2 Kings 15:5

“And the Lord smote the king, etc.] With leprosy; the reason of it was, because he intruded into the priest’s office, and went into the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense, (<142619>2 Chronicles 26:19,20), so that he was a leper unto the day of his death; but how long it was to it from his being smitten cannot be said with certainty; Dr. Lightfoot f158 thinks he died the same year he was smitten: and dwelt in a several house: without Jerusalem, as the Targum; for lepers, according to the law, were to dwell separate without the camp or city, (<031346>Leviticus 13:46) the word for “several” signifies “free” f159; here he lived alone, free from the company and conversation of men,…”

“The Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper - The circumstances under which this terrible affliction befel one of the greatest of the Jewish kings, are given at some length by the author of Chronicles (marginal reference), who supplies us with a tolerably full account of this important reign, which the writer of Kings dismisses in half-a-dozen verses. A several house - “A house of liberation,” or, freedom. On the necessity, under which the Law placed lepers, of living apart from other men, see marginal reference Jotham became regent in his father’s room, and exercised the functions of judge (1 Kings 3:9 note), from the time that his father became a leper. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A leper - The cause whereof see Ch2 26:16. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 15:8”

“15:5 Because Uzziah usurped the prerogatives of the priesthood (2 Chr 26:16-21), the Lord struck the king with leprosy. His son Jotham became co-regent (about 750 BC). While Uzziah’s isolation kept him from public duties, he may have continued to exercise political power. King Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria (744–727 BC), in connection with his first western campaign (744–743 BC), mentioned an opponent named Azariau whom many scholars understand as Uzziah.”

“am 3239-3246, bc 765-758 the Lord: Sa2 3:29; Ch2 26:16-20; Job 34:19 so that: Kg2 5:27; Num 12:10 and dwelt: Kg2 7:3; Lev 13:46; Num 12:14; Deu 24:8 Jotham: Ch2 26:21, Ch2 26:23 judging: Sa2 8:15, Sa2 15:2-4; Kg1 3:9, Kg1 3:28; Psa 72:1 4 Kings (2 Kings) 15:6”