2 Chronicles 26

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1. 1Then all the people of Judah chose Uzziah, who was 16 years old, and made him king to succeed his father Amaziah.
2. 2He rebuilt Eloth and brought it back under Judah's control after his father died.
3. 3Uzziah was 16 when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 52 years. His mother was Jecoliah, who was from Jerusalem.
4. 4He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5. 5He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
6. 6He went to war against the Philistines and tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He also built new towns in the territory around Ashdod and throughout Philistine land.
7. 7God helped him fight the Philistines, the Arabians living in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8. 8The Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his reputation spread all the way to the border of Egypt because he had become extremely powerful.
9. 9Uzziah also built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle of the wall.
10. 10He built watchtowers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he owned large herds in both the foothills and the plains. He also had farmers and vineyard workers in the hill country and in Carmel, because he loved agriculture.
11. 11Uzziah had a host of fighting men who went out to war in groups, according to the number recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the command of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12. 12The total number of family leaders over these mighty warriors was 2,600.
13. 13Under their command was an army of 307,500 soldiers who made war with mighty power, ready to help the king against the enemy.
14. 14Uzziah equipped the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows, and stones for slinging.
15. 15In Jerusalem, he installed war machines designed by skilled engineers on the towers and battlements to launch arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped until he became very powerful.
16. 16But when he became strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17. 17Azariah the priest followed him inside, along with 80 courageous priests of the LORD.
18. 18They confronted King Uzziah and told him, "It is not your place to burn incense to the LORD, Uzziah! That responsibility belongs only to the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated for this duty. Leave the sanctuary — you have trespassed! The LORD God will not honor you for this."
19. 19Uzziah was angry. He was holding a censer to burn incense, and while he was still angry with the priests, leprosy suddenly appeared on his forehead right there in the house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense.
20. 20When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests turned to look at him, they could see the leprosy on his forehead. They rushed him out of the temple immediately, and Uzziah himself hurried to leave, because the LORD had struck him.
21. 21King Uzziah remained a leper for the rest of his life. He had to live in a separate house, completely cut off from the LORD's temple. His son Jotham took charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.
22. 22Everything else about Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, was recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.
23. 23Uzziah died and was buried near his ancestors in a field next to the royal burial ground, because people said, "He was a leper." His son Jotham became king after him.