“Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. Uzziah: or, Azariah”
Ozias, called Azarias (4 Kings xiv. 21.; Calmet) improperly. (Haydock)
“He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.”
Juda, till the reign of Achaz, 4 Kings xvi. 6. It had revolted under Joram. (Calmet)
“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.”
Done. And was successful, as long as he attended to the high priest, Numbers xxvii. 21. (Worthington)
“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. in the visions: Heb. in the seeing of God”
God, or who had the gift of intelligence and prophecy from God. Hebrew, “who was intelligent in the visions of God.” Others have read birath, with the Septuagint, “in the fear;” or Chaldean, &c., “instructing in the fear of the Lord.” The Jews childishly understand Zacharias to mean the king himself, in the early part of his reign. Others suppose the priest, who was slain by Joas, is designated. (Lyranus) — But this was rather his son (Tirinus; Cajetan; Calmet) and successor, as well as a prophet, who had therefore a more perfect knowledge of God; though none can comprehend his being. (Haydock)
“And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. about: or, in the country of Ashdod”
In. Protestants, “about Ashdod.” Septuagint, “he built (or repaired) the cities of Azotus,” to keep under the Philistines, who had revolted under Joram, chap. xxi. 16.
“And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.”
Gurbaal. Gerara, (St. Jerome, Trad.) or Gebal, Psalm lxxxii. 8. Septuagint, “the rock,” or Petra, in Arabia, where Stephanus places the Gabalenes. — Ammonites. Hebrew mehunim. Septuagint, “Mineans,” (chap. xx. 1.; Haydock) upon the Red Sea, (Stephanus) or Mediterranean, (Pliny, [Natural History?] vi. 28,) or in Arabia Felix. (Strabo) (Menochius)
“And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly. spread: Heb. went”
Gifts. Tribute, chap. xxvii. 5. (Calmet) — Victories. Protestants, “he strengthened himself exceedingly.” (Haydock)
“Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. fortified: or, repaired”
Corner. Repairing what Joas had demolished, 4 Kings xiv. 13. (Tirinus)
“Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. digged: or, cut out many cisterns Carmel: or, fruitful fields husbandry: Heb. ground”
Wilderness, for the protection of shepherds, 4 Kings xvii. 9. — Plains. Hebrew, “valleys, and in the plains husbandmen, and vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel; for he loved the earth, or husbandry,” like David, 1 Paralipomenon xvii. 25., &c. — Carmel, means, “the vine of God;” as both the mount in Juda, where Nabal resided, and that on the Mediterranean Sea, were famous for wine. Ozias probably cultivated the former mountain. (Calmet)
“Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.”
Doctor. Hebrew shoter. Septuagint, “judge.” Protestants, “ruler.” (Haydock) — The term is commonly understood of one who executes the sentence of the judge. But this employment does not suit a general, (Calmet) though such a one might well command. It many denote any “officer.” (Haydock)
“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. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. spread: Heb. went forth”
Engines. They are here mentioned for the first time. (Calmet) — For the. Hebrew, “for he was wonderfully helped till he was established.” (Haydock) — He invented many things for the defence of his kingdom. (Calmet)
“And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:”
Azarias. The prophet, who had hitherto kept the king (Haydock) within bounds, was now no more, ver. 5. (Tirinus)
“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.”
To thee. For usurping spiritual authority, the king was opposed by the high priest; and God confirmed the sentence of the latter, by striking Ozias with the leprosy; on which account, he was not only cast out of the temple, but also lost his kingdom, being obliged to live apart; (Leviticus xiii. 46,) and after death, he could not be buried with his ancestors. (Worthington)
“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.”
Forehead. So that it could not be concealed. According to the rigour of the law, such an offender was to be slain, Numbers iii. 10., and xviii. 7. The leprosy was considered as equivalent, and is styled destruction, (ver. 16,) and death, Isaias vi. 1. (Menochius) See 4 Kings xv. 6.
“Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.”
Prophet. Yet we find little concerning him in the prophecy of Isaias; so that the work has been lost, except what Esdras hath preserved. (Calmet)
“So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.”
Leper. So much was the disease abhorred, (Calmet) as well as the king’s late conduct. (Haydock)