The King Who Had Everything and Wanted More.

וַיִּקְח֞וּ כָּל־עַ֤ם יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וְה֕וּא בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וַיַּמְלִ֣יכוּ אֹת֔וֹ תַּ֖חַת אָבִ֥יו אֲמַצְיָֽהוּ׃

And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

ה֚וּא בָּנָ֣ה אֶת־אֵיל֔וֹת וַיְשִׁיבֶ֖הָ לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה אַחֲרֵ֥י שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עִם־אֲבֹתָֽיו׃ פ

[2] He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.

בֶּן־שֵׁ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ ׳יְכִילְיָה׳ ״יְכָלְיָ֖ה״ מִן־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

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

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ אָבִֽיו׃

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

וַיְהִי֙ לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים בִּימֵ֣י זְכַרְיָ֔הוּ הַמֵּבִ֖ין בִּרְאֹ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבִימֵי֙ דָּרְשׁ֣וֹ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה הִצְלִיח֖וֹ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ס

[5] He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord , God made him prosper.

וַיֵּצֵא֙ וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיִּפְרֹ֞ץ אֶת־ח֣וֹמַת גַּ֗ת וְאֵת֙ חוֹמַ֣ת יַבְנֵ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת חוֹמַ֣ת אַשְׁדּ֑וֹד וַיִּבְנֶ֣ה עָרִ֔ים בְּאַשְׁדּ֖וֹד וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

[6] He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

וַיַּעְזְרֵ֨הוּ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֜ים עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֧ים ׳וְעַל־הָעַרְבִיִּים׳ ״וְעַל־הָֽעַרְבִ֛ים״ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים בְּגוּר־בָּ֖עַל וְהַמְּעוּנִֽים׃

[7] God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites.

וַיִּתְּנ֧וּ הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֛ים מִנְחָ֖ה לְעֻזִּיָּ֑הוּ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ שְׁמוֹ֙ עַד־לְב֣וֹא מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּ֥י הֶחֱזִ֖יק עַד־לְמָֽעְלָה׃

[8] The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.

וַיִּ֨בֶן עֻזִּיָּ֤הוּ מִגְדָּלִים֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם עַל־שַׁ֧עַר הַפִּנָּ֛ה וְעַל־שַׁ֥עַר הַגַּ֖יְא וְעַל־הַמִּקְצ֑וֹעַ וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃

[9] Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them.

וַיִּ֨בֶן מִגְדָּלִ֜ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וַיַּחְצֹב֙ בֹּר֣וֹת רַבִּ֔ים כִּ֤י מִקְנֶה־רַּב֙ הָ֣יָה ל֔וֹ וּבַשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה וּבַמִּישׁ֑וֹר אִכָּרִ֣ים וְכֹֽרְמִ֗ים בֶּהָרִים֙ וּבַכַּרְמֶ֔ל כִּֽי־אֹהֵ֥ב אֲדָמָ֖ה הָיָֽה׃ ס

[10] And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

וַיְהִ֣י לְעֻזִּיָּ֡הוּ חַיִל֩ עֹשֵׂ֨ה מִלְחָמָ֜ה יוֹצְאֵ֧י צָבָ֣א לִגְד֗וּד בְּמִסְפַּר֙ פְּקֻדָּתָ֔ם בְּיַד֙ ׳יְעוּאֵל׳ ״יְעִיאֵ֣ל״ הַסּוֹפֵ֔ר וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ הַשּׁוֹטֵ֑ר עַ֚ל יַד־חֲנַנְיָ֔הוּ מִשָּׂרֵ֖י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

[11] Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.

כֹּ֠ל מִסְפַּ֞ר רָאשֵׁ֤י הָאָבוֹת֙ לְגִבּ֣וֹרֵי חָ֔יִל אַלְפַּ֖יִם וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

[12] The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600.

וְעַל־יָדָם֩ חֵ֨יל צָבָ֜א שְׁלֹ֧שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אֶ֗לֶף וְשִׁבְעַ֤ת אֲלָפִים֙ וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת עוֹשֵׂ֥י מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּכֹ֣חַ חָ֑יִל לַעְזֹ֥ר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הָאוֹיֵֽב׃

[13] Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

וַיָּכֶן֩ לָהֶ֨ם עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ לְכָל־הַצָּבָ֗א מָגִנִּ֤ים וּרְמָחִים֙ וְכ֣וֹבָעִ֔ים וְשִׁרְיֹנ֖וֹת וּקְשָׁת֑וֹת וּלְאַבְנֵ֖י קְלָעִֽים׃

[14] And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ׀ בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם חִשְּׁבֹנ֜וֹת מַחֲשֶׁ֣בֶת חוֹשֵׁ֗ב לִהְי֤וֹת עַל־הַמִּגְדָּלִים֙ וְעַל־הַפִּנּ֔וֹת לִירוֹא֙ בַּֽחִצִּ֔ים וּבָאֲבָנִ֖ים גְּדֹל֑וֹת וַיֵּצֵ֤א שְׁמוֹ֙ עַד־לְמֵ֣רָח֔וֹק כִּֽי־הִפְלִ֥יא לְהֵעָזֵ֖ר עַ֥ד כִּֽי־חָזָֽק׃

[15] In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.

וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ גָּבַ֤הּ לִבּוֹ֙ עַד־לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית וַיִּמְעַ֖ל בַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לְהַקְטִ֖יר עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃

[16] But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

וַיָּבֹ֥א אַחֲרָ֖יו עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְעִמּ֞וֹ כֹּהֲנִ֧ים׀ לַיהוָ֛ה שְׁמוֹנִ֖ים בְּנֵי־חָֽיִל׃

[17] But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor,

וַיַּעַמְד֞וּ עַל־עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹא־לְךָ֣ עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ לְהַקְטִיר֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה כִּ֣י לַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים בְּנֵי־אַהֲרֹ֛ן הַמְקֻדָּשִׁ֖ים לְהַקְטִ֑יר צֵ֤א מִן־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ כִּ֣י מָעַ֔לְתָּ וְלֹֽא־לְךָ֥ לְכָב֖וֹד מֵיְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִֽים׃

[18] and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord , but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.”

וַיִּזְעַף֙ עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וּבְיָד֥וֹ מִקְטֶ֖רֶת לְהַקְטִ֑יר וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ עִם־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְ֠הַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָ֨ה בְמִצְח֜וֹ לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל לְמִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃

[19] Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord , by the altar of incense.

וַיִּ֣פֶן אֵלָ֡יו עֲזַרְיָהוּ֩ כֹהֵ֨ן הָרֹ֜אשׁ וְכָל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים וְהִנֵּה־ה֤וּא מְצֹרָע֙ בְּמִצְח֔וֹ וַיַּבְהִל֖וּהוּ מִשָּׁ֑ם וְגַם־הוּא֙ נִדְחַ֣ף לָצֵ֔את כִּ֥י נִגְּע֖וֹ יְהוָֽה׃

[20] And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the Lord had struck him.

וַיְהִי֩ עֻזִּיָּ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מְצֹרָ֣ע׀ עַד־י֣וֹם מוֹת֗וֹ וַיֵּ֜שֶׁב בֵּ֤ית ׳הַחָפְשׁוּת׳ ״הַֽחָפְשִׁית֙״ מְצֹרָ֔ע כִּ֥י נִגְזַ֖ר מִבֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְיוֹתָ֤ם בְּנוֹ֙ עַל־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שׁוֹפֵ֖ט אֶת־עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃

[21] And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord . And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים וְהָאֲחֲרֹנִ֑ים כָּתַ֛ב יְשַֽׁעְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אָמ֖וֹץ הַנָּבִֽיא׃

[22] Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote.

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֤וֹ עִם־אֲבֹתָיו֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֤ה הַקְּבוּרָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַמְּלָכִ֔ים כִּ֥י אָמְר֖וּ מְצוֹרָ֣ע ה֑וּא וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ יוֹתָ֥ם בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ פ

[23] And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place.