Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from 2 Chronicles,
chapter 26. Now all the people of Judah took
Uzziah, who was 16 years old, and made him king
instead of his father Amaziah. He built Eilat
and restored it to Judah after the king rested
with his fathers. Uzziah was 16 years old when
he became king, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Jecholia of Jerusalem.
And he did what was right in the sight of the
Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah
had done. He sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God.
And as long as he sought the Lord, God made him
prosper. Now he went out and made war against
the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath,
the wall of Jabni, and the wall of Ashdod. And
he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.
God helped him against the Philistines, against
the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against
the Maonites. Also the Ammonites brought tribute
to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance
of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong. And
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner
gate, at the valley gate, and at the corner buttress
of the wall. Then he fortified them. Also he
built towers in the desert. He dug many wells,
for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands
and in the plains. He also had farmers and vine
dressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for
he loved the soil. Moreover, Uzziah had an army
of fighting men who went out to war by companies,
according to the number, on their role as prepared
by Jael the scribe and Masiah the officer, under
the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.
The total number of chief officers of the mighty
men of valor was 2 ,600. and under their authority
was an army of three hundred and seven thousand
five hundred that made war with mighty power
to help the king against the enemy then Uzziah
prepared for them for the entire army shields
spears helmets body armor bows and slings to
cast stones and he made devices in Jerusalem
invented by skillful men to be on the towers
and the corners to shoot arrows and large stones
So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously
helped till he became strong. But when he was
strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction,
for he transgressed against the Lord his God
by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense
on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest
went in after him, and with him were eighty priests
of the Lord, valiant men. And they withstood
king Uzziah and said to him, 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 trespassed. You shall have no honor
from the Lord God. Then Uzziah became furious,
and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense.
And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy
broke out on his forehead before the priests
in the house of the Lord beside the incense altar.
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 hurried to get out, because the
Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper
until the day of his death. He dwelt in an 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. Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah,
from first to last. The prophet Isaiah, the son
of Amoz, wrote, So Uzziah rested with his fathers,
and he 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. I hope you enjoyed today's reading
as much as I did, and I look forward to seeing
you again tomorrow to continue on our journey.
God bless you and have a great day.