“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 Gurbaal, 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 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. 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.”
“16 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. 17 And
Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of
the LORD, [that were] valiant men: 18 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 honour from the LORD God. 19
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. 20 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. 21 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. 22 Now the rest of the
acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz,
write. 23 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.” (2
Chronicles 26:1-23 AV)
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