The rest of the acts of Uzziah , first and last , did Isaiah the prophet - write - This work, however, is totally lost; for we have not any history of this king in the writings of Isaiah. He is barely mentioned, Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 6:1 . read more
The reign of fifty-two years spoiled in an hour. Many a reign, indeed, was a spoiled reign which had begun well, promised well, and continued well for some length, of time. But the reign of Uzziah, of all the reigns of Judah and of Israel the longest with the one exception of that of Manasseh, and particularly full of prosperity, and remarkably varied prosperity within, of success in just foreign wars, and of that which led to these things, viz. the most gracious tokens of the Divine... read more
To (his) destruction ; Hebrew, עַד־לְחַשְׁחִית , hiph. conjugation infin, of שָׁחַת . This conjugation frequently occurs in the sense of "destroying," but also as well without an accusative as with, in the sense of "doing corruptly" ( Genesis 6:12 with accusative; but without Deuteronomy 4:16 ; Deuteronomy 31:29 ; 2:19 ; Isaiah 1:19 ; and next chapter, Isaiah 1:2 ). He transgressed . The "transgression" of a heart that had waxed wanton through prosperity took that... read more
A clouded close. We could have wished that the end of Uzziah's life had answered to the beginning; that a reign which began so well, which had so commendable and even distinguished a record, bad closed in light and honour. But it was not to be. That powerful temptation which assails the strong and the victorious proved too powerful for the Hebrew king; he fell beneath its force, and he paid a heavy penalty for his fall. We have— I. A PAINFUL SPECTACLE in the person of a leprous... read more
Uzziah the leprous. I. UZZIAH 'S TRANSGRESSION . Pride. "His heart was lifted up." This the inevitable tendency of too much material and temporal prosperity ( Deuteronomy 8:13 , Deuteronomy 8:14 ). Exemplified in Amaziah ( 2 Chronicles 25:18 , 2 Chronicles 25:19 ; 2 Kings 14:9 ), Sennacherib ( 2 Chronicles 32:31 ; 2 Kings 18:19-35 ), Nebuchadnezzar ( Daniel 4:30-34 ; Daniel 5:20 ). 2 . The nature of it. "He went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense... read more
Azariah the priest . Verse 20 states what was otherwise to be supposed, that he was the chief priest ( הָראשׁ ). We fail to identify his name with any in the typical list of 1 Chronicles 6:4-15 , where the Azariah of verse 11 is too early, and the Azariah of verse 13 too late, for our present Azariah. With him four score priests . This passage suggests to us an idea of how many deeply interesting details are wanting, which would fill in the interstices of Old Testament history.... read more
They withstood . A somewhat more forcible rendering would be justified by the Hebrew text, such e.g. as, "They confronted Uzziah to his face," or "They stood in the way of Uzziah," since our "withstood" almost always conveys the idea of argumentative confronting only. There was expostulation here, as we are immediately told, but there was something else also, as 2 Chronicles 26:20 makes very plain, "They thrust him out." read more
Render, Then Uzziah was wrath, and in his hand (at that moment) was a censer to burn incense, etc. From the most literal rendering of the Hebrew text, not unfrequently the most forcible Bible English results. From beside ; render, at the very side of (comp. Numbers 12:10 ; 2 Kings 5:27 ). read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 26:21
And dwelt in a several house - He was separated, because of the infectious nature of his disorder, from all society, domestic, civil, and religious. Jotham - was over the king ' s house - He became regent of the land; his father being no longer able to perform the functions of the regal office. read more