2 Chronicles 26

All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

He built Eloth and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers.

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.

He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

He went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.

The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he grew exceedingly strong.

Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.

He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming.

Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.

The whole number of the heads of fathers’ households, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand six hundred.

Under their hand was an army, three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.

In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against the LORD his God, for he went into the LORD’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, who were valiant men.

They resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from the LORD God.”

Then Uzziah was angry. He had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the LORD’s house, beside the altar of incense.

Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead; and they thrust him out quickly from there. Indeed, he himself also hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him.

Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the LORD’s house. Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote.

So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter recounts the rise and fall of King Uzziah of Judah, tracing his early faithfulness and remarkable success under God’s blessing, followed by his tragic pride and consequent judgment. Uzziah’s reign begins with spiritual devotion and national prosperity but ends in exclusion from the temple due to his disobedience in usurping priestly duties.

Flow.

Uzziah ascends the throne at sixteen and reigns for fifty-two years, pursuing what is right before the Lord, especially under the influence of Zechariah and his seeking of God.
His reign is marked by military expansion, economic development, and national strength, all attributed to divine assistance.
A highly organized military and impressive fortifications reflect the peak of his power, enhancing his reputation as far as Egypt.
His pride leads him to enter the temple to burn incense—a duty reserved for priests—resulting in immediate judgment from the Lord in the form of leprosy on his forehead.
Uzziah lives in isolation, separated from the temple and royal duties, while his son Jotham governs in his place until his death.

Connections.
Following chapter 25, which ends with the death of Amaziah and the coronation of his son Uzziah, this chapter shows the continuation of Judah’s monarchy with a ruler who initially follows God but ultimately falls into sin. Uzziah’s pattern of faithfulness, success, pride, and failure anticipates the spiritual instability that chapter 27 (Jotham’s reign) will reflect in a more subdued form—where there is obedience but no heart renewal among the people. The narrative arc from Amaziah to Uzziah to Jotham underscores the fragility of reformation when tied to individual kings rather than covenantal faithfulness by the nation.

What it teaches.
God blesses those who seek Him, and prosperity is often the fruit of obedience, as Uzziah’s early reign illustrates (WCF 5.7). However, spiritual boundaries must be honored, especially the distinctions God has made between offices—here, the separation of kingly and priestly roles (HC LD 31). Uzziah’s trespass, though perhaps motivated by zeal, was a breach of divine order, and the immediate onset of leprosy confirms the seriousness of despising God’s ordained worship (WCF 21.4). His exile from the temple, yet burial with the kings, reflects both divine judgment and sustaining mercy (). His life demonstrates that gifts and grace are no substitute for humility and obedience.

Apply.
God resists the proud even when they have been faithful, and exalts Himself over every human achievement.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.