Lives of Scripture

Uzziah (also called Azariah) became king of Judah at sixteen and reigned fifty-two years, longer than almost any other king of Judah or Israel (2 Kings 15:1-2; 2 Chronicles 26:1-3). 'He did right in the sight of the LORD' during the years he sought guidance from Zechariah, a man instructed in the fear of God, and God gave him success: victories over the Philistines, Arabs, and Ammonites, strengthened fortifications in Jerusalem, an effective and well-equipped army, and innovative agricultural development, since Uzziah 'loved the soil' (2 Chronicles 26:4-15). But the text turns immediately: 'when he was strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God' (26:16). Uzziah entered the temple himself to burn incense on the altar, a priestly duty reserved exclusively for Aaron's descendants; when the high priest Azariah and eighty other priests confronted him, Uzziah grew angry at being corrected rather than repenting (26:16-19). At that moment, leprosy broke out on his forehead in full view of the priests, and he was rushed out of the temple, recognizing God's judgment even as it struck (26:19-20). Uzziah lived in isolation with leprosy for the rest of his life, while his son Jotham governed the palace and the people in his place (26:21). Isaiah's famous temple vision of the LORD 'high and lifted up' is dated precisely to 'the year King Uzziah died' (Isaiah 6:1).