13 And under their hand H3027 was an army, H2428 H6635 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 that made H6213 war H4421 with mighty H2428 power, H3581 to help H5826 the king H4428 against the enemy. H341
And when Rehoboam H7346 was come H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 he gathered H6950 of the house H1004 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 chosen H977 men, which were warriors, H6213 H4421 to fight H3898 against Israel, H3478 that he might bring H7725 the kingdom H4467 again H7725 to Rehoboam. H7346
And Abijah H29 set H631 the battle H4421 in array H631 with an army H2428 of valiant men H1368 of war, H4421 even four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 chosen H977 men: H376 Jeroboam H3379 also set the battle H4421 in array H6186 against him with eight H8083 hundred H3967 thousand H505 chosen H977 men, H376 being mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
And Asa H609 had an army H2428 of men that bare H5375 targets H6793 and spears, H7420 out of Judah H3063 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand; H505 and out of Benjamin, H1144 that bare H5375 shields H4043 and drew H1869 bows, H7198 two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand: H505 all these were mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
And these are the numbers H6486 of them according to the house H1004 of their fathers: H1 Of Judah, H3063 the captains H8269 of thousands; H505 Adnah H5734 the chief, H8269 and with him mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand. H505 And next H3027 to him was Jehohanan H3076 the captain, H8269 and with him two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand. H505 And next H3027 him was Amasiah H6007 the son H1121 of Zichri, H2147 who willingly offered H5068 himself unto the LORD; H3068 and with him two hundred H3967 thousand H505 mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428 And of Benjamin; H1144 Eliada H450 a mighty man H1368 of valour, H2428 and with him armed men H5401 with bow H7198 and shield H4043 two hundred H3967 thousand. H505 And next H3027 him was Jehozabad, H3075 and with him an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 ready prepared H2502 for the war. H6635 These waited H8334 on the king, H4428 beside those whom the king H4428 put H5414 in the fenced H4013 cities H5892 throughout all Judah. H3063
Moreover Amaziah H558 gathered H6908 Judah H3063 together, H6908 and made H5975 them captains H8269 over thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over hundreds, H3967 according to the houses H1004 of their fathers, H1 throughout all Judah H3063 and Benjamin: H1144 and he numbered H6485 them from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and above, H4605 and found H4672 them three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 choice H977 men, able to go forth H3318 to war, H6635 that could handle H270 spear H7420 and shield. H6793
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 26
2Ch 26:1-8. Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah and Reigns Well in the Days of Zechariah.
1. Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah—(See on 2Ki 14:21; 2Ki 15:1).
2. He built Eloth—or, "He it was who built Eloth." The account of the fortifications of this port on the Red Sea, which Uzziah restored to the kingdom of Judah (2Ch 33:13), is placed before the chronological notices (2Ch 26:3), either on account of the importance attached to the conquest of Eloth, or from the desire of the historian to introduce Uzziah as the king, who was known as the conqueror of Eloth. Besides, it indicates that the conquest occurred in the early part of his reign, that it was important as a port, and that Hebrew merchants maintained the old trade between it and the countries of the East [Bertheau].
5. he sought God in the days of Zechariah—a wise and pious counsellor, who was skilled in understanding the meaning and lessons of the ancient prophecies, and who wielded a salutary influence over Uzziah.
6, 7. he went forth and warred against the Philistines—He overcame them in many engagements—dismantled their towns, and erected fortified cities in various parts of the country, to keep them in subjection.
Jabneh—the same as Jabneel (Jos 15:11).
7. Gur-baal—thought by some to be Gerar, and by others Gebal.
8. the Ammonites gave gifts—The countries east of the Jordan became tributary to him, and by the rapid succession and extent of his victories, his kingdom was extended to the Egyptian frontier.
2Ch 26:9, 10. His Buildings.
9. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem, &c.—whence resistance could be made, or missiles discharged against assailants. The sites of the principal of these towers were: at the corner gate (2Ch 25:23), the northwest corner of the city; at the valley gate on the west, where the Joppa gate now is; at the "turning"—a curve in the city wall on the eastern side of Zion. The town, at this point, commanded the horse gate which defended Zion and the temple hill on the southeast [Bertheau].
10. Also he built towers in the desert—for the threefold purpose of defense, of observation, and of shelter to his cattle. He dug also a great many wells, for he loved and encouraged all branches of agriculture. Some of these "were in the desert," that is, in the district to the southeast of Jerusalem, on the west of the Dead Sea, an extensive grazing district "in the low country" lying between the mountains of Judah and the Mediterranean; "and in the plains," east of the Jordan, within the territory of Reuben (De 4:43; Jos 20:8).
in Carmel—This mountain, being within the boundary of Israel, did not belong to Uzziah; and as it is here placed in opposition to the vine-bearing mountains, it is probably used, not as a proper name, but to signify, as the word denotes, "fruitful fields" (Margin).
2Ch 26:11-15. His Host, and Engines of War.
11-15. an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands—He raised a strong body of militia, divided into companies or regiments of uniform size, which served in rotation. The enumeration was performed by two functionaries expert in the drawing up of military muster-rolls, under the superintendence of Hananiah, one of the high officers of the crown. The army consisted of 307,500 picked men, under the command of two thousand gallant officers, chiefs or heads of fathers' houses, so that each father's house formed a distinct band. They were fully equipped with every kind of military accoutrements, from brazen helmets, a habergeon or coat of mail, to a sling for stones.
15. he made … engines, invented by cunning men … to shoot arrows and great stones—This is the first notice that occurs in history of the use of machines for throwing projectiles. The invention is apparently ascribed to the reign of Uzziah, and Pliny expressly says they originated in Syria.
he was marvellously helped till he was strong—He conducted himself as became the viceroy of the Divine King, and prospered.
2Ch 26:16-21. He Invades the Priest's Office, and Is Smitten with Leprosy.
16-21. he transgressed against the Lord, &c.—(See on 2Ki 15:5). This daring and wicked act is in both records traced to the intoxicating influence of overweening pride and vanity. But here the additional circumstances are stated, that his entrance was opposed, and strong remonstrances made (1Ch 6:10) by the high priest, who was accompanied by eighty inferior priests. Rage and threats were the only answers he deigned to return, but God took care to vindicate the sacredness of the priestly office. At the moment the king lifted the censer, He struck him with leprosy. The earthquake mentioned (Am 1:1) is said to have been felt at the moment [Josephus].
21. dwelt in a several house—in an infirmary [Bertheau].
23. they buried him … in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings—He was interred not in, but near, the sepulcher of the kings, as the corpse of a leper would have polluted it.