2 Chronicles 26:10

_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._ Also he built towers in the desert - for the threefold purpose of defense, of observation and of shelter to his cattle (cf. tower of Edar, or of the flock, Genesis 35:21; 2 Kings 17:9; Isaiah 5:2). He dug also a great many wells, because he loved and encouraged all branches agriculture. Some of these 'were in the desert' - i:e., in the district to the southeast of Jerusalem, on the west of the Dead Sea-an extensive grazing district. IN THE LOW COUNTRY - the Shephelah, lying betwe

1-15 As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, and minded religion, God made him to prosper. Those only prosper whom God makes to prosper; for prosperity is his gift. Many have owned, that as long as they sought the Lord, and kept close to their duty, they prospered; but when they forsook God, every thing went cross. God never continues either to bless the indolent or to withhold his blessing from the diligent. He will never suffer any to seek his face in vain. Uzziah's name was famed throughout all the neighbouring countries. A name with God and good people makes truly honourable. He did not delight in war, nor addict himself to sports, but delighted in husbandry....

Verse 2 Chronicles 26:10. _BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT_] For the defence of his flocks, and his shepherds and husbandmen. _AND IN CARMEL_] Calmet remarks that there were _two_ Carmels in Judea: one in the tribe of Judah, where Nabal lived, and the other on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near to Kishon; and both fertile in vines. _HE LOVED HUSBANDRY._] This is a perfection in a king: on husbandry every state depends. Let their trade or commerce be what they may, there can be no true national prosperity if agriculture do not prosper; for the king himself is served by the field. When, therefore, the king of a country encourages agriculture, an emulation is excited among his subjects; the science is cultivated; and the earth yields its proper increase; then, should trade and commerce fail, the people cannot be r

HE BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT - 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. WELLS - The marginal translation is preferable. 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. FOR HE HAD MUCH CATTLE ... - Some prefer, “for he had much cattle there, and in the low country, and on the dawns,” with allusion to three pasture districts: (1) The “wilderness,” or high tract to the south and southeast, extending from the western shores of the Dead Sea to the vicinity of Beersheba; (2) The “low country,” or maritime plain on the west, between the hills of Judaea and the sea; and...

EXPOSITION The twenty-three verses of this chapter, entirely occupied with the career of Uzziah, have to be content with a parallel of nine verses only, viz. 2 Kings 14:21, 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 15:1. Our chapter first glances at the usual prefatory particulars of the age, pedigree, length of reign, kind of character, and choice between virtue and vice of the new king (2 Chronicles 26:1; but note the remarkable appearance of 2 Chronicles 26:2, looking as though it had strayed). Next, of his good works ...

ALSO HE BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT,.... In the desert of Arabia, to protect travellers from thieves and robbers, and particularly shepherds and their flocks, as appears by what follows; which a certain writer p thinks are the same which the Indians call pagodas; not such as served for temples, but were buildings encompassed with good walls, where flocks were gathered together in case of any alarm: AND DIGGED MANY WELLS; for the watering of the flocks, which in those hot and desert places were of great use: FOR HE HAD MUCH CATTLE, BOTH IN THE LOW COUNTRY AND IN THE PLAINS; both flocks and herds: HUSBANDMEN ALSO, AND VINEDRESSERS IN THE MOUNTAINS; husbandmen to take care of the corn, and manure the land for that, and gather it when ripe; and vinedressers to prune the vines, and look after them; which were very often planted on mountains, and on which also corn grew,...

CHAPTER 26 THE REIGN OF UZZIAH _ 1. The beginning of his reign (2 Chronicles 26:1)_ 2. Uzziah's success and fortifications (2 Chronicles 26:6) 3. Uzziah's sin and leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16) 4. The death of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:22) The Son of Amaziah, Uzziah, in his sixteenth year, was made king by the people. In Second Kings 15 he is called Azariah. (In the annotations on 2 Kings 15:1 an explanation is given on this double name of Uzziah.) Isaiah was then pro

THE REIGN OF UZZIAH (see notes on 2 Kings 14:21 to 2 Kings 15:7). The Chronicler amplifies considerably the account of this reign in 2 K. which is very meagre: his additions are in all probability based, in the main, upon some historical source, since fuller records of this reign, which was one of the longest in the history of Judah, must have been in existence. 2 Chronicles 26:1. Uzziah: called Azariah in 2 Kings 14:21; 2 Kings 15:1, etc., which is probably a mistake; in...

_the desert_ R.V. THE WILDERNESS (where the pastures were: cp. Psalms 65:12). _digged many wells_ R.V. HEWED OUT MANY CISTERNS. _both in the low country, and in the plains_ R.V. IN THE LOWLAND ALSO, AND IN THE PLAIN (mg. TABLE LAND). For the "lowland" (Heb. _Shephçlah_) see 2 Chronicles 1:15 (note). "The table land" (Heb. _Mishor_) is the name of the high pasture lands east of Jordan; apparently the part occupied by the Ammonites whom Uzziah had subdued is meant here. _husbandmen_also] R.V. AND HE HAD HUSBANDMEN. _Carmel_ R.V. THE FRUITFUL FIELDS. "Carmel" is not always a proper name, nor does it always refer to the well-known mountain. In...

HE BUILT TOWERS IN THE DESERT— William of Tyre describes a country not far from the Euphrates, as inhabited by Syrian and Armenian Christians, that fed great flocks and herds there, but were in subjection to the Turks; who, though few in number, yet living in strong places among them, kept them under, and received tribute from these poor peasants, who inhabited the villages, and employed themselves in rural business. I do not know whether this may not give a juster idea of the design of these _towers_ which Uzziah built in the wilderness, than commentators have done; who have supposed that they were conveniencies made for sheltering the shepherds from bad weather, or for defending them from the incursions of enemies; for they might rather be designed to keep the nations that pastured there in awe, to prevent their disputing with his servants about wells, and to induce them quietly to pay...