1Všetok ľud Judska vzal Uzziju, a hoci mal šestnásť rokov, ustanovil ho za kráľa miesto jeho otca Amacju. 2On opevnil Élót a vrátil ho Judsku, keď kráľ usnul so svojimi otcami. 3Uzzija mal šestnásť rokov, keď sa stal kráľom, a päťdesiatdva rokov kraľoval v Jeruzaleme. Jeho matka sa volala Jecholjá z Jeruzalema. 4Robil, čo je správne v očiach Hospodinových, všetko tak, ako robil jeho otec Amacja. 5Ochotne hľadal Boha za čias Zecharju, ktorý ho učil bázni Božej. Kým hľadal Hospodina, Boh mu prial úspech. 6Keď vyšiel bojovať proti Filištíncom, zbúral hradby Gatu, Jabny, Ašdódu a vybudoval mestá na území Ašdódu a medzi Filištíncami. 7Boh mu pomáhal proti Filištíncom i Arabom, ktorí bývali v Gúr-Baale, a proti Meúncom. 8Ammónci odvádzali Uzzijovi poplatok a povesť o ňom prenikla až po hranice Egypta, lebo mimoriadne rozvinul svoju moc. 9Uzzija vystaval veže v Jeruzaleme na Rožnej a Údolnej bráne a opevnil ich. 10Vystaval i veže na púšti a vykopal mnoho cisterien, lebo mal veľa stáda na Nížine a na Rovine, oráčov a vinárov v pohorí a v sadoch, pretože mal rád pôdu. 11Uzzija mal i vojsko z bojovníkov, ktoré tiahlo v čatách do boja v počte, ako bolo sčítané pisárom Jeíélom a úradníkom Maasejom pod velením Chananju, muža z kráľovských hodnostárov. 12Celkový počet rodinných predákov, udatných bojovníkov, bol dvetisícšesťsto. 13Pod ich velením stála vojenská moc tristosedemtisíc bojovníkov, ktorí mali bojovou silou pomáhať kráľovi proti nepriateľom. 14Celé vojsko vystrojil Uzzija štítmi, kopijami, prilbami, panciermi, lukmi a kamením do prakov. 15V Jeruzaleme zhotovil dômyselne vymyslené vojenské zariadenia, ktoré mali byť na vežiach a nárožiach na vystreľovanie šípov a veľkých kameňov. Povesť o ňom prenikla ďaleko, lebo sa mu dostalo predivnej pomoci, kým nezmocnel. 16Ale keď zmocnel, spyšnelo mu srdce k záhube. Previnil sa proti Hospodinovi, svojmu Bohu, keď vošiel do chrámu Hospodinovho kadiť na kadidlovom oltári. 17Za ním vošiel kňaz Azarja a s ním osemdesiat kňazov Hospodinových, udatných mužov. 18Postavili sa proti kráľovi Uzzijovi a povedali mu: Uzzija, nepatrí sa tebe kadiť Hospodinovi, ale kňazom, synom Áronovým, ktorí sú posvätení na kadenie. Vyjdi zo svätyne, lebo si sa previnil a nebude ti to ku cti od Hospodina, Boha. 19Nato sa Uzzija rozhneval; v ruke mal kadidelnicu. Rozhneval sa na kňazov, keď stál pred nimi v dome Hospodinovom pri kadidlovom oltári, a objavilo sa mu na čele malomocenstvo. 20Keď sa obrátil hlavný kňaz Azarja a ostatní kňazi, tu zrazu bol malomocný na čele. Chytro ho odtiaľ vyhnali, ba i sám sa náhlil vyjsť, lebo ho ranil Hospodin. 21Tak bol kráľ Uzzija malomocný až do svojej smrti; býval v osobitnom dome, pretože bol vylúčený z domu Hospodinovho. Jeho syn Jótám bol nad kráľovským palácom a spravoval ľud krajiny. 22Ostatné Uzzijove činy, skoršie i neskoršie, opísal prorok Izaiáš, syn Ámócov. 23Keď Uzzija usnul so svojimi otcami, pochovali ho pri jeho otcoch na poli pri kráľovských hroboch, lebo povedali: Bol malomocný. Po ňom sa stal kráľom jeho syn Jótam.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 UZZIAH SUCCEEDS AMAZIAH AND REIGNS WELL IN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH. (
2Chr 26:1-8)
Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah--(See on
2Kgs 14:21;
2Kgs 15:1).
2 He built Eloth--or, "He it was who built Eloth." The account of the fortifications of this port on the Red Sea, which Uzziah restored to the kingdom of Judah (
2Chr 33:13), is placed before the chronological notices (
2Chr 26:3), either on account of the importance attached to the conquest of Eloth, or from the desire of the historian to introduce Uzziah as the king, who was known as the conqueror of Eloth. Besides, it indicates that the conquest occurred in the early part of his reign, that it was important as a port, and that Hebrew merchants maintained the old trade between it and the countries of the East [BERTHEAU].
5 he sought God in the days of Zechariah--a wise and pious counsellor, who was skilled in understanding the meaning and lessons of the ancient prophecies, and who wielded a salutary influence over Uzziah.
6 he went forth and warred against the Philistines--He overcame them in many engagements--dismantled their towns, and erected fortified cities in various parts of the country, to keep them in subjection.
Jabneh--the same as Jabneel (
Josh 15:11).
7 Gur-baal--thought by some to be Gerar, and by others Gebal.
8 the Ammonites gave gifts--The countries east of the Jordan became tributary to him, and by the rapid succession and extent of his victories, his kingdom was extended to the Egyptian frontier.
9 HIS BUILDINGS. (
2Chr 26:9-10)
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem, &c.--whence resistance could be made, or missiles discharged against assailants. The sites of the principal of these towers were: at the corner gate (
2Chr 25:23), the northwest corner of the city; at the valley gate on the west, where the Joppa gate now is; at the "turning"--a curve in the city wall on the eastern side of Zion. The town, at this point, commanded the horse gate which defended Zion and the temple hill on the southeast [BERTHEAU].
10 Also he built towers in the desert--for the threefold purpose of defense, of observation, and of shelter to his cattle. He dug also a great many wells, for he loved and encouraged all branches of agriculture. Some of these "were in the desert," that is, in the district to the southeast of Jerusalem, on the west of the Dead Sea, an extensive grazing district "in the low country" lying between the mountains of Judah and the Mediterranean; "and in the plains," east of the Jordan, within the territory of Reuben (
Deut 4:43;
Josh 20:8).
in Carmel--This mountain, being within the boundary of Israel, did not belong to Uzziah; and as it is here placed in opposition to the vine-bearing mountains, it is probably used, not as a proper name, but to signify, as the word denotes, "fruitful fields" (Margin).
11 HIS HOST, AND ENGINES OF WAR. (
2Chr 26:11-15)
an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands--He raised a strong body of militia, divided into companies or regiments of uniform size, which served in rotation. The enumeration was performed by two functionaries expert in the drawing up of military muster-rolls, under the superintendence of Hananiah, one of the high officers of the crown. The army consisted of 307,500 picked men, under the command of two thousand gallant officers, chiefs or heads of fathers' houses, so that each father's house formed a distinct band. They were fully equipped with every kind of military accoutrements, from brazen helmets, a habergeon or coat of mail, to a sling for stones.
15 he made . . . engines, invented by cunning men . . . to shoot arrows and great stones--This is the first notice that occurs in history of the use of machines for throwing projectiles. The invention is apparently ascribed to the reign of Uzziah, and PLINY expressly says they originated in Syria.
he was marvellously helped till he was strong--He conducted himself as became the viceroy of the Divine King, and prospered.
16 HE INVADES THE PRIEST'S OFFICE, AND IS SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY. (
2Chr 26:16-21)
he transgressed against the Lord, &c.--(See on
2Kgs 15:5). This daring and wicked act is in both records traced to the intoxicating influence of overweening pride and vanity. But here the additional circumstances are stated, that his entrance was opposed, and strong remonstrances made (
1Chr 6:10) by the high priest, who was accompanied by eighty inferior priests. Rage and threats were the only answers he deigned to return, but God took care to vindicate the sacredness of the priestly office. At the moment the king lifted the censer, He struck him with leprosy. The earthquake mentioned (
Amos 1:1) is said to have been felt at the moment [JOSEPHUS].
21 dwelt in a several house--in an infirmary [BERTHEAU].
23 they buried him . . . in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings--He was interred not in, but near, the sepulcher of the kings, as the corpse of a leper would have polluted it.