2 Chronicles 26:1-15

The Reign of Uzziah

26¹ And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. ² It was he that built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. ³ Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. ⁴ And he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. ⁵ And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and in the days that he sought Jehovah, God made him to prosper. ⁶ And he went forth and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. ⁷ And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-Baal, and the Maonites. ⁸ And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad to the entrance of Egypt; for he became exceeding strong. ⁹ And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the angle, and fortified them. ¹⁰ And he built towers in the desert and digged many cisterns; for he had much cattle, both in the lowland and on the plateau, husbandmen [also] and vinedressers on the mountains and in Carmel; for he loved husbandry. ¹¹ And Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains. ¹² The whole number of the chief fathers of the mighty men of valour was two thousand six hundred. ¹³ And under their hand was an army-host of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy. ¹⁴ And Uzziah prepared for them, throughout the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and even slinging-stones. ¹⁵ And he made in Jerusalem machines invented by skilful men, to be upon the towers and upon the bulwarks, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he became strong.