2 Chronicles 26

26:1-5 The Chronicler gave Uzziah (called Azariah in Kings) a double introduction (26:1-2, 3-5), quoting two passages found in Kings (2 Kgs 14:21-22; 15:2-3).

26:3 The fifty-two years of Uzziah’s reign (792–740 BC) included a long co-regency with his father, Amaziah (from 792 to 767 BC), and a co-regency with his son Jotham (from 750 to 740 BC).

26:6-8 These verses summarize Uzziah’s international achievements. His conquests were to the west, south, and southeast, but not to the north, where Jeroboam II’s kingdom was powerful (2 Kgs 14:23-29). Uzziah’s strategy, with God’s guidance (2 Chr 26:7), was to achieve control over the coastal highway and then build towns in the conquered territory.

26:9-10 Uzziah repaired damage done to Jerusalem’s walls by Jehoash in his campaign against Amaziah; Uzziah might also have repaired damage from the famous earthquake during his time (Amos 1:1; Zech 14:5). Towers and cisterns from excavations in Qumran, Gibeah, Beersheba, and other sites date to this period. • Uzziah was a patron of agriculture, a vital industry for an independent society.

26:11-14 Uzziah’s large and well-equipped army enabled him to expand and defend his territory. His name has been found on a fragmentary text of Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, identifying Uzziah as head of a coalition.

26:16-18 Uzziah’s leprosy was a judgment on the covenant violation of burning incense within the Temple, an activity reserved exclusively for priests (Exod 30:7-9; Num 16).

26:21 The leprosy forced King Uzziah to spend the end of his life in quarantine in a separate house (literally a free house). The significance of this term is not known; it is often interpreted to mean that he was free from the duties of the monarchy. In Ugaritic texts, it seems to be a euphemism for a place of total confinement.