Azariah (VIII)

VIII. AZARIAH, or Uzziah, King of Judah, Son of Amaziah, began to reign at the age of sixteen years, and reigned two and fifty years at Jerusalem. His Mother’s name was Jecholiah. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; nevertheless he did not destroy the high places, and the people, against the express prohibition of God, continued to sacrifice there. This Prince is called Uzziah in the Chronicles. He having taken upon him to offer incense in the Temple, which office was reserved peculiarly to the Priests, was struck with a leprosy, and continued without the City separated from other men to his death.

Josephus says¹, that upon this occasion a great earthquake was felt, and that the Temple opening at the top, a ray of light darted upon the King’s forehead, and he appeared instantly to have a leprosy. The earthquake was so violent as to divide in half the mountain which lies to the West of Jerusalem, and the earth having moved along for the space of four furlongs, or five hundred paces, without ever stopping till it met with the mountain, which lies Eastward of the City, closed up the high way, and covered the King’s gardens. This is what Josephus adds to the History related in the Chronicles. We know indeed that there was a very great earthquake in the reign of Uzziah. Amos and Zachary make mention of it, the Kings and Chronicles speak expressly of it; but it is not certain that it happened at the very time, when Uzziah took upon him to offer incense.

The beginnings of Uzziah’s reign were very happy. He obtained great advantages over the Philistines, Ammonites, and Arabians. He made additions to the fortifications of Jerusalem, and always kept an Army on foot of three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred men; and he had great Magazines very well furnished with all sorts of arms, as well for attacking as defending. As he was a great lover of agriculture, he had a great number of husbandmen in the plains, vinedressers in the mountains, and shepherds in the valleys. He died in the year of the world 3246, before J. C. 754, before the vulgar Æra 758. He was not buried in the royal Sepulchers, because he was a leper; but in the field where these monuments were.

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