CHAPTER XXVI _Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, succeeds; and begins his reign_ _piously and prosperously, which continued during the life of_ _Zechariah the prophet_, 1-5. _He fights successfully against the Philistines, and takes and_ _dismantles some of their chief cities_, 6; _prevails over the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:2. _HE BUILT ELOTH_] 2 Kings 14:21. This king is called by several different names; 2 Kings 15:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:5. _IN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH_] Who this was we know not, but by the character that is given of him here. He was wise _in the_ _visions of God_-in giving the true interpretation of Divine prophecies. He was probably the tutor of Uzziah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:7. _AND GOD HELPED HIM_] "And the WORD of the Lord helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gerar, and the plains of Meun." - _Targum_. These are supposed to be the Arabs which are called the _Meuneons_, or _Munites_, or _Meonites_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:8. _THE AMMONITES GAVE GIFTS_] Paid an annual _tribute_.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:14. _SHIELDS, AND SPEARS_] He prepared a vast number of military weapons, that he might have them in readiness to put into the hands of his subjects on any exigency.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:15. _ENGINES - TO SHOOT ARROWS AND GREAT STONES_] The _Targum_ says, "He made in Jerusalem ingenious instruments, and little hollow towers, to stand upon the towers and upon the bastions, for the shooting of arrows, and projecting of great stones." This is the very first inti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:16. _HE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD_] "He sinned against the WORD of the Lord his God." - _T_. _WENT INTO THE TEMPLE TO BURN INCENSE_] Thus assuming to himself the priest's office. See this whole transaction explained in the notes on 2 Kings 15:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:20. _BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SMITTEN HIM._] "Because the WORD of the Lord had brought the plague upon him." - _T_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:21. _AND DWELT IN A SEVERAL HOUSE_] He was _separated_, because of the infectious nature of his disorder, from all society, domestic, civil, and religious. _JOTHAM _- WAS _OVER THE KING'S HOUSE_] He became _regent_ of the land; his father being no longer able to perform the fu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:22. _THE REST OF THE ACTS OF UZZIAH, FIRST AND LAST, DID_ _ISAIAH THE PROPHET - WRITE._] This work, however, is _totally lost_; for we have not any history of this king in the writings of Isaiah. He is barely mentioned, Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 6:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 26:23. _THEY BURIED HIM - IN THE FIELD OF THE BURIAL_] As he was a _leper_, he was not permitted to be buried in the common burial-place of the kings; as it was supposed that even a place of sepulture must be defiled by the body of one who had died of this most afflictive and dang... [ Continue Reading ]