1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen
years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He
built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his
fathers.
3 Sixteen
years old was Uzziah
when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His
mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
4 And
he did that which was right
in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And
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 to prosper.
6 And
he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of
Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about
Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7 And
God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in
Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8 And
the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to
the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.
9 Moreover
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate,
and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10 Also
he built towers in the desert, and digged 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 loved husbandry.
11 Moreover
Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to
the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the
ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
12 The
whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two
thousand and six hundred.
13 And
under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and
seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the
king against the enemy.
14 And
Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and
helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And
he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and
upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread
far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
16 But
when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction:
for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the
LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
17 And
Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the
LORD, that were valiant
men:
18 And
they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not
unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons
of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for
thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
19 Then
Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense:
and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his
forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense
altar.
20 And
Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous
in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also
to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.
21 And
Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several
house, being a
leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over
the king's house, judging the people of the land.
22 Now
the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son
of Amoz, write.
23 So
Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the
field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a
leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
