Uzziah, 1 Chronicles 3:12 / Isaiah 1:1 / Isaiah 6:1, also known as Azariah in 2 Kings, began to reign in the Southern Kingdom of Judah from 767 B.C. to 740 B.C. Jeroboam II of the northern kingdom reigned at the same time as Uzziah.
Some commentators suggest that Azariah was his throne name, and Uzziah was his adopted name. We do know that the name Azariah means the Lord helps, and the name Uzziah means the Lord strengthens.
In 2 Kings 14:22, the writer tells us that Uzziah rebuilt Elath which was Solomon’s port city on the shore of the Red Sea, 1 Kings 9:26. We also know that Uzziah led Israel with a strong army, 2 Chronicles 26:6-15. He did what was right in God’s eyes, which was rewarded with a long reign of 52 years, however, he didn’t removed the high places.
These high places had become very important both socially and religiously for the Northern and Southern kingdoms. They were places where sacrifices were made and offerings were made to the false gods.
In effect these high places took God’s people away from God, hence why both kingdoms fell into idolatry over and over again. Yes, the temples of Baal were destroyed but these high places remained, 2 Kings 15:1-4.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘His was a long and powerful reign indeed. He successfully defended Judah against the belligerent Ammonites, Philistines and Arabians, developed a strong standing army, and rebuilt the nation’s fortifications. He even reopened the Red Sea port of Elath, and promoted commerce. Elath is the same as Ezion-Geber.’
The military accomplishments of Uzziah were fearsome. He suppressed the Philistines, 2 Chronicles 21:16, Arabians, 2 Chronicles 20:1, Meunites, Judges 10:12, and the Ammonites.
In an effort to secure the land of Judah, he built watchtowers both in Jerusalem and in the areas from where invading armies might come. The extent of his military campaigns secured territory to as far as Israel’s border with Egypt.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘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. Judaea depends largely for its water-supply on reservoirs in which the rain-fall is stored. These are generally cut in the natural rock, and covered at top.’
Notice that Uzziah didn’t add much to the military strength of the nation by his conquests. His army exceeds that of his father Amaziah by 7,500 men only, 2 Chronicles 25:5.
He provided, shields, spears, coats of armour, bow and slingstones for the whole army. The slingstones were used in war by the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks, Romans, and others. The Benjamites used them, Judges 20:16, and by the ten tribes, a century before Uzziah, 2 Kings 3:25.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the devices he invented.
‘This is the very first imitation on record of any warlike engines for the attack or defence of besieged places and this account is long prior to any thing of the kind among either the Greeks or the Romans. The Jews alone were the inventors of such engines and the invention took place in the reign of Uzziah, about eight hundred years before the Christian era. It is no wonder that, in the consequence of this, his name spread far abroad, and struck terror into his enemies.’
Power appears to gone to Uzziah’s head and as a result he became unfaithful to God, 1 Chronicles 10:13, it was this this same pride and unfaithfulness that would lead the entire nation into exile, 1 Chronicles 5:25 / 1 Chronicles 9:1 / 2 Chronicles 33:19 / 2 Chronicles 36:14.
Uzziah appears to have deliberately determined to invade the priest’s office, and so, repeating the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Numbers 16:1-35. He has obviously become arrogant and full of himself because of all the victories he has won.
His arrogance led him to assume the authority of the Levitical priests and their work in the temple. He stood against eighty priests who tried to stop him from burning the incense, which was only allowed by the priests, Numbers 16:35 / Numbers 18:7.
God struck Uzziah with leprosy because he wasn’t a priest and he wasn’t authorised to burn incense in the temple, 2 Chronicles 26:16-23 / 1 Samuel 13:13.
Notice that he lived in a separate house, this was common practice for those who had leprosy, Leviticus 13:45-46. Because God struck him with leprosy, Jotham, his son, administrated both his house and the nation in his later years.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘What Uzziah actually violated here was the divine instructions of God himself through Moses in the Pentateuch, Exodus 29:29. Saul lost his kingship for failing to respect those very restrictions.’
He died in the year when Isaiah had his vision, Isaiah 6:1, he wasn’t buried with his ancestors, but near them, 2 Kings 15:7, this too was common practice for those who had leprosy as they were classed an unclean. When Uzziah died, Jotham became the king of Judah, 2 Kings 15:5.