2 Chronicles 26:1 kjv
Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 Chronicles 26:1 nkjv
Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
2 Chronicles 26:1 niv
Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
2 Chronicles 26:1 esv
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
2 Chronicles 26:1 nlt
All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah's sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.
2 Chronicles 26 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 14:21 | And all the people of Judah took Azariah… made him king… | Parallel account, showing Uzziah=Azariah. |
| 2 Chr 25:27 | Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from the LORD... slain | Context for Amaziah's assassination. |
| 2 Kgs 15:13 | Uzziah son of Amaziah… king of Judah… twenty-seventh year… | Further confirms Uzziah as Azariah. |
| 1 Sam 11:15 | And all the people went to Gilgal… and there they made Saul king. | People's role in making a king. |
| 2 Sam 5:3 | So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David… covenant with them; and they anointed David king over Israel. | People's role in choosing/anointing king. |
| 2 Chr 23:3 | And all the assembly made a covenant… made Joash king… | People's involvement in installing Joash. |
| 1 Kgs 11:43 | So Solomon rested with his fathers, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. | Standard succession pattern. |
| 2 Kgs 12:1 | In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king… | Another example of a very young king. |
| 2 Chr 34:1 | Josiah was eight years old when he became king… | Youngest king mentioned, good example. |
| Eccl 4:13 | Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will no longer take advice. | Wisdom/folly irrespective of age. |
| Prov 16:12 | It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. | Implied ideal for any ruler. |
| Deut 17:15 | you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses… | Divine sovereignty in appointing kings. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | God's ultimate authority in rulers. |
| 1 Tim 4:12 | Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. | Instruction for young leaders. |
| Ps 1:1-3 | Blessed is the man… But his delight is in the law of the LORD… | Starting well, focus on initial walk. |
| Gal 3:3 | Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? | Caution against a good beginning ending poorly. |
| Matt 21:9 | Then the multitudes who went before… cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David!…" | Popular acclamation (for Jesus, different context, but popular choice theme). |
| Num 27:16 | Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them… | Importance of divine choice for a leader. |
| 1 Kgs 3:7-9 | I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in… Give Your servant an understanding heart… | Solomon's request for wisdom as a young king. |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. | Contrast, highlighting positive implication of "all the people" choosing Uzziah. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God… | All authority ultimately from God. |
2 Chronicles 26 verses
2 Chronicles 26 1 Meaning
2 Chronicles 26:1 records the enthronement of Uzziah, also known as Azariah, who succeeded his father Amaziah as king of Judah. This verse emphasizes the popular support for his ascension, as "all the people of Judah" participated in making him king. At the young age of sixteen, Uzziah assumed the throne following the violent end of Amaziah's reign, marking a new chapter in Judah's history.
2 Chronicles 26 1 Context
Verse 1 immediately follows the account of King Amaziah's apostasy, his humiliating defeat by Israel, and ultimately his assassination as part of a conspiracy (2 Chr 25:14-27). This background is crucial, as the kingdom of Judah was in a state of political instability and moral decline at the end of Amaziah's reign. Therefore, Uzziah's ascension represents a significant shift and potential for renewed stability and prosperity. The choice by "all the people" (rather than a simple hereditary claim or coup) suggests a popular mandate and a collective desire for legitimate leadership following a period of turmoil. This sets the stage for a new beginning, contrasting sharply with the tragic end of his father.
2 Chronicles 26 1 Word analysis
- Then: This conjunction (Hebrew: wa- prefix, functioning as waw consecutive) links the new narrative of Uzziah's reign directly to the preceding events of Amaziah's death. It indicates chronological succession and consequence.
- all the people of Judah: (Hebrew: kol-ʿam Yehudah). This phrase signifies national unity and popular consent. It is a powerful statement, emphasizing widespread approval for Uzziah's kingship, especially relevant after his father's violent overthrow. Their collective decision brings legitimacy to the new ruler in a moment of crisis, underscoring the political and social dimension of his anointing, in addition to the divine dimension of kingship.
- took Uzziah: (Hebrew: lāqaḥ Uzzîyahu - "they took Uzziah"). The verb "took" here means to seize, appoint, or receive. It implies an active role in selection and elevation, not merely a passive acceptance. It speaks to the popular recognition and installation of the new king. Uzziah's name (Hebrew: Uzzîyahu - עֻזִּיָּהוּ) means "My Strength is Yah" or "Yahweh is my Strength." He is also referred to as Azariah (עֲזַרְיָהוּ - ʿǍzaryāhū) meaning "Yahweh has helped," in 2 Kings, confirming they are the same individual. Both names are significant, perhaps prophetic of his early reliance on the Lord and subsequent strength and success in the first half of his reign.
- who was sixteen years old: This detail highlights his youth. It's relatively young for a king to assume full power, raising questions about immediate regency (though none is mentioned for Uzziah's time) and the need for wisdom and guidance, perhaps initially provided by spiritual counselors like Zechariah mentioned in verse 5. His youth suggests a clean slate and potential for growth, free from his father's apostasy.
- and made him king: (Hebrew: wayyamlîḵuhu - "and they caused him to reign"). This phrase is the direct action of establishing his rule. It solidifies the popular "taking" of Uzziah into formal enthronement. This act is a public declaration of his legitimate authority, demonstrating how the people, guided by God's providence, can affirm a monarch.
- in the place of his father Amaziah: This explicitly states his role as a successor, highlighting the dynastic continuity while also contrasting his anticipated reign with his predecessor's downfall. It signifies an orderly transfer of power, despite the turbulent end of Amaziah's life. This immediate succession often brought with it an opportunity for national course correction.
2 Chronicles 26 1 Bonus section
The dual name of Uzziah and Azariah in parallel accounts (2 Chr 26:1 and 2 Kgs 14:21) for the same king is common in ancient Near Eastern royal records and biblical accounts (e.g., Jeconiah/Jehoiachin). Both names carry similar theological meanings related to Yahweh's strength or help, reinforcing the divine aspect of his initial successful reign. The Chronicler’s emphasis on "all the people of Judah" appointing Uzziah is significant for several reasons. It contrasts with instances where kings ascend through prophecy (like David) or less popular means, suggesting a broad acceptance and a shared desire for stable, legitimate leadership in the wake of the political upheaval caused by Amaziah’s assassination. This unified act might also implicitly reinforce the concept of the Davidic covenant's ongoing relevance through the recognized succession.
2 Chronicles 26 1 Commentary
2 Chronicles 26:1 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, ushering in the long and generally prosperous reign of King Uzziah. It highlights a united populace's choice for new leadership following a period of royal and national distress under Amaziah. The emphasis on "all the people of Judah" actively installing a young Uzziah, whose very name, "Yahweh is my strength," carried spiritual resonance, set a hopeful tone for a new beginning for Judah. This choice speaks to the divine hand working through the consent of the people, aiming to restore stability and adherence to God after Amaziah's unfaithfulness led to his demise. It is a concise but pregnant verse, full of potential, both for the king's initial good character and the kingdom's subsequent achievements, yet also foreshadowing the complexities and eventual fall detailed later in the chapter.