2 Chronicles 26:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:1-15

We have here an account of two things concerning Uzziah:? I. His piety. In this he was not very eminent or zealous; yet he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He kept up the pure worship of the true God as his father did, and was better than his father, inasmuch as we have no reason to think he ever worshipped idols as his father did, no, not in his latter days, when his heart was lifted up. It is said (2 Chron. 26:5), He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who, some think, was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:15

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 ,.... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 26:15

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:1-15

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:6-15

A victorious career. Perhaps it is not well understood that Uzziah was one of the strongest of the kings of Judah, and ran a remarkably successful course. Had not his sun set in some dark clouds, his name and fame would probably have stood far higher than they do. But when we have made necessary allowances, there remains before our eyes the picture of— I. A VICTORIOUS CAREER . This, whether we have regard to: 1 . The extension of his kingdom; he prevailed against the Edomites,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:15

Engines ; Hebrew, חִשְּׁבֹנוֹת ; used only here and Ecclesiastes 7:29 (where it is rendered "inventions"), but the related word חֶשְׁבּוֹן is found three times: Ecclesiastes 7:25 (the "reason"), 27 (the "account"); Ecclesiastes 9:10 ("device"); while the verb root חָשַׁב , to "devise," occurs about a hundred and thirty times, as in next sub-clause מַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוֹשֵׁב . A strict rendering of the clause would make it read, "He made inventions, the inventing of an... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 26:15

Uzziah’s engines seem to have corresponded respectively to the Roman balista and catapulta. The balista, which threw stones, was known to the Assyrians as early as the time of Sardanapalus I, the contemporary of Jehoshaphat. The catapult is not represented either on the Assyrian or the Egyptian sculptures. It would seem on the whole most probable that both kinds of engines were invented in Assyria and introduced from thence into Palestine. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument... read more

Group of Brands