Chapter 26 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old,
and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
He built Eloth and restored it to Judah.
After that, the king slept with his fathers.
Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two
years in Jerusalem.
His mother's name also was Jecholiah of Jerusalem, and he did that which was right
in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
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.
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of
Gath, and the wall of Jabnah, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod,
and among the Philistines.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that
dwelt in Gobail, and the Mahunim, and the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah.
And his name spread abroad, even to the entering in of Egypt, for he strengthened
himself exceedingly.
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.
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 vinedressers in the mountains, and in Carmel, for he loved husbandry.
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 Maaseah, the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of Valah were
2,600, and under their hand was an army, 300,000 and 7,500, that made war with
mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host, shields, and spears,
and helmets, and habogens, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the
towers and upon the bullocks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal.
And his name spread far abroad, for he was marvelously helped,
till he was strong.
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.
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord
that were valiant men.
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.
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.
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.
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 at the king's house, judging the people of the land.
Now the rest of the act of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet,
the son of Amoz, write.
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.