Amaziah had initially followed the Lord, but was not really
committed to him. Later he turned to
other religions and the God allowed the kingdom to decline economically and
politically, Finally, the people in Jerusalem
conspired to kill him. It was not a
popular conspiracy, and the people buried him along side the other kings of
Judah,. They also named hi son, Azariah,
or more commonly known as Uzziah as king, in II Chronicles 26:1-2. “Then
all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him
king in the room of his father Amaziah. He
built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his
fathers.”
II Kings 15:1-4 tells us when he became king, and a little
about him. “In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began
Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. Sixteen years old was he when he began to
reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name
was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did
that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father
Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people
sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.” The offerrings of sacrifices in the high
places had begun before the Temple was built, and Solomon had continued the
tradition, even though the Law forbade it.
Different ones of the kings had tried to stop it but by Uzziah’s day it
was a firmly entrenched practice he could not eradicate.
While Amaziah had followed God’s laws as a tradition, Uzziah
was sincere about worshipping God, actively seeking him for many years, as II
Chronicles 26:4-5 tells us. “And he did that which was right in the
sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And 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 to prosper.”
As a result of his obedience, God blessed him abundantly,
defeating many of their traditional enemies, and becoming famous even in
Egypt. He had a strong economy and was
able to build a strong, well equipped army, as we see in II Chronicles
26:6-15. “And 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 built
cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines,
and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his
name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened
himself exceedingly.
Moreover Uzziah built
towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the
turning of the wall, and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged
many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains:
husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he
loved husbandry.
Moreover Uzziah had an
host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of
their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the
hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. The whole number of the chief of the fathers
of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. And 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. And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all
the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings
to cast stones. And he made in Jerusalem
engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to
shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he
was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
During the first forty years of his reign, Uzziah sought the
Lord, and as a result Judah became one of the strongest nations in the region,
both economically and politically.
Uzziah was one of Judah’s greatest kings.
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