1 Uzziah Reigns over Judah And all the people of Judah took 26:1In 2 Kin14:21,Azariah Uzziah, whowassixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was 26:3In 2 Kin15:2,Jecoliah Jechiliah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 And he continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding 26:5Many mss in the fear of God through the vision of God; and 26:5Lit in the days of his seeking as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him succeed.Uzziah’s Fame Spreads Afar
6 Then he went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities inthe area ofAshdod and among the Philistines.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites.
8 The Ammonites also gave tribute to Uzziah, and his 26:8Lit name went to the entering of Egypt fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.
9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and strengthened them.
10 He also built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the 26:10Or lowland Shephelah and in the plain.He also hadplowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil.
11 Moreover, Uzziah had a military force which could wage war, which went out formilitaryduty by divisions according to the number of their muster,preparedby the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials.
12 The total number of the heads of the 26:12Lit fathers households, of mighty men of valor, was2,600.
13 And under their hand was a 26:13Lit powerful mighty army of307,500,who could wage war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared 26:14Lit for them, for all for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for sling.
15 In Jerusalem he also made devicesof wardevised by skillful designers to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his 26:15Lit name fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until hewasstrong.Uzziah’s Pride
16 But when he became strong, his heart was so 26:16Lit lifted up proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to Yahweh his God. And he entered the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, men of valor.
18 And they stood against Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are set apart as holy to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from Yahweh God.”
19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, hewasleprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because Yahweh had smitten him.
21 So King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh. And Jotham his sonwasover the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written.
23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.