And God helped him - "And the Word of the Lord helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gerar, and the plains of Meun." - Targum. These are supposed to be the Arabs which are called the Meuneons, or Munites, or Meonites. read more
The Ammonites gave gifts - Paid an annual tribute. read more
Built towers in the desert - For the defense of his flocks, and his shepherds and husbandmen. And in Carmel - Calmet remarks that there were two Carmels in Judea: one in the tribe of Judah, where Nabal lived, and the other on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near to Kishon; and both fertile in vines. He loved husbandry - This is a perfection in a king: on husbandry every state depends. Let their trade or commerce be what they may, there can be no true national... read more
Shields , and spears - He prepared a vast number of military weapons, that he might have them in readiness to put into the hands of his subjects on any exigency. read more
Engines - to shoot arrows and great stones - The Targum says, "He made in Jerusalem ingenious instruments, and little hollow towers, to stand upon the towers and upon the bastions, for the shooting of arrows, and projecting of great stones." This is the very first intimation on record of any warlike engines for the attack or defense of besieged places; and this account is long prior to any thing of the kind among either the Greeks or Romans. Previously to such inventions, the... read more
He transgressed against the Lord - "He sinned against the Word of the Lord his God." - T. Went into the temple to burn incense - Thus assuming to himself the priest's office. See this whole transaction explained in the notes on 2 Kings 15:5 ; (note). read more
Uzziah ; Hebrew, עֻזִּיָּה . (signifying "Strength of Jehovah"). Once in Chronicles, and once only ( 1 Chronicles 3:12 ), this king's name is given Azariah, Hebrew, עֲזַרְיָה (signifying "Help of Jehovah") or עֲזַרְיָהוּ ; and Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:1 , etc.), Hosea ( Hosea 1:1 , etc.), and Amos ( Amos 1:1 , etc.) always use the word Uzziah. In the parallel, however, and in both the chapters in which the parallel clauses lie, the word Azariah is used, as well in other... read more
Premature responsibility, etc. In these verses we have a picture or a suggestion of— I. PREMATURE RESPONSIBILITY . "All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king." They all agreed to set a lad upon the throne. Events seem to have justified their course; and if Zechariah the prophet, or, what is more likely, some prominent "prince of Judah," acted as prime minister or protector, he may have succeeded even in the earlier years of his... read more
Uzziah the prosperous. I. A YOUTHFUL SOVEREIGN . ( 2 Chronicles 26:1-3 .) 1 . His names. Uzziah, "Might of Jehovah" ( 2 Kings 15:13 , 2 Kings 15:30 , 2 Kings 15:32 , 2 Kings 15:34 ; Isaiah 1:1 ; Isaiah 6:1 ; Amos 1:1 ; Zechariah 14:5 ); Azariah, "Whom Jehovah aids" ( 2 Kings 14:21 ; 2 Kings 15:1 , 2 Kings 15:6 , 2 Kings 15:8 , 2 Kings 15:17 , 2 Kings 15:23 , 2 Kings 15:27 ; 1 Chronicles 3:12 );—the former, the designation taken by or conferred... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 26:5
In the days of Zechariah - Who this was we know not, but by the character that is given of him here. He was wise in the visions of God - in giving the true interpretation of Divine prophecies. He was probably the tutor of Uzziah. read more