Chapter 26

Then all the people of Judah took⁴ Uzziah, who [was] sixteen ⁶²⁴⁰ years old, and made him king⁵⁵ in the room of his father Amaziah.

He built¹ Eloth, and restored⁵⁵ it to Judah, after that the king slept² with his fathers.

Sixteen ⁶²⁴⁰ years old [was] Uzziah when he began to reign,² and he reigned¹ fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

And he did⁴ [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.¹

And he sought² God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding⁵⁶ in the visions² of God: and as long as he sought² the LORD, God made him to prosper.⁵²

And he went forth⁴ and warred¹¹ against the Philistines, and brake down⁴ the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built⁴ cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

And God helped⁴ him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt⁶ in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.

And the Ammonites gave⁴ gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread⁴ abroad [even] to the entering in² of Egypt; for he strengthened⁵² [himself] exceedingly.

Moreover Uzziah built⁴ towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the wall], and fortified¹⁷ them.

Also he built⁴ towers in the desert, and digged⁴ 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 loved⁶ husbandry.

Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men,⁶ that went out⁶ to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe⁶ and Maaseiah the ruler,⁶ 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 valour [were] two thousand and six hundred.

And under their hand [was] an army, ⁶⁶³⁵ three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made⁶ war with mighty power, to help² the king against the enemy.⁶

And Uzziah prepared⁵⁵ for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings [to cast] stones.

And he made⁴ in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men,⁶ to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot² arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread⁴ far abroad; for he was marvellously⁵² helped,⁹ till he was strong.¹

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up¹ to [his] destruction:⁵³ for he transgressed⁴ against the LORD his God, and went⁴ into the temple of the LORD to burn incense⁵³ upon the altar of incense.

And Azariah the priest went in⁴ after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, [that were] valiant men:

And they withstood⁴ Uzziah the king, and said⁴ unto him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense⁵³ unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated³⁰ to burn incense:⁵³ go out³ of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed;¹ neither [shall it be] for thine honour from the LORD God.

Then Uzziah was wroth,⁴ and [had] a censer in his hand to burn incense:⁵³ and while he was wroth² with the priests, the leprosy even rose up¹ 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, looked⁴ upon him, and, behold, he [was] leprous³⁰ in his forehead, and they thrust him out⁵⁵ from thence; yea, himself hasted⁸ also to go out,² because the LORD had smitten¹⁴ him.

And Uzziah the king was a leper³⁰ unto the day of his death, and dwelt⁴ in a several ²⁶⁶⁹ house, [being] a leper;³⁰ for he was cut off⁸ from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son [was] over the king's house, judging⁶ the people of the land.

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.¹

So Uzziah slept⁴ with his fathers, and they buried⁴ him with his fathers in the field of the burial which [belonged] to the kings; for they said,¹ He [is] a leper:³⁰ and Jotham his son reigned⁴ in his stead.