The Penalty for Uzziah’s Pride(A)

16 But (B)when he was strong his heart was (C)lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God (D)by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 So (E)Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. 18 And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It (F)is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the (G)priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.”

19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, (H)leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also (I)hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.

21 (J)King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an (K)isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet (L)Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote. 23 (M)So Uzziah [a]rested 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.” Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:23 Died and joined his ancestors

16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride(A) led to his downfall.(B) He was unfaithful(C) to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense(D) on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah(E) the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests,(F) the descendants(G) of Aaron,(H) who have been consecrated to burn incense.(I) Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy[a](J) broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.

21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house[b](K)—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah(L) son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah(M) rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 26:19 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 20, 21 and 23.
  2. 2 Chronicles 26:21 Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities