a. Isaiah 6:1, In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. (NET)

b. 2 Chronicles 32:32, The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. (NET)



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B. These writings of Isaiah are lost to history and are not the biblical book of Isaiah which contains very few references to Uzziah.

1. Isaiah 1:1, Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah. (NET)

In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. (NET)

2. Isaiah 6:1, In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. (NET)

2 Chronicles 26:23, Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king. (NET) I. Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, . . .

A. Uzziah was buried near but not with the other kings of Judah, this being occasioned by the fact that he died an “unclean leper.”

B. Sin is expensive! No one can afford it, not even King Uzziah!



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II. for people said, “He had leprosy.”

A. Lepers were unclean, living or dead! III. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king. Conclusion: I. From Uzziah, his father Amaziah and his grandfather Joash, we are impressed with the fact that a good beginning is not enough. (See Hicks.)

A. We must persevere in righteousness all our lives.

1. Hebrews 3:14, For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. (NET)

2. Hebrews 4:11, Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. (NET)

II. “Humanly speaking,” Hicks wrote, “Uzziah was a great king” who “reigned a long time, raised a large army, reconquered territory, and rebuilt the Judean economy.”

A. However, in just a few years . . ., Judah would lie ruined and uninhabited, Hicks wrote.

1. Isaiah 6:11-12, I replied, “How long, sovereign master?” He said, “Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and



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the land is ruined and devastated, and the Lord has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned. (NET)

B. When Uzziah and Judah forsook God, God forsook them!

1. It is still that way!

2. Babylonian captivity awaits.

a. 2 Chronicles 33:18-19, The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the Lord responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. (NET)

b. 2 Chronicles 36:11-14, Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the Lord’s spokesman. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and



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refused to return to the Lord God of Israel. All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. They defiled the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. (NET)



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Questions

2 Chronicles 26:1-23

1. Outline Uzziah’s (_____________) reign as presented in 2 Chronicles 26:1-23. ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. _____________ and _____________ with _____________ are parallel passages. 3. _____________ became _____________ of _____________ when he was __________ years old. ___________’s __________ had _____________ _____________. His father’s name was _____________. His mother’s name was _____________. He reigned _____________ years in _____________. 4. Locate Elath? Why was Elath important to Judah historically and strategically? ______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Was Uzziah a good king? Give reasons for your answer. ____ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Who was Zechariah of verse 5? What influence did he have on Uzziah? ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. What is “the fear of the Lord”? _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Give evidence that God blesses those who seek him and that God forsakes those who forsake him. ______________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Categorize Uzziah’s successes. _________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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10. Why did Uzziah go to war with the Philistines? What were the outcomes of this war? _______________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Why did Uzziah rebuild towns among the Philistines? ______ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Who were the Meunites? _____________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Who were the Ammonites? ___________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. What were the territorial results of these victories for Judah? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. What caused Egypt to take notice of Uzziah? _____________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. What occasioned the construction at Jerusalem? Of what did these preparations/constructions consist? ___________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. Why were towers and cisterns built in the wilderness/desert? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. How important was agriculture to Uzziah? . . . to any nation seeking security? ______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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19. How big, well trained, well equipped and ready to respond to needs was Uzziah’s army? _______________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. What were the occasion and results of Uzziah’s army’s war with the Assyrians? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. Who helped Uzziah become powerful? __________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22. What happened to Uzziah after he had become powerful? What caused this? _____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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23. Are people more likely to remain faithful to God when in need or when affluent? ______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. What was wrong with Uzziah’s burning incense to the Lord? Wasn’t he worshiping Jehovah in the manner of his forefathers, both David and Solomon? _______________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 25. Who was Azariah? What did he do? Why was this a courageous thing for him and his associates to do? ___________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 26. What was Uzziah’s reaction to Azariah? _________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



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27. What happened to Uzziah Wasn’t this punishment too severe for a person who had done so much good? _________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28. Who was Jotham? When did he enter government service? What was his initial position? _____________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. Why was Uzziah buried near but not with the other kings of Judah? ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30. What lessons have you learned from this study of Uzziah? Show how Uzziah shows us that earthly success and spiritual success are two altogether different things. _________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Documents

Uzziah King of Judah 2 Chronicles 26:1-23biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_chronicles/2... · Uzziah King of Judah Text: 2 Chronicles 26:1-23, 1. All the people of Judah took