Study notes

2 Chronicles 26

Introducing 2 ChroniclesWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

25:1–28:27 Section

Amaziah hired soldiers from the northern kingdom. Then a prophet told him not to use those soldiers. God wanted the kings to depend on him when they fought battles. Their success didn’t depend on the size of their army. Amaziah listened to the prophet and obeyed his message.

Later, God sent another prophet to Amaziah. That prophet spoke against Amaziah for worshipping false gods. Amaziah didn’t want that prophet’s advice. Instead, Amaziah listened to advisers that he chose. With them he made a foolish decision to attack the northern kingdom. God brought judgement against Amaziah by allowing the northern kingdom to win the battle.

Amaziah’s son Uzziah worshipped God and obeyed him faithfully. But then he became full of pride. He didn’t respect the differences between kings and priests. He tried to burn incense at the altar in the temple. Many years before, Korah and his followers had tried to offer incense to God (Numbers 16). God had made it very clear that only priests were to do that.

Uzziah’s son Jotham followed God with all his heart. But Jotham’s son Ahaz didn’t follow God. He wasn’t like David at all. He led the people to worship false gods and he sacrificed children to those gods. Ahaz didn’t turn away from his sin. He didn’t repent even when armies attacked the southern kingdom. Ahaz tried to get help from the king of Assyria instead of from God. Then Ahaz shut the doors of the temple. This means that he fully stopped the community’s practices for worshipping the true God.

26:3

Uzziah ruled for fifty-two years, from 792 to 740 BC. He shared power with his father, Amaziah, from 792 to 767 BC, and with his son Jotham from 750 to 740 BC.

26:6–8

These verses summarize Uzziah’s international achievements. He conquered areas to the west, south, and southeast, but not to the north, where Jeroboam II’s kingdom was strong (2 Kings 14:23–29). With God's guidance (2 Chronicles 26:7), Uzziah aimed to control the coastal highway and build towns in the conquered areas.

26:9–10

  • Uzziah fixed the damage to Jerusalem's walls caused by Jehoash during his attack on Amaziah. Uzziah might have also repaired damage from the famous earthquake of his time (Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5). Towers and cisterns found in excavations at Qumran, Gibeah, Beersheba, and other sites date back to this period.

  • Uzziah supported agriculture, which was crucial for an independent society.

26:11–14

Uzziah had a large and well-equipped army that helped him expand and defend his land. His name appears on a fragment of a text from Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, which identifies Uzziah as the leader of an alliance.

26:21

Leprosy forced King Uzziah to spend his final years in quarantine in isolation (literally a free house). The meaning of this term is unclear; it often suggests he was free from royal duties. In Ugaritic texts, it appears to be a way to suggest a place of complete confinement.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources