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II Kings 15; II Chronicles 26     Listen Podcast

 

 

Azariah (Uzziah), King of Judah: Good news and bad news (II Kings 15:1-4; II Chronicles 26:1-4)

II Kings 15
II Chronicles 26
1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, became king.
2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
3 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done,
4 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
1 Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
3 ¶ Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

Actually, Uzziah is a contracted form of Azariah; it's the same King of Judah - called Azariah in II Kings 15 and Uzziah in II Chronicles. The good news? He reigned in Judah from 16 years of age until he was 68; that's 52 years.

Here's an overview of Azariah's reign:

A Summary of King #10 from 790 to 739 B.C. over Judah: Uzziah (Azariah)
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 14:21-22
II Kings 15:1-7
II Chronicles 26

II Kings 15:3 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

II Chronicles 26:4-5 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

II Kings 15:4 except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

Azariah just gets 7 verses of coverage in II Kings, but significantly more detail is added about his life in II Chronicles 26.

Too much success can go to your head (II Chronicles 26:5-15)

5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
6 ¶ Now he went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.
7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.
8 Also the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.
9 ¶ And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them.
10 Also he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.
11 ¶ Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by companies, according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.
12 The total number of chief officers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred.
13 And under their authority was an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14 Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

Azariah (aka Uzziah) took over from his disgraced father, Amaziah, at the ripe old age of 16. He began as a good king - One True God worship. He equipped a large army of over 300,000 and used "engines" on the wall of the city - catapults that fired arrows and rocks at the approaching enemy. You will recall that Israel had attacked Jerusalem during Uzziah's father's reign and had broken down a large section of the Jerusalem wall (II Kings 14:13; II Chronicles 25:23 - see notes). Azariah rebuilt the walls. He fought and defended Judah against its enemy neighbors with great success - so much so that Azariah was famous as a warrior king in his day.

During his reign, he dominated the Philistines, building Jewish cities among them and keeping them in check. Even the Ammonites respected him - the first mention of them since King Jehoshaphat (of Judah) took them on and miraculously defeated them during his reign (873 to 848 B.C) back in II Chronicles 20:1-23 (see notes). A century or so later, they're obviously still at peace with Judah. Uzziah's reign was successful at keeping Judah's enemies at bay during his tenure.

Incidentally, the Zechariah mentioned in verse 5 is not the Zechariah who is responsible for one of the Books of the Old Testament. Little is known about this man who preceded the one after whom the Book was named by almost 300 years.

Uzziah gets too much religion (II Kings 15:5-7; II Chronicles 26:16-23)

II Kings 15
II Chronicles 26
5 Then the LORD struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.
6 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7 So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
16 ¶ But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the LORD—valiant men.
18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God.”
19 ¶ Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar.
20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him.
21 ¶ King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
22 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote.
23 So Uzziah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Well...it's hard to know the players without a program. Uzziah is a contracted form of the name of the King of Judah here, Azariah. He's called Azariah in II Kings 15. However, here we find an episode where the King of Judah (Azariah aka Uzziah) is confronted by the priest (Azariah). Therefore, let's refer to the King from henceforth as Uzziah and the priest as Azariah...as does the II Chronicles account itself.

Uzziah had been so successful in battle that he just forgets his place. He goes into the temple to burn incense - BIG PROBLEM! Only the priests do that. Azariah, the priest, confronts him about this no-no. However, Azariah (the priest) was smart enough to take some reinforcements with him for this confrontation, 80 associate priests. Uzziah becomes angry with Azariah, right there in the temple. He's irate in that he would even be questioned; after all, he's the king. While Uzziah is angry, God strikes him with leprosy on his forehead - leprosy which he had for the rest of his life. Uzziah spends the rest of his days in the hospital while his son, Jotham, reigns in his place. While Uzziah reigned for 52 years, much of that time was as a leper. It is during the reign of Uzziah that Isaiah begins to prophesy.

Some archaeological information regarding Uzziah's burial is included in the Jewish Study Bible as follows:

An inscribed Aramaic marble plaque from the Second Temple period, now in the Israel Museum, reads: "Here were brought the bones of Uzziah, King of Judah. Don’t open." The wording suggests that although buried in the City of David, he was buried separately from other kings perhaps because of the leprosy whose bones were not reburied during the Second Temple period. There is no knowledge about where the plaque was originally found.

Hey Zechariah (King of Israel), what are you doing for the next 6 months? (II Kings 15:8-12)

8 ¶ In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.
9 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place.
11 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12 ¶ This was the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it was.

That's right...Zechariah ruled Israel for just six months. He was evil too, as were all the kings of the Northern Kingdom (Israel). Zechariah was assassinated after just 6 months by Shallum. Remember in II Kings 10:30 (see notes) when God told King Jehu that his children to the fourth generation would reign in Israel? Well, this is the end of the fourth generation - time to hand the throne over to yet another family. Note: Israel's kingship has had a bunch of family regime changes by hook, crook and treachery. Judah, on the other hand, is still governed by descendants of David. So, it's out with Zechariah and in with Shallum.

A Summary of King #14 in 753 B.C. over Israel: Zechariah
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:8-12

Not specified - he was evil.

II Kings 15:9 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

This marks the end of the fourth dynasty in Israel (Northern Kingdom) which started with Jehu in II Kings 10:28-36 (see notes).

Shallum, King for a month over Israel (II Kings 15:13-15)

13 ¶ Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.
15 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the conspiracy which he led, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

How much can you say about a guy who just reigns one month? Of course he was evil - killed Zechariah, then a month later, Menahem killed him. One king does not a dynasty make...and especially with only a one-month rule before his assassination.

A Summary of King #15 in 752 B.C. over Israel: Shallum
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:13-15

Not specified

Since he only reigned for a month, his reign is not characterized.

The ruthless Menahem (Israel) - all evil, all the time (II Kings 15:16-22)

16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah, all who were there, and its territory. Because they did not surrender, therefore he attacked it. All the women there who were with child he ripped open.
17 ¶ In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
19 Pul king of Assyria came against the land; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to strengthen the kingdom under his control.
20 And Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the very wealthy, from each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.
21 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22 So Menahem rested with his fathers. Then Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

How do you become King of Israel these days? Murder, murder, murder! This one is particularly gruesome, though. When Tiphsah (a lost city) declined to throw open their gates to let him come in and take over, he demonstrated his ruthlessness - cut open all their pregnant women after he conquered them. That's not all he did. He had only interests in remaining King of Israel - at any cost. He assessed a tax on the Israelites to pay off the King of Assyria in order to be allowed to stay on the throne - which he did for 10 years. The King of Assyria is named as "Pul" in verse 19. That was the nickname of Tiglathpileser, seen down in verse 29.

Incidentally, the kingship of Israel at this point is now in the hands of the sixth family. We'll call this the fifth dynasty since (unlike his predecessor, Shallum) Menahem did have a son (Pekahiah) who took over the throne after his death.

A Summary of King #16 from 752 to 742 B.C. over Israel: Menahem
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:16-22

Not specified - he was evil.

II Kings 15:18 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

Pekahiah of Israel - two years, then assassinated (II Kings 15:23-26)

23 ¶ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, an officer of his, conspired against him and killed him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house, along with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of Gilead. He killed him and reigned in his place.
26 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Son of Menahem; evil just like his Daddy and Jeroboam from the beginning; killed by his body guard, Pekah. It's hard to get good, dependable help when you're evil through and through. If you're counting, this is the end of the reign of the sixth family of kings in Israel and the fifth dynasty of two or more kings from one family line.

A Summary of King #17 from 742 to 741 B.C. over Israel: Pekahiah
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:23-26

Not specified - he was evil.

II Kings 15:24 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

Pekah of Israel - no regard for God and hated the Assyrians (II Kings 15:27-31)

27 ¶ In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.
29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck and killed him; so he reigned in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Now the kingship of Israel (Northern Kingdom) is in the hands of the seventh family since Jeroboam split off after the reign of Solomon. Pekah probably assassinated Pekahiah because he and a following in the Northern Kingdom objected to Pechahiah's ties with Assyria - especially since he was taxing the people to maintain it and stay on the throne. So the King of Assyria, Tiglathpileser, came after him and began to chisel into Pekah's kingdom until Hoshea killed him, but not until after a 20-year reign. Tiglathpileser carried some of the Northern-kingdom people into captivity, including the land of Naphtali during his reign. This marks the beginning of the Assyrian deportation.

We get some extra-biblical perspective regarding this deportation from an entry found in the Jewish Study Bible:

In his campaigns of 733–32 BCE, Tiglath–pileser conquered the same block of territories taken by Arameans from Israel in the days of Baasha (1 Kings 15:20) along with Transjordanian Gilead. His annals mention that he took 13,520 people to Assyria. This marks the beginning of the Diaspora of the ten northern tribes.

Incidentally, we see in II Kings 15:37 that Pekah apparently at some point allied with Rezin, the king of Syria, to attack Judah. Pekah is opportunistic and ruthless - no dynasty for him; Hoshea, the last king the Northern Kingdom would have, assassinates Pekah and establishes himself as the eighth (and final) different family to rule over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It is during the reign of Hoshea that the Northern Kingdom (Israel) falls once and for all to the Assyrians in 722/721 B.C. This account is found in II Kings 17 (see notes).

The length of reign of Pekah is a little confusing. Perhaps his reign began in Gilead in 752 B.C., at the same approximate time as did the reign of Menahem in Samaria. Pekah is the last king before Hoshea, during whose reign Israel fell. Therefore, his reign appears to overlap that of Menahem and Pekahiah, but for the first 10 years or so was not over all of the Northern Kingdom - just the region around Gilead.

A Summary of King #18 from 752 to 731 B.C. over Israel: Pekah
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:27-31

Not specified - he was evil.

II Kings 15:28 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.

Jotham of Judah: good king (II Kings 15:32-38)

32 ¶ In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign.
33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
34 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35 However the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.
36 ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.
38 So Jotham rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

Finally...we're back to Judah. Jotham served the one true God, but he also allowed the places of idol worship to remain. By the way, his Dad was Azariah, aka Uzziah. He worked on the temple a little - died after a 16-year reign. During his reign, Judah was attacked by Rezin, the King of Syria, and Pekah the King of the Israel. After his death, his son Ahaz took over as King of Judah. Incidentally, if you're keeping track, Judah is still working from the dynasty of kings led by King David of United Israel. While Israel (Northern Kingdom) went through eight different family lines on their throne before their demise, Judah remained with one, single Davidic dynasty until their fall in 586 B.C. This single dynasty of Kings of Judah was in keeping with the Davidic Covenant (see notes).

A Summary of King #11 from 750 to 731 B.C. over Judah: Jotham
References The Good The Bad

II Kings 15:32-38
II Chronicles 27

II Kings 15:34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

II Chronicles 27:6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.

II Kings 15:35 However the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.