Almost the entirety of this chapter is additional to the narrative in Kings (marginal reference). It is not too much to say that we are indebted to Chronicles for our whole conception of the character of Uzziah, and for nearly our whole knowledge of the events of his reign.... [ Continue Reading ]
UZZIAH - This form of the name is found uniformly in Chronicles (except 1 Chronicles 3:12) and in the prophets. The writer of Kings prefers the form Azariah. Uzziah has been regarded as a phonetic corruption of the real name used by the common people.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD - Another reading, supported by the Septuagint, and some ancient versions, is: “who instructed him in the fear of God.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Uzziah’s expedition was the natural sequel to the Edomite war of Amaziah 2 Chronicles 25:11, which crushed the most formidable of all the tribes of the south. On Jabneh see Joshua 15:11 note; and on Ashdod see Joshua 13:3 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the Mehunims or Maonites, see Judges 10:12 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT - Refuges for the flocks and the herdsmen in the wild pasture country on the borders of the holy land, especially toward the south and southeast. WELLS - The marginal translation is preferable. Judaea depends largely for its water-supply on reservoirs in which the rain... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare 2 Chronicles 25:5. It will be seen that Uzziah had not added much to the military strength of the nation by his conquests. His army exceeds that of his father Amaziah by 7,500 men only.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sling was used in war by the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks, Romans, and others. Its employment by the Benjamites appears from Judges 20:16, and by the ten tribes, a century before Uzziah, from 2 Kings 3:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Uzziah’s engines seem to have corresponded respectively to the Roman balista and catapulta. The balista, which threw stones, was known to the Assyrians as early as the time of Sardanapalus I, the contemporary of Jehoshaphat. The catapult is not represented either on the Assyrian or the Egyptian scul... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIS DESTRUCTION - Rather, “to do wickedly.” Uzziah appears to have deliberately determined to invade the priest’s office (marginal reference “m”), thus repeating the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Numbers 16:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Death was denounced by the Law against those who invaded the office of the priest; and death had been the actual punishment of Korah and his company. Uzziah feared lest from him also the extreme penalty should be exacted, and therefore hasted to quit the sacred building where his bare presence was a... [ Continue Reading ]
A SEVERAL HOUSE - See the marginal reference “q” note; and compare Psalms 88, which is supposed by some to refer to Uzziah.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ACTS OF UZZIAH ... DID ISAIAH ... WRITE - Most critics regard Isaiah as about 20 when Uzziah died. He must, then, have written his history of Uzziah’s reign from documents and accounts of others, rather than from his own knowledge.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIELD OF THE BURIAL - i. e. in the same piece of ground, but in a separate sepulchre. As the Law separated off the leper from his fellows during life Leviticus 13:46, so Jewish feeling required that he should remain separate even in death.... [ Continue Reading ]