Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Chronicles 26

1 THen all the people of Judah took Uzziah , who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

Called also Azariah, 2 King. 14. 21. both Names signifying the same thing; Gods Strength or Help. See of this and v. 2, 3, 4. on 2 King. 14. 21, 22. & 15. 2, 3.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. [illegible: 1 word]: [illegible: 1+ letters]. & 15. 1.; Or, [illegible: 1 word].

4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did .

To wit, for a Time, but not perfectly nor constantly, which was Amaziahs Case also.

5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah , who had understanding in the visions of God : and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

i. e. He persisted in the True Religion and Worship of God.

As long as he lived. Compare ch. 24. 2.

Who was a very knowing and experienced Person. Or, who made him understanding; or, who instructed him; who was his Tutor and Teacher, and had great Authority and Influence upon him; and so restrained from those Exorbitancies to which he was otherwise inclined.

Either 1. In Prophetical Visions, which he either received from God himself; or understood and explained the Prophetical Visions of others, which was a special Gift of God: Of which see Gen. 41. 15. Dan. 1. 17. & 2. 19. Or, 2. In the Law and Word of God, which sometimes cometh under that Name, as Prov. 29. 18. and Isa. 22. 1, 5.

Marginal references: Heb. in the seeing of G[illegible: 1+ letters]d.

6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistins, and brake down the wail of Gath , and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistins.

Which had been taken by Hazael in the days of Joash his Grandfather, 2 King. 12. 17. but was either relinquished by him, because it lay so far from his other Dominions: or retaken by the Philistins, who had now repaired its Fortifications, and kept it.

Marginal references: Isa. 14. 2[illegible: 1+ letters].; Or, in the country of [illegible: 1 word] ded.

10 Also he built towers in the desert , and digged many wells, for he had much cattel, both in the low-country, and in the plains: husbandmen also and vine-dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

Partly to guard his Cattel from the Inroads and depredations which the Arabians were accustomed to make: and partly to give Notice of the Approach of any Enemy, and to give some stop to their March on that Side.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] many [illegible: 1 word].; Or, [illegible: 1 word] fields.; Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of fightingmen, that went out to war by bands , according to the number of their account, by the hand of Jeiel the scribe, and Maasejah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the kings captains.

i. e. Some Bands at one time and some at another, as Occasion required. See the Notes on 1 Chron. 27. 1, &c. & 2 Chron. 13. 14.

16 But when he was strong , his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD , to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

When he was strengthned in his Kingdom, and free from the fear of any Enemy.

Into the Holy place▪ where the Altar of Incense stood, and into which none but the Priests might enter, much less offer Incense.

18 And they withstood Uzziah the King, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary for thou hast trespassed, neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God .

Heb. Stood up against Uzziah, not by force or laying hands upon him to restrain him, for in the next Verse you still find the Censer in his hand; but onely by admonition and reproof, which here follows.

Expect that God will punish thee, or put some brand of Infamy upon thee for this presumption. But this they express modestly, and by a figure called Meiosis, where more is meant than is expressed, because they considered that he to whom they spake, though an Offender, was their Lord and Soveraign.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 18. 7.; [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 7.

19 Then Uzziah was wroth , and had a censer in his hand, to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead , before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar .

With the Priests.

So as he could not hide his shame though it is probable it was also in the rest of his Body.

By a stroke from an invisible hand coming from the Altar; that he might be assured that this was the effect of Gods just displeasure against him.

20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence , yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

Not by force, as was noted on v. 18. which needed not, for he voluntarily hasted away, as it follows, but by vehement perswasions and denunciations of Gods further Judgments upon him if he did not depart. Some suppose that the Earthquake mentioned Amos 1. 1. Zech. 14. 5. happened upon this occasion, as another token of Gods displeasure against this unparallel'd arrogancy.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 6. 12

21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death , and dwelt in a † several house being a leper , for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the kings house, judging the people of the land.

God would have this Leprosy to be incurable, as a lasting monument of his Anger against such presumptuous Invaders of the Priests office.

As he was obliged to do by Law, Levit. 13. 46. which he durst not now resist, being under the hand and stroke of God, and under the fear of further and worse plagues, if he did so.

So the following words are a reason of the former; he dwelt in a several house, because he might not come into the Temple or Courts, nor consequently into any publick Assembly, or the society of others. Or, and therefore, as the Hebrew Chi oft signifies: and the Particle and is oft understood. So it is an inference from the next foregoing words, He was a Leper, and therefore he was cut off, &c. He who could not content himself with Gods allowance, but usurped the Priests place and office, is now deprived of the priviledge of the meanest of his People. A just and most suitable Judgment.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 15. 5. [illegible: 1 word]. 13. 26, [illegible: 1 word].; [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word].