16 And at his being strong his heart hath been high unto destruction, and he trespasseth against Jehovah his God, and goeth in unto the temple of Jehovah to make perfume upon the altar of perfume. 17 And Azariah the priest goeth in after him, and with him priests of Jehovah eighty, sons of valour, 18 and they stand up against Uzziah the king, and say to him, 'Not for thee, O Uzziah, to make perfume to Jehovah, but for priests, sons of Aaron, who are sanctified to make perfume; go forth from the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and 'it is' not to thee for honour from Jehovah God.' 19 And Uzziah is wroth, and in his hand 'is' a censer to make perfume, and in his being wroth with the priests—the leprosy hath risen in his forehead, before the priests, in the house of Jehovah, from beside the altar of perfume. 20 And Azariah the head priest looketh unto him, and all the priests, and lo, he 'is' leprous in his forehead, and they hasten him thence, and also he himself hath hastened to go out, for Jehovah hath plagued him. 21 And Uzziah the king is a leper unto the day of his death, and inhabiteth a separate house—a leper, for he hath been cut off from the house of Jehovah, and Jotham his son 'is' over the house of the king, judging the people of the land. 22 And the rest of the matters of Uzziah, the first and the last, hath Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet written; 23 and Uzziah lieth with his fathers, and they bury him with his fathers, in the field of the burying-place that the kings have, for they said, 'He 'is' a leper;' and reign doth Jotham his son in his stead.
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.