16 But when he became strong , his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly , and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God , for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense . 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord , valiant men . 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, " It is not for you, Uzziah , to burn incense to the Lord , but for the priests , the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense . Get out of the sanctuary , for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God ." 19 But Uzziah , with a censer in his hand for burning incense , was enraged ; and while he was enraged with the priests , the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord , beside e the altar of incense . 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold , he was leprous on his forehead ; and they hurried him out of there , and he himself also hastened to get out because the Lord had smitten him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death ; and he lived in a separate house , being a leper , for he was cut off from the house of the Lord . And Jotham his son was over the king's house judging the people of the land . 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah , first to last , the prophet Isaiah , the son of Amoz , has written . 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers , and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings , for they said , "He is a leper ." And Jotham his son became king in his place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26:16-23
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 26:16-23
(Read 2 Chronicles 26:16-23)
The transgression of the kings before Uzziah was, forsaking the temple of the Lord, and burning incense upon idolatrous altars. But his transgression was, going into the holy place, and attempting to burn incense upon the altar of God. See how hard it is to avoid one extreme, and not run into another. Pride of heart was at the bottom of his sin; a lust that ruins many. Instead of lifting up the name God in gratitude to him who had done so much for him, his heart was lifted up to his hurt. Men's pretending to forbidden knowledge, and seeking things too high for them, are owing to pride of heart. The incense of our prayers must be, by faith, put into the hands of our Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of our profession, else we cannot expect it to be accepted by God, Revelation 8:3. Though Uzziah strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker. But he was punished for his transgression; he continued a leper to his death, shut out from society. The punishment answered the sin as face to face in a glass. Pride was at the bottom of his transgression, and thus God humbled him, and put dishonour upon him. Those that covet forbidden honours, forfeit allowed ones. Adam, by catching at the tree of knowledge which he might not eat of, debarred himself of the tree of life which he might have eaten of. Let all that read say, The Lord is righteous. And when the Lord sees good to throw prosperous and useful men aside, as broken vessels, if he raises up others to fill their places, they may rejoice to renounce all worldly concerns, and employ their remaining days in preparation for death.