II Chronicles 26 Uzziah Reigns and Prospers

 II Chronicles 26

Uzziah Reigns and Prospers

1 Then all the people took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.

2 He built Elod and restored it to Judah, after the king had slept with his fathers.

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

5 For he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and in the days that he sought the Lord, God gave him success.

6 For he went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. and he built cities in Ashdod and among the Philistines.

7 And God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.

8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the entrance of Egypt, for he fortified himself greatly.

9 And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corners, and fortified them.

10 And he built towers in the wilderness, and dug many wells; for he had much livestock, both in the valleys and in the plains; and there were farmers and vinedressers on the hills and in the fertile fields; for he loved agriculture. 

11 Uzziah also had an army of men skilled in war, who went out to war in groups, according to the number of the list made by Jeiel the recorder and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's princes. 

12 The total number of the heads of the fathers' houses, mighty men of valor, was two thousand six hundred. 

13 And under their command was an army of warriors of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, who went to war with great force, to help the king against his enemies. 

14 And Uzziah prepared for them for the whole army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and slings for pelting stones. 

15 He also made in Jerusalem engines invented by engineers, to be placed on the towers and on the corners, to pelt arrows and large stones. And his fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became strong.