2 Kings 15:1-7

2 Kings 15:1-7

[1] In the twenty  and seventh  year  of Jeroboam  king  of Israel  began Azariah  son  of Amaziah  king  of Judah  to reign.  [2] Sixteen  years  old  was he when he began to reign,  two  and fifty  years  in Jerusalem.  And his mother's  name  was Jecholiah  of Jerusalem.  [3] And he did  that which was right  in the sight  of the LORD,  according to all that his father  Amaziah  had done;  [4] Save that the high places  were not removed:  the people  sacrificed  and burnt incense  still on the high places.  [5] 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.  [6] 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?  [7] 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.

What does 2 Kings 15:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Most Bible students know Azariah by his other name, Uzziah ( 2 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 15:30; 2 Kings 15:32; 2 Kings 15:34; 2 Chronicles 26; Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1, Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5; et al.). His52-year reign (790-739 B.C.) was longer than any other king of Judah or Israel so far. King Manasseh reigned the longest in Judah (55 years), and Azariah was second. Azariah reigned while seven of the last eight kings of the Northern Kingdom ruled, all but the last Israelite king, Hoshea. The first23years of his reign was a coregency with his father Amaziah, and the last11was another coregency with his son Jotham.
Azariah was one of Judah"s most popular, effective, and influential kings. He expanded Judah"s territories, fortified several Judean cities, including Jerusalem, and reorganized the army ( 2 Kings 15:22; cf. 2 Chronicles 26:6-14). The combined territories over which he and Jeroboam II exercised control approximated those of David and Solomon.
Unfortunately he became proud, and in disobedience to the Mosaic Law performed functions that God had restricted to the priests ( 2 Chronicles 26:16-21). For this sin God punished him with leprosy ( 2 Kings 15:5). History teaches us that few people have been able to maintain spiritual vitality and faithfulness when they attain what the world calls success. As with Song of Solomon , Azariah"s early success proved to be his undoing.