2 Chronicles 26:16

“When he was strong, etc.] Became great and powerful, through his victories, the enlargement of his dominions, and having a numerous army, and these well accoutred, and many fortified cities and towers: his heart was lifted up to his destruction; he grew vain and proud, elated with his flourishing circumstances, which issued in his ruin: for he transgressed against the Lord his God; who had helped him, and made him so great, and had bestowed so many favours upon him; the Targum is, “the Word of the Lord his God;” what his transgression was, follows: and went into the temple of the Lord; the holy place, into which none but the priests might enter: to burn incense upon the altar of incense;…”

“HE INVADES THE PRIEST'S OFFICE, AND IS SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY. (Ch2 26:16-21) he transgressed against the Lord, &c.--(See on Kg2 15:5). This daring and wicked act is in both records traced to the intoxicating influence of overweening pride and vanity. But here the additional circumstances are stated, that his entrance was opposed, and strong remonstrances made (Ch1 6:10) by the high priest, who was accompanied by eighty inferior priests. Rage and threats were the only answers he deigned to return, but God took care to vindicate the sacredness of the priestly office. At the moment the king lifted the censer, He struck him with leprosy. The earthquake mentioned (Amo 1:1) is said to have been…”

“To his destruction - Rather, “to do wickedly.” Uzziah appears to have deliberately determined to invade the priest’s office (marginal reference “m”), thus repeating the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Numbers 16:1-35. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Into Jerusalem - Into the holy place, where the altar of incense stood, and into which none but the priests might enter, much less offer incense. 2 Chronicles 26:18”

“26:16-18 Uzziah’s leprosy was a judgment on the covenant violation of burning incense within the Temple, an activity reserved exclusively for priests (Exod 30:7-9; Num 16).”

“when he was: Ch2 25:19, Ch2 32:25; Deu 8:14, Deu 8:17, Deu 32:13-15; Pro 16:18; Hab 2:4; Col 2:18 went into: Kg2 16:12, Kg2 16:13 to burn: Num 16:1, Num 16:7, Num 16:18, Num 16:35; Kg1 12:33, Kg1 13:1-4 2 Chronicles 26:17”

“Uzziah's pride, and chastisement by leprosy. His death and burial. - The fact that the Lord smote Uzziah with leprosy, which continued until his death, so that he was compelled to dwell in a hospital, and to allow his son Jotham to conduct the government, is narrated also in Kg2 15:5; but the cause of this punishment inflicted on him by God is stated only in our verses. Ch2 26:16 "When Uzziah had become mighty (כּחזקתו as in Ch2 12:1), his heart was lifted up (in pride) unto destructive deeds." He transgressed against Jahve his God, and came into the sanctuary of Jahve to offer incense upon the altar of incense. With a lofty feeling of his power, Uzziah wished to make himself high priest of…”