Lives of Scripture

Azariah served as chief priest during the reign of King Uzziah, a king whose long rule brought Judah great strength and prosperity -- until, Scripture says plainly, "he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly" (2 Chronicles 26:16). Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense on the altar himself, a duty reserved by law for Aaron's consecrated priests alone. Azariah did not stay silent. He went in after the king together with eighty other priests, described as valiant men, and confronted him directly: "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated, to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful, and will have no honor from the LORD God" (26:18). Uzziah, censer still in hand, grew enraged at being corrected by his own priests -- and in that moment of rage, leprosy broke out on his forehead in full view of them all. Azariah and the priests saw it immediately and hurried the king out of the temple; Uzziah himself rushed to leave once he realized the LORD had struck him (26:19-20). He remained a leper for life, barred from the temple he had defiled, while his son governed in his place (26:21). Azariah's willingness to confront a powerful king, at real personal risk, to protect the holiness of worship stands as one of Scripture's clearest examples of priestly courage.