8th Cent. king of Judah, in the book of Kings he is called Azariah, perhaps most famously remembered for being struck with leprosy when, full of pride, he contemptuously offered incense in the temple that, as a non-Levite he was not authorized to do.
Open Family Tree ☰ (Generation 22)
Son of Amaziah, Uzziah came to the throne at the age of sixteen and ruled Judah for 52 years. His preferred name was probably Azariah (as it is in the book of Kings) but is replaced in the later account of 2 Chron in order not to confuse him with the high-priest of the same name later in its account. His reign very likely included co-regencies with his father, Amaziah, and later, with his son, Jotham.
Uzziah's reign occurred at a time when the neighbouring superpowers were low on their fortunes and could not interfere in the politics of Palestine at that time (just two decades after Uzziah's death, the Assyrians would be back and they would haul Israel into exile). This allowed Uzziah to build up a substantial army and, with it, recover much of the territories that previous kings had lost and to easily subdue Judah's neighbours such as the Philistines and Ammonites. Under him the nation (and Israel to the north) prospered. With peace and prosperity came corruption, social degradation and spiritual laxity. It is this time of hiatus that the most famous of the prophets against social injustice such as Amos (to Israel), Isaiah and Hosea (and Micah in the next generation) should voice disapproval and warning on Yahweh's behalf.
As he grew powerful, however, pride also made Uzziah its slave. Not counting political sufficient to his ego, he tried to usurp the office of spiritual authority for himself, marching into the temple and offering up incense on the altar, despite the adamant protest of the priests led by his namesake Azariah. There Yahweh humbled him, striking him with leprosy with which he had to live for the rest of his life. He was succeeded by his son Jotham.
SOURCE TEXTS:
2 Ki 14:21-22:
21Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, {Also called Uzziah} who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers.
2 Ki 15:1-7
1In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
5The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. 6As for the other events of Azariah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 7Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
2 Chron 26:1-23
1Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, {Also called Azariah} who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers.
3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
6He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
9Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10He also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armour, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skilful men for use on the towers and on the corner defences to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.
16But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18They confronted him and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honoured by the Lord God."
19Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord's temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.
21King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house— leprous, and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
22The other events of Uzziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
©ALBERITH
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