_UZZIAH REIGNS PIOUSLY FIFTY-TWO YEARS, WHILE ZECHARIAH LIVES. HE FIGHTS SUCCESSFULLY WITH HIS ENEMIES; BUT, BEING INFLATED WITH PROSPERITY, INVADES THE PRIEST'S OFFICE, AND IS SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY. HE RELINQUISHES THE KINGDOM TO HIS SON JOTHAM._ _Before Christ 765._... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH, WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD— _Who had instructed_ [_him_] _in the fear of God._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEHUNIMS— Houbigant, with the Vulgate, reads _the Ammonites;_ and the next verse, as well as the fifth of the next chapter, gives us reason to believe that this reading is just.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT— William of Tyre describes a country not far from the Euphrates, as inhabited by Syrian and Armenian Christians, that fed great flocks and herds there, but were in subjection to the Turks; who, though few in number, yet living in strong places among them, kept them unde... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE IN JERUSALEM ENGINES, &C.— This is the first time that we read of any machine either for besieging or defending towns; which is plainly the reason why sieges were of so long a continuance before the invention of these. Homer, who is the most ancient Greek writer that we know of who treats of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST TRESPASSED, &C.— _For it is not lawful for thee to assume that honour, contrary to the will of God._ Houbigant. What it was that tempted the king to this extravagant folly, is difficult to imagine; but the most likely conjecture is, that he had a vain ambition to imitate heathen prince... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE REST OF THE ACTS OF UZZIAH—DID—ISAIAH—WRITE— It appears probable from this, that Isaiah composed an entire history of the reign of Uzziah, which has not reached our times. See 2 Kings 14:25. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Uzziah followed the best ways of his father Amaziah; and under the influence of Ze... [ Continue Reading ]