Who is…
Uzziah
Meaning: the Lord is my strength; a contracted form of Azari'ah
This is the name of 2 biblical men.
King Uzziah
He is one of Amaziah’s sons, whom the people made king of Judah in his father's stead (2 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 26:1). His mother is Jecoliah.
His life is recorded in 2 Kings 15:1-7 and 2 Chronicles 26:1-23.
His long reign of about 52 years was “the most prosperous, excepting that of King Jehoshaphat, since the time of Solomon.” He was a vigorous and able ruler, and “his name spread abroad, even to the entering in of Egypt” (2 Chronicles 26:8, 14).
In the earlier part of his reign, under the influence of Zechariah, he was faithful to Jehovah, and “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 26:4, 5); but toward the close of his long life “his heart was lifted up to his destruction,” and he wantonly invaded the priest's office (2 Chronicles 26:16), and entering the sanctuary proceeded to offer incense on the golden altar.
Azariah the high priest saw the dangerous tendency of such a daring act on the part of the king. With a band of 80 valiant priests, he boldly challenged him (2 Chronicles 26:17), saying,
“It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been untrue and will have no honor from the Lord God.” But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged… —2 Chr. 26:18-19 NASB excerpt
- What is consecration?
- What is HOLINESS and why are we to pursue it? Answer
- Who are the priests and what is their God-given role?
- What is a high priest?
- What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Answer
Suddenly, King Uzziah was struck by God with leprosy while in the act of offering incense (26:19-21), and he was driven from the temple and compelled to reside in “a separate house” to the day of his death (2 Kings 15:5; 15:27; 2 Chronicles 26:3).
He was buried in a separate grave “in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings” (2 Kings 15:7; 2 Chronicles 26:23).
“That lonely grave in the royal necropolis would eloquently testify to coming generations that all Earthly monarchy must bow before the inviolable order of the divine will, and that no interference could be tolerated with that unfolding of the purposes of God, which, in the fulness of time, would reveal the Christ, the true High Priest and King for evermore” —Dr. Green, Kingdom of Israel, etc.
Relatives
More information
- What is the Kingdom of Judah (Judea)?
- Who is Azari'ah?
- What are other Judgments of God?
- Who are the Davidic kings?
- About the KINGS in the Bible
Uzziah, the father of Jehonathan (Jonathan)
His son Jehonathan (Jonathan) is one of King David's storehouse overseers (1 Chronicles 27:25 KJV; 1 Chr. 27:25 NASB).
More information
- Men of the Bible