2 chronicles 26:20 - Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there. Yes, he himself also hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
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What does "2 chronicles 26:20" mean?
This verse from 2 Chronicles 26:20 describes the moment when King Uzziah of Judah is struck with leprosy as divine punishment for his transgression against God's laws. Let's break it down:
"Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him...": This sets the scene. Azariah, the high priest, along with the other priests, are witnesses to this event. They are in the temple, a holy place, and Uzziah is attempting to perform a priestly duty he is not authorized to do (burning incense).
"...and behold, he was leprous in his forehead...": The key point is that leprosy suddenly appears on Uzziah's forehead. Leprosy was a serious and defiling skin disease in biblical times. It rendered a person ceremonially unclean and required them to be isolated from the community. The fact that it appears on his forehead, the most visible part of his body, emphasizes the public nature of this judgment. The phrase "behold" suggests a sudden and shocking manifestation.
"...and they thrust him out quickly from there...": This is the immediate consequence of his leprosy. According to the Law, a leper had to be removed from the community to prevent the spread of the disease and to preserve the holiness of the temple. The priests are acting quickly to uphold the Law and remove Uzziah from the sanctuary.
"Yes, he himself also hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.": This reinforces the divine origin of the leprosy. Uzziah, realizing the gravity of his situation and the judgment of God upon him, is also motivated to leave quickly. He understands that his leprosy is a direct consequence of his disobedience to Yahweh (God). The phrase "Yahweh had struck him" directly attributes the leprosy to divine intervention.
In summary, the verse means:
King Uzziah, while attempting to perform a priestly duty he was not allowed to do, was immediately struck with leprosy by God as punishment for his arrogance and transgression. The leprosy manifested on his forehead, and the priests, recognizing the divine judgment and the need to uphold the Law, quickly expelled him from the temple. Uzziah himself understood that his leprosy was a sign of God's displeasure and hastened to leave.
Significance:
Divine Justice: The verse illustrates the biblical concept of divine justice, where disobedience to God's commands leads to negative consequences.
Consequences of Pride: Uzziah's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and exceeding one's divinely appointed role.
Importance of Following God's Law: The verse emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's laws and respecting the established order of worship.
Symbolic Cleansing: Leprosy often symbolizes spiritual uncleanness or sin in the Bible. Uzziah's physical leprosy mirrors a spiritual corruption.
Loss of Kingship: Although Uzziah remained king until his death, his leprosy forced him to live in isolation, effectively ending his active rule. This also foreshadows the eventual decline of the kingdom of Judah.
2 chronicles 26:20 - Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there. Yes, he himself also hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
What does "2 chronicles 26:20" mean?
This verse from 2 Chronicles 26:20 describes the moment when King Uzziah of Judah is struck with leprosy as divine punishment for his transgression against God's laws. Let's break it down:
"Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked at him...": This sets the scene. Azariah, the high priest, along with the other priests, are witnesses to this event. They are in the temple, a holy place, and Uzziah is attempting to perform a priestly duty he is not authorized to do (burning incense).
"...and behold, he was leprous in his forehead...": The key point is that leprosy suddenly appears on Uzziah's forehead. Leprosy was a serious and defiling skin disease in biblical times. It rendered a person ceremonially unclean and required them to be isolated from the community. The fact that it appears on his forehead, the most visible part of his body, emphasizes the public nature of this judgment. The phrase "behold" suggests a sudden and shocking manifestation.
"...and they thrust him out quickly from there...": This is the immediate consequence of his leprosy. According to the Law, a leper had to be removed from the community to prevent the spread of the disease and to preserve the holiness of the temple. The priests are acting quickly to uphold the Law and remove Uzziah from the sanctuary.
"Yes, he himself also hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.": This reinforces the divine origin of the leprosy. Uzziah, realizing the gravity of his situation and the judgment of God upon him, is also motivated to leave quickly. He understands that his leprosy is a direct consequence of his disobedience to Yahweh (God). The phrase "Yahweh had struck him" directly attributes the leprosy to divine intervention.
In summary, the verse means:
King Uzziah, while attempting to perform a priestly duty he was not allowed to do, was immediately struck with leprosy by God as punishment for his arrogance and transgression. The leprosy manifested on his forehead, and the priests, recognizing the divine judgment and the need to uphold the Law, quickly expelled him from the temple. Uzziah himself understood that his leprosy was a sign of God's displeasure and hastened to leave.
Significance:
Divine Justice: The verse illustrates the biblical concept of divine justice, where disobedience to God's commands leads to negative consequences.
Consequences of Pride: Uzziah's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and exceeding one's divinely appointed role.
Importance of Following God's Law: The verse emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's laws and respecting the established order of worship.
Symbolic Cleansing: Leprosy often symbolizes spiritual uncleanness or sin in the Bible. Uzziah's physical leprosy mirrors a spiritual corruption.
Loss of Kingship: Although Uzziah remained king until his death, his leprosy forced him to live in isolation, effectively ending his active rule. This also foreshadows the eventual decline of the kingdom of Judah.