And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred ,.... Which was larger than that in his father's time by 7500, 2 Chronicles 25:5 besides officers: that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy ; they were ready to fight, and fight valiantly, whenever the king had any occasion for them, or the land was invaded. read more
And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host ,.... For every soldier in the army: shields and spears ; defensive and offensive weapons, the one to cover and protect their bodies, the other to push and pierce their enemies: and helmets, and habergeons ; the first of these were a covering for the head in the day of battle, and the other coats of mail, to defend the body: and bows ; to shoot arrows out of: and slings to cast stones ; at which the Benjaminites formerly... read more
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 ,.... Such as with the Romans were called "catapultae", "ballistae" F21 Cicero. Tusculan. Quaest. l. 2. Tacit. Hist. l. 3. c. 23. , "scorpiones" F23 Ammian. Marcellin. l. 23. , &c.; and by this it appears that these were not first invented in Greece and Rome, but in Judea. It is said F24 Vid. Valtrinum de re militari Roman. l. 5.... read more
When he was strong ,.... Became great and powerful, through his victories, the enlargement of his dominions, and having a numerous army, and these well accoutred, and many fortified cities and towers: his heart was lifted up to his destruction ; he grew vain and proud, elated with his flourishing circumstances, which issued in his ruin: for he transgressed against the Lord his God ; who had helped him, and made him so great, and had bestowed so many favours upon him; the Targum... read more
And Azariah the priest went in after him ,.... To hinder him from doing it, and to persuade him to go out. This was the high priest, as appears from 2 Chronicles 26:20 and is thought to be the same that is spoken of in 1 Chronicles 6:10 . and with him eighty priests of the Lord, that were valiant men ; not only able bodied men, but men of spirit and courage, and zealous for the honour of God. read more
And they withstood Uzziah the king ,.... They not only stood against him, but stood about him, surrounded him, so as to hinder him from approaching the altar of incense: and said unto him, it appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord ; it did not belong to his office as a king, it was no part of it but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense ; and to them only; for even the Levites might not do it, only those of the tribe of... read more
Then Uzziah was wroth ,.... With the priests, and, as Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 10. sect. 4. says, threatened to kill them: and had a censer in his hand to burn incense ; ready to do it, and resolved upon it: and while he was wroth with the priests ; and expressing his indignation, and do what he would do to them, if they continued to oppose him: the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar ; which... read more
The people of Judah took Uzziah - They all agreed to place this son on his father's throne. read more
He built Eloth - See the notes on 2 Kings 14:21 . This king is called by several different names; see the note on 2 Kings 15:1 . read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:12
The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand six hundred. Who were the commanders and principal officers of his army; and such a number supposed a large army, as follows. read more