2 Chronicles 26:1-13 ▼

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

2 Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers.

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

5 He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

6 Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.

7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.

8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful.

9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them.

10 Since he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields.

11 Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers.

12 The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600.

13 Under their authority was an army of 307,500 trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies.