1And all the people of Judah took Uzziah , who was sixteen years old , and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 2He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah , after that the king slept with his fathers. 3Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign ; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem : and his mother’s name was Jechiliah , of Jerusalem . 4And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah , according to all that his father Amaziah had done . 5And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah , who had understanding in the vision of God : and as long as he sought Jehovah , God made him to prosper .
Military Conquests and Infrastructure Development
6And he went forth and warred against the Philistines , and brake down the wall of Gath , and the wall of Jabneh , and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines . 7And God helped him against the Philistines , and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal , and the Meunim . 8And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah : and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt ; for he waxed exceeding strong . 9Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate , and at the valley gate , and at the turning of the wall , and fortified them . 10And he built towers in the wilderness , and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle ; in the lowland also , and in the plain : and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry. 11Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men , that went out to war by bands , according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer , under the hand of Hananiah , one of the king ’s captains . 12The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses , even the mighty men of valor , was two thousand and six hundred . 13And under their hand was an army , three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred , that made war with mighty power , to help the king against the enemy. 14And Uzziah prepared for them , even for all the host , shields , and spears , and helmets , and coats of mail , and bows , and stones for slinging. 15And he made in Jerusalem engines , invented by skilful men , to be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad ; for he was marvellously helped , till he was strong .
Uzziah's Pride and Downfall
16But when he was strong , his heart was lifted up , so that he did corruptly , and he trespassed against Jehovah his God ; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense . 17And Azariah the priest went in after him , and with him fourscore priests of Jehovah , that were valiant men : 18and they withstood Uzziah the king , and said unto him , It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah , to burn incense unto Jehovah , but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense : go out of the sanctuary ; for thou hast trespassed ; neither shall it be for thine honor from Jehovah God . 19Then Uzziah was wroth ; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense ; and while he was wroth with the priests , the leprosy brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah , beside the altar of incense . 20And Azariah the chief priest , and all the priests , looked upon him , and , behold , he was leprous in his forehead , and they thrust him out quickly from thence ; yea , himself hasted also to go out , because Jehovah had smitten him . 21And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death , and dwelt in a separate house , being a leper ; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah : and Jotham his son was over the king ’s house , judging the people of the land. 22Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah , first and last, did Isaiah the prophet , the son of Amoz, write . 23So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings ; for they said, He is a leper : and Jotham his son reigned in his stead .