2 Chronicles 26 2

2 Chronicles 26:2 kjv

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

2 Chronicles 26:2 nkjv

He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.

2 Chronicles 26:2 niv

He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

2 Chronicles 26:2 esv

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

2 Chronicles 26:2 nlt

After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.

2 Chronicles 26 verses

2 Chronicles 26 2 Meaning

This verse states that Uzziah (also known as Azariah), after ascending to the throne of Judah, took decisive action by building up (or rebuilding/fortifying) Eloth, and consequently restoring this important city to the control of the kingdom of Judah. This action took place immediately following the death of his father, King Amaziah, thus marking the early period of Uzziah’s reign with a significant and beneficial accomplishment for the nation. It highlights a period of immediate post-succession action aimed at strengthening the kingdom.

2 Chronicles 26 2 Context

This verse marks the beginning of King Uzziah's reign over Judah, immediately following the troubled end and death of his father, Amaziah. Chapter 25 concludes with Amaziah's apostasy, military defeat, and eventual assassination. Verse 26:1 quickly transitions by noting that "all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah." Thus, 2 Chronicles 26:2 directly follows this ascension, describing Uzziah's prompt and significant action as a new king. The broader chapter then details his long and largely prosperous reign, blessed by God as long as he sought Him, showcasing his military strength, building endeavors, agricultural advancements, and his widespread fame. However, the narrative arc also highlights his eventual downfall due to pride, contrasting his glorious beginning with his tragic end, offering a profound moral lesson.

2 Chronicles 26 2 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Uzziah (also called Azariah in 2 Kings), the subject of the previous verse (2 Chr 26:1). Though only sixteen years old, this singular pronoun highlights his immediate, personal initiative and capability as king, demonstrating strong leadership from the outset of his reign.
• built: The Hebrew verb is בָּנָה (banah), which means "to build, construct, erect." However, in context of cities, it often encompasses "rebuild" or "fortify," suggesting a process of making something secure or restoring it to its former state or greater. Given that Eloth was a known ancient port, it likely indicates a major reconstruction or strengthening effort, perhaps after a period of decay, desolation, or foreign occupation. This implies a substantial investment and effort, not just minor repairs.
• Eloth: Also known as Elath (אֵילֹות, Eylowth; also spelled אֵילַת, Eilat), located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba (part of the Red Sea). This city was strategically crucial for sea trade, particularly for access to resources from southern Arabia and potentially Africa (like the gold of Ophir mentioned during Solomon's time). Its control signified economic prosperity and geopolitical influence. Historically, it had been important during Solomon's reign (1 Ki 9:26-28), indicating its value. It was likely lost to or controlled by Edom or deserted during previous times of Judah's weakness.
• and restored it: This phrase (וַיְשִׁיבֶהָ, vayshisheveha) explicitly indicates that Eloth was not simply a new construction site but was brought back under Judah's domain and authority. This implies it had previously been lost, neglected, or outside of direct Judahite control. The restoration symbolizes a regaining of lost territory, economic leverage, and national strength.
• to Judah: Signifies bringing Eloth back into the political, economic, and administrative jurisdiction of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This act would have secured crucial trade routes and access to the sea, boosting the kingdom's wealth and prestige.
• after: A temporal marker, indicating that this action by Uzziah occurred following the specific event described next. This highlights the chronological immediacy and the king's prompt response to the transition of power.
• the king: Refers to King Amaziah, Uzziah's father, as contextually established in 2 Chronicles 25:27-28 and 26:1. This definite article specifies the recently deceased monarch.
• rested with his fathers: A common biblical idiom (שָׁכַב עִם אֲבֹתָיו, shakhav im avotayv) for a king's death and burial. It implies a peaceful passing into the ancestral burial place, legitimizing the end of one reign and the beginning of another. The immediate undertaking of the rebuilding of Eloth underscores the efficient and effective transition of power under the young Uzziah.

Words-group analysis:

• "He built Eloth and restored it to Judah": This phrase highlights Uzziah's immediate and effective assertion of royal authority and vision. The rebuilding and restoration of a strategic port like Eloth would have been a major economic and military feat, demonstrating Judah's renewed power and expansion under Uzziah's leadership. It signals a turning point for the kingdom after Amaziah's less successful rule.
• "after the king rested with his fathers": This temporal clause positions Uzziah's strategic action directly following the end of the previous reign. It suggests a smooth and powerful transition of leadership, where the new king wasted no time in consolidating and enhancing his kingdom's standing. It emphasizes continuity and progression within the royal line, even with a change in leadership.

2 Chronicles 26 2 Bonus section

• The two names, Uzziah and Azariah, are used interchangeably for this king in biblical texts (Uzziah primarily in 2 Chronicles and Isaiah, Azariah in 2 Kings). Both names carry similar meanings: "My strength is the LORD" (Uzziah) and "The LORD has helped" (Azariah), subtly affirming divine backing for his early successes.
• The act of building and restoring Eloth reflects a policy of strengthening Judah's borders and reclaiming strategic locations, which characterizes much of Uzziah's successful reign, particularly his military and administrative prowess (2 Chr 26:6-15). It shows an early indication of his extensive infrastructure development.
• This immediate post-succession action by a young king underlines a contrast to previous reigns that sometimes saw periods of instability or delay after the death of a monarch. Uzziah's reign began with purpose and effectiveness.
• The focus on restoring Eloth speaks to a practical concern for Judah's economic self-sufficiency and international trade, which was vital for national wealth and military capacity in the ancient Near East. Losing or regaining such a port had significant implications for a kingdom's treasury and influence.

2 Chronicles 26 2 Commentary

2 Chronicles 26:2 sets the tone for Uzziah's prosperous and militarily significant reign. Though taking the throne at the young age of sixteen, his very first recorded act is a bold and strategic initiative: the rebuilding and restoration of Eloth. This city, crucial for access to the Red Sea trade routes, had likely fallen into disrepair or external control during previous periods of Judahite weakness, possibly under Amaziah's decline. Uzziah's immediate reclaiming of this vital asset signaled a proactive and strong monarch dedicated to the economic and strategic well-being of his kingdom. It demonstrated his wisdom and decisiveness from the outset, highlighting God's early favor upon his reign because he "sought God" (2 Chr 26:5). This action laid a foundation for the widespread fame and power that Judah would enjoy under his leadership before his ultimate downfall due to pride, serving as an initial benchmark for his reign's initial success.