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(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Kings 15:1–7, “In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land. And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.”
After Jeroboam II began his reign, in Samaria, Azariah (Uzziah) began his reign in Jerusalem. Azariah was quite young when he began to reign in Judah but he was able to remain on the throne for a very long time. His reign was spoilt by the fact that he contracted leprosy while he was king and had to spend his time outside the city, isolated from other people. His son, Jotham acted as regent during that period. There is no evidence to suggest when he became a leper. Jotham became king in his own right when he was twenty five years old so that would place some restrictions on the time he acted as regent. We know from elsewhere that Azariah tried to offer incense in the Temple but he was not priest and, therefore, not qualified to do so. The priests tried to stop him and, then, he was afflicted with leprosy. (2 Chron 26: 16-21) We also know that there was a significant earthquake during Uzziah’s reign (Amos 1: 1) Perhaps the earthquake was associated with Azariah’s attempt to offer incense on the altar but there is no concrete evidence. Never the less, we can assume that Azariah thought he was more important than he really was and was a victim of his own pride. Even though Azariah had a long and peaceful reign he still died at the end of it was succeeded by his son.
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