Uzziah, sixteen at his accession, reigns fifty-two years: 'And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah... and as long as he sought Hashem, God made him to prosper.' Towers, cisterns, husbandry — 'for he loved husbandry' — engines on the towers, an army of three hundred thousand. 'But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Hashem his God; for he went into the temple of Hashem to burn incense.' Leprosy rises in his forehead before the priests, and he dwells apart, a leper, to his death.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
verse value 3927
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. Notable word values: "and·he" (וְה֕וּא) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Uzziah" (אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Uzziah" (אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·made·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "son·of·six" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root עזיהו ("Uzziah") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'year', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְח֞וּ [and·they·took] (130) + כׇּל־עַ֤ם [all·people·of] (160) + יְהוּדָה֙ [Judah] (30) + אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ [Uzziah] (499) + וְה֕וּא [and·he] (18) + בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ [son·of·six] (652) + עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [-teen] (575) + שָׁנָ֑ה [year] (355) + וַיַּמְלִ֣יכוּ [and·they·made·king] (122) + אֹת֔וֹ [him] (407) + תַּ֖חַת [instead·of] (808) + אָבִ֥יו [his·father] (19) + אֲמַצְיָֽהוּ [Amaziah] (152) = 3927.
Malbim
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah - This is copied from the book of Kings through verse 4. And Ezra adds that it was the people of the land who made him king, for they made him king during his father's lifetime, as stated there [in Kings]; and that he built Eilat, which belongs to Edom - but this was not done while he was still king during his father's lifetime, only after Amaziah's death.
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
verse value 2475
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֚וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "Eloth" (אֶת־אֵיל֔וֹת, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Eloth" (אֶת־אֵיל֔וֹת), "and·he·restored·it" (וַיְשִׁיבֶ֖הָ), "lying·down·of·the·king" (שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles); "with·his·fathers" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles); "and·he·restored·it" (root שוב, 62x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: ה֚וּא [he] (12) + בָּנָ֣ה [he·built] (57) + אֶת־אֵיל֔וֹת [Eloth] (848) + וַיְשִׁיבֶ֖הָ [and·he·restored·it] (333) + לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה [to·Judah] (60) + אַחֲרֵ֥י [after] (219) + שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [lying·down·of·the·king] (417) + עִם־אֲבֹתָֽיו [with·his·fathers] (529) = 2475.
Metzudat David
'He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah' — for Solomon had conquered it from Edom, as it says, 'Then went Solomon...to Eloth' (above, ch. 8); the Edomites later took it back from Judah, and when Amaziah struck down Edom he took it from their hands; and Uzziah built its wall to make it a fortified city, and thereby he restored it to Judah — for as long as it lay unwalled, it could not be securely held and kept in their possession. 'After that the king slept with his fathers' — this is said of Amaziah; for even though he had captured it, it was not restored to their possession to be held securely until after he died and Uzziah came and made it a fortified city.
Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
verse value 5200
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 70 letters. Verse gematria: 5200 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·Jerusalem" (מִן־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 355: year, year. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Jecoliah" (יְכׇלְיָ֖ה), "from·Jerusalem" (מִן־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·his·reigning" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "son·of·six" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "in·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 127x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
And he did that, which was right in the eyes of Hashem, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
verse value 2186
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "like·all" (כְּכֹ֥ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·he·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה, 6 letters). The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·did" (root עשה, 159x in II Chronicles); "his·father" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·he·did] (386) + הַיָּשָׁ֖ר [the·right] (515) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + כְּכֹ֥ל [like·all] (70) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה [that·he·did] (876) + אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + אָבִֽיו [his·father] (19) = 2186.
Rashi
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord like all the proper things that his father did, but not like his wickedness.
Metzudat David
'And he did that which was right,' etc., 'according to all,' etc. — meaning, in what was right he did as his father had done, but not in what was not good.
And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God; and as long as he sought Hashem, God made him to prosper.
verse value 3007
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "and·he·was" (וַֽיְהִי֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "Zechariah" (זְכַרְיָ֔הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 91: God, God. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "the·one·who·understands" (הַמֵּבִ֖ין), "in·seeing·of" (בִּרְאֹ֣ת), "and·in·days·of" (וּבִימֵי֙). The root אלהים appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "and·he·was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'God', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·he·was] (31) + לִדְרֹ֣שׁ [to·seek] (534) + אֱלֹהִ֔ים [God] (86) + בִּימֵ֣י [in·days·of] (62) + זְכַרְיָ֔הוּ [Zechariah] (248) + הַמֵּבִ֖ין [the·one·who·understands] (107) + בִּרְאֹ֣ת [in·seeing·of] (603) + הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים [God] (91) + וּבִימֵי֙ [and·in·days·of] (68) + דׇּרְשׁ֣וֹ [his·seeking] (510) + אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (427) + הִצְלִיח֖וֹ [he·made·him·prosper] (149) + הָאֱלֹהִֽים [God] (91) = 3007.
Rashi
in the days of Zechariah This refers to Uzziah, and he was called by three names: Uzziah, Zechariah, and Azariah, similar to (II Kings 14): Yehoahaz/Ahaziah. who understood the visions of God who understood that the fear of God is good, and feared the Lord.
Ralbag
'who had understanding in the vision of God' - So it is written in the manuscript, and so it is also found in the Jerusalem Talmud (Sotah 9:5), in the Ketuvim of the Naples printing; and so the Targum renders it: 'who taught in the fear of Hashem' (and it appears that this was Rashi's reading as well). '...of God' - Meaning, that his [Uzziah's] occupation was to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who guided him toward this, for he [Zechariah] was wise and had understanding in the fear of God; and in the days that he sought God, Hashem, may He be blessed, made him prosper.
Metzudat David
'And he set himself to seek God' — it was his practice to seek God. 'Who had understanding in the vision of God' — he was a man of understanding, able to grasp the wonders in the visions of prophecy that came from God.
Malbim
And he set himself to seek God - Meaning, that this was then the time appropriate for seeking God, for it was in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God. For the prophets and those who possessed the holy spirit would gaze upon visions of God, as Ezekiel, who saw the Chariot, and the other visions that the prophets saw. And there were levels among them, for some of them did not grasp the entire vision in its full truth, because these visions are intellectual symbols by means of which the awesome perceptions are represented to the seer - such as the worlds, the heichalot (heavenly chambers), the partzufim (countenances), and the sefirot that those who enter the Pardes see, some of whom gazed and were harmed; and there is the story of the child from whom fire came forth out of the chashmal - for it takes exceptional understanding to grasp one thing from another, like Rabbi Akiva, who entered in peace and left in peace. And Zechariah had understanding of these visions; and in a generation in which such a man is found, that is the time to seek God through him, and in the days when they sought Hashem they were successful. Now he begins to relate his [Uzziah's] successes: first, against the outside enemy.
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
verse value 6389
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 75 letters. The shortest word is "Gath" (גַּ֗ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·among·the·Philistines" (וּבַפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 454: wall·of, wall·of. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·fought" (וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם), "against·the·Philistines" (בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים), "wall·of" (אֶת־ח֣וֹמַת). The root חומה appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 89x in II Chronicles); "and·he·built" (root בנה, 60x in II Chronicles); "and·he·went·out" (root יצא, 50x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ashdod', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Malbim
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines - and conquered fortified cities, and also took possession of the region and built cities there, like a man doing as he pleases with his own property.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim.
verse value 3032
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "God" (הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים, 6 letters) and the longest is "and·against·the·Arabians" (וְעַל־הָעַרְבִ֛ים, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·helped·him" (וַיַּעְזְרֵ֨הוּ), "against·Philistines" (עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֧ים), "and·against·the·Arabians" (וְעַל־הָעַרְבִ֛ים). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "the·dwellers" (root ישב, 51x in II Chronicles).
Ralbag
'and the Meunim' - It appears that these are the Ammonites; and the matter is similar to what is mentioned at the beginning of this book (I Chronicles 4:41), where it says, 'and the Meunim who were found there.'
Malbim
And God helped him - For afterward the Philistines joined together with the Arabians and the Meunites, and they defeated Judah in the days of Jehoram (as above, 21:16); and by the natural course of things it would have been hard to defeat them, but Hashem helped him [Uzziah] in a manner above the natural order.
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah; and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong.
verse value 2238
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·Ammonites" (הָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "the·Ammonites" (הָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים), "unto·entrance·of" (עַד־לְב֣וֹא), "he·grew·strong" (הֶחֱזִ֖יק). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "unto·entrance·of" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles); "and·they·gave" (root נתן, 116x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Uzziah', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּתְּנ֧וּ [and·they·gave] (472) + הָעַמּוֹנִ֛ים [the·Ammonites] (221) + מִנְחָ֖ה [gift] (103) + לְעֻזִּיָּ֑הוּ [to·Uzziah] (128) + וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ [and·he·went] (66) + שְׁמוֹ֙ [his·name] (346) + עַד־לְב֣וֹא [unto·entrance·of] (113) + מִצְרַ֔יִם [Egypt] (380) + כִּ֥י [for] (30) + הֶחֱזִ֖יק [he·grew·strong] (130) + עַד־לְמָֽעְלָה [unto·exceedingly] (249) = 2238.
Metzudat David
'The Ammonites' — perhaps these are the same as the Meunites mentioned [above], the letters simply transposed. 'And his name spread' — the fame of his name spread until it reached Egypt. 'Exceeding [strong]' — meaning, very great.
Malbim
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah - to the point that dread of him fell upon all the surrounding lands, and the Ammonites gave him tribute, and his name went out even to Egypt; for he held sway over all the lands well beyond his own border, until he gained a name for praise and glory.
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the Turning, and fortified them.
verse value 2974
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·built" (וַיִּ֨בֶן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·at·the·Turning" (וְעַל־הַמִּקְצ֑וֹעַ, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "at·gate·of" (עַל־שַׁ֧עַר), "the·corner" (הַפִּנָּ֛ה), "and·at·gate·of" (וְעַל־שַׁ֥עַר). The root שער appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 127x in II Chronicles); "and·he·built" (root בנה, 60x in II Chronicles); "and·he·fortified·them" (root חזק, 40x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·at·the·Turning', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 1 words. Full calculation: וַיִּ֨בֶן [and·he·built] (68) + עֻזִּיָּ֤הוּ [Uzziah] (98) + מִגְדָּלִים֙ [towers] (127) + בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + עַל־שַׁ֧עַר [at·gate·of] (670) + הַפִּנָּ֛ה [the·corner] (140) + וְעַל־שַׁ֥עַר [and·at·gate·of] (676) + הַגַּ֖יְא [the·valley] (19) + וְעַל־הַמִּקְצ֑וֹעַ [and·at·the·Turning] (417) + וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם [and·he·fortified·them] (171) = 2974.
Rashi
And Uzziah built towers, etc. He had to strengthen the parts of the wall they breached in his father’s days.
Metzudat David
'And fortified them' — he continually strengthened those towers.
Metzudat Zion
The Turning (hamiktzoa) - The corners, as in 'for the two corners' (Exodus 26).
Malbim
Moreover Uzziah built towers - Second, he [Ezra] tells how he fortified himself within his own land, in that he built strong towers against the enemy, and equipped them with weapons.
And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the Lowland also, and in the table-land; and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry.
verse value 4139
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 88 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֔וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·in·the·table-land" (וּבַמִּישׁ֑וֹר, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 20: was, was. 11 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·hewed" (וַיַּחְצֹב֙), "cisterns" (בֹּר֣וֹת), "cattle·much" (מִקְנֶה־רַּב֙). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles); "and·he·built" (root בנה, 60x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·in·the·table-land', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 7 words.
Rashi
plowmen - Heb. אִכָּרִים, aratkori in Italian, plowmen. for he loved the soil It is explained in Genesis Rabbah (See 22:3): Two had a passion for agriculture, and no good was found in them: he and Cain.
Metzudat David
'hewed out many cisterns' – In Scriptural language, one who digs in a place of stone is called a chotzev (hewer). 'for he had much cattle' – He needed many cisterns to water his cattle. 'in the Lowland also, and in the table-land' – Some of them pastured in the Lowland, and some in the table-land. 'for he loved husbandry' – He loved to engage in the work of the land.
Metzudat Zion
In the Lowland (u'vashfelah) - In the valley. Husbandmen (ikkarim) - Those who work the land by plowing, as in 'and they shall call the husbandman to mourning' (Amos 5:16). And vinedressers (v'kormim) - Workers of the vineyards. And the fruitful fields (u'vakarmel) - An expression of rich, good hills, as in 'and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan' (Jeremiah 50:19).
Malbim
And he built towers in the wilderness - Third, he [Ezra] tells of the abundance of his wealth: since he had much livestock grazing there in the wilderness, he built towers there to serve as a stronghold against raiders, and hewed out many cisterns to water the flocks; and he had livestock also in the lowland and in the plain of the Land of Israel; and he also had farmers and vinedressers, and engaged in the working of the land, so that there would be grain and food in the Land of Israel, and its people would not bear the disgrace of famine.
Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.
verse value 4418
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 92 letters. The shortest word is "under" (עַ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "hand·of·Hananiah" (יַד־חֲנַנְיָ֔הוּ, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "in·number" (בְּמִסְפַּר֙), "Jeiel" (יְעִיאֵ֣ל), "and·Maaseiah" (וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ). The root יד appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "making" (root עשה, 159x in II Chronicles); "and·it·was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root יעיאל ("Jeiel") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·officer', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 4 words.
Metzudat David
'according to the number of their reckoning' – According to their count, which was entrusted to Jeiel, etc. 'under the hand of Hananiah' – He was the one who conveyed the count to them.
Malbim
Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men - Fourth, that he had an army that made war. For Amaziah too had had an army, but theirs were not permanently stationed for war at all times, only mustered in time of distress, and in time of peace they went back to their homes; whereas his [Uzziah's] army went out on campaign in bands as a standing force, having no other occupation, and raiding bands of them would fall upon the surrounding nations time after time. And their muster was kept numbered at all times by Jeiel the scribe and through the officer, who kept watch that their number should never fall short.
The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
verse value 2868
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֠ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·mighty·men·of" (לְגִבּ֣וֹרֵי, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·mighty·men·of" (לְגִבּ֣וֹרֵי). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·fathers" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles); "all" (root כל, 113x in II Chronicles); "two·thousand" (root אלף, 62x in II Chronicles). Full calculation: כֹּ֠ל [all] (50) + מִסְפַּ֞ר [number] (380) + רָאשֵׁ֤י [heads·of] (511) + הָאָבוֹת֙ [the·fathers] (414) + לְגִבּ֣וֹרֵי [to·mighty·men·of] (251) + חָ֔יִל [valor] (48) + אַלְפַּ֖יִם [two·thousand] (161) + וְשֵׁ֥שׁ [and·six] (606) + מֵאֽוֹת [hundred] (447) = 2868.
Metzudat David
'even the mighty men of valor' – [Meaning] of the mighty men of valor, that is, the heads of the fathers' houses were themselves counted among the mighty warriors.
Malbim
The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses - If you examine it closely, you will find that there were captains of two hundred, captains of five hundred, captains of a thousand, captains of tens of thousands, and seven captains set over them all.
And under their hand was a trained army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
verse value 4367
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 70 letters. The shortest word is "army·of" (חֵ֨יל, 3 letters) and the longest is "against·the·enemy" (עַל־הָאוֹיֵֽב, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 447: hundred, hundred. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·under·their·hand" (וְעַל־יָדָם֩), "in·strength·of" (בְּכֹ֣חַ), "against·the·enemy" (עַל־הָאוֹיֵֽב). The root חיל appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "makers·of" (root עשה, 159x in II Chronicles); "and·under·their·hand" (root יד, 72x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'might', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 3 words.
Metzudat David
'And under their hand' – [Meaning] given into their hand and under their authority. 'with mighty power' – This repeats the same idea in different words, to indicate a very great amount of strength.
And Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
verse value 3571
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 61 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·prepared" (וַיָּ֩כֶן֩) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·them" (לָהֶ֨ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·all·the·host" (לְכׇל־הַצָּבָ֗א, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·all·the·host" (לְכׇל־הַצָּבָ֗א), "and·helmets" (וְכ֣וֹבָעִ֔ים), "and·coats·of·mail" (וְשִׁרְיֹנ֖וֹת). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·prepared" (root כון, 27x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·bows', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֩כֶן֩ [and·he·prepared] (86) + לָהֶ֨ם [to·them] (75) + עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ [Uzziah] (98) + לְכׇל־הַצָּבָ֗א [to·all·the·host] (178) + מָגִנִּ֤ים [shields] (143) + וּרְמָחִים֙ [and·spears] (304) + וְכ֣וֹבָעִ֔ים [and·helmets] (154) + וְשִׁרְיֹנ֖וֹת [and·coats·of·mail] (972) + וּקְשָׁת֑וֹת [and·bows] (1212) + וּלְאַבְנֵ֖י [and·to·stones·of] (99) + קְלָעִֽים [slings] (250) = 3571.
Metzudat David
'and stones for slinging' – [This refers to] the equipment needed for slingstones, i.e., the slings themselves.
Metzudat Zion
Prepared (vayachen) - An expression of preparation. And helmets (v'chova'im) - These are made of iron, placed on the head to protect against the blow of a sword. And coats of mail (v'shiryonot) - A kind of iron garment, worn in battle for protection.
Malbim
And Uzziah prepared for them - he prepared for them weapons out of the king's treasury. For an army that goes out to war only occasionally, in time of need, provides its own weapons; but these men, who were permanently mustered for war at the kingdom's expense, had their weapons too prepared out of the treasury of the kingdom.
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and upon the corners, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
verse value 6685
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 104 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֥ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "on·the·towers" (עַל־הַמִּגְדָּלִים֙, 9 letters). 13 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "engines" (חִשְּׁבֹנ֜וֹת), "plan·of" (מַחֲשֶׁ֣בֶת), "skillful" (חוֹשֵׁ֗ב). 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·made" (root עשה, 159x in II Chronicles); "to·be" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "in·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 127x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'great', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 7 words.
Rashi
engines, invented by skillful men - Heb. חִשְּׁבֹנוֹת מַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוֹשֵׁב, similar to (Exod. 28:6): “expert work (מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב.)” He made war engines with craftsmanship, such as siege mounds and battering rams, as it is written (Prov. 24:6): “For you shall wage war with strategies.”
Ralbag
'And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men' - Meaning, that he made wondrous devices, the work of a craftsman, to produce fine instruments with which to shoot very large arrows and large stones.
Metzudat David
'engines, invented by skillful men' – This denotes a piece of craftsmanship achieved through much thought and careful study; and for further clarification the text adds "the design of a designer," meaning something made through the planning of a designer, one accustomed to careful, thoughtful planning. 'to be on the towers' – He made those crafted devices in order to place them on the towers, to shoot arrows and stones with them. 'for he was marvelously helped' – He did wondrous things, so that he was aided by them, until he grew strong through them.
Metzudat Zion
The corners (hapinot) - These are like towers, as in 'and against the high towers' (Zephaniah 1:16). To shoot (liyroh) - To hurl, as in 'He has hurled into the sea' (Exodus 15).
Malbim
And he made in Jerusalem [engines] - Beyond this, [Uzziah] was a great expert in mathematics and mechanics, whereby through ingenious craftsmanship heavy loads could be moved and launched with little force over great distances; by this means they would hurl ballista-stones from atop the wall, which is of great help in war, as is known. He set up devices of this kind on the towers, to shoot from there at the enemy, and by this his name went out far and wide, for he was remarkably aided through new war-stratagems that had not been known before.
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Hashem his God; for he went into the temple of Hashem to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
verse value 3024
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 67 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 3024 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "was·lifted·up" (גָּבַ֤הּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "even·to·destroy" (עַד־לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "even·to·destroy" (עַד־לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית), "and·he·trespassed" (וַיִּמְעַ֖ל). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "his·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "and·he·went·in" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·God', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וּכְחֶזְקָת֗וֹ [and·when·his·strength] (547) + גָּבַ֤הּ [was·lifted·up] (10) + לִבּוֹ֙ [his·heart] (38) + עַד־לְהַשְׁחִ֔ית [even·to·destroy] (827) + וַיִּמְעַ֖ל [and·he·trespassed] (156) + בַּיהֹוָ֣ה [in·Hashem] (28) + אֱלֹהָ֑יו [his·God] (52) + וַיָּבֹא֙ [and·he·went·in] (19) + אֶל־הֵיכַ֣ל [to·temple·of] (96) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + לְהַקְטִ֖יר [to·burn·incense] (354) + עַל־מִזְבַּ֥ח [upon·altar·of] (157) + הַקְּטֹֽרֶת [the·incense] (714) = 3024.
Rashi
and he trespassed against the Lord, his God - Heb. וַיִּמְעַל. Here it is appropriate to say מְעִילָה (trespass), for he sinned inadvertently, similar to (Lev. 5:15): “If a person commits a trespass (תִמְעל מַעַל) and sins inadvertently.” and he came into the Temple of the Lord for he said, “It is proper for a king to serve the King of glory.”
Ralbag
'But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up so that he did corruptly' - Meaning, when he had grown very strong in his kingdom in the manner described, his heart became very haughty, until his heart led him to violate the law of the Torah; he wished to take for himself the crown of the priesthood, and therefore he came to burn incense on the golden altar.
Metzudat David
'so that he did corruptly' – [Meaning] until he became corrupted into wickedness, on account of his great haughtiness of heart.
Metzudat Zion
He trespassed (vayimal) - An expression of sin and transgression.
Malbim
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up - For sometimes a lifting of the heart is for the good, as it says of Jehoshaphat, "his heart was lifted up in the ways of Hashem." But he lifted his heart beyond measure, to the point of corruption: in his pride he thought himself worthy of the high priesthood. For the governance of the people lay in the king's hands, while the governance of religion lay in the priest's hands, and the king could not institute anything new without the priest's consent. He therefore wanted the priesthood too, so that religion would also be under his authority - and this stemmed from a wish to corrupt religion. So he trespassed against Hashem, and wished to burn incense.
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of Hashem, who were valiant men;
verse value 1481
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·went·in" (וַיָּבֹ֥א, 4 letters) and the longest is "Azariah" (עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "fourscore" (שְׁמוֹנִ֖ים). The root כהן appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·went·in" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles); "and·with·him" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·priest', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיָּבֹ֥א [and·he·went·in] (19) + אַחֲרָ֖יו [after·him] (225) + עֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ [Azariah] (298) + הַכֹּהֵ֑ן [the·priest] (80) + וְעִמּ֞וֹ [and·with·him] (122) + כֹּהֲנִ֧ים [priests] (125) + לַיהֹוָ֛ה [to·Hashem] (56) + שְׁמוֹנִ֖ים [fourscore] (446) + בְּנֵי־חָֽיִל [sons·of·valor] (110) = 1481.
and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him: ‘It does not pertain to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Hashem, but to the priests the sons of Aaron who are consecrated it pertains to burn incense; go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from Hashem God.’
verse value 4174
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 108 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (לוֹ֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (לוֹ֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "against·Uzziah" (עַל־עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 354: to·burn·incense, to·burn·incense. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "against·Uzziah" (עַל־עֻזִּיָּ֣הוּ), "not·unto·thee" (לֹֽא־לְךָ֣), "sons·of·Aaron" (בְּנֵֽי־אַהֲרֹ֛ן). The root עזיהו appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "sons·of·Aaron" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·burn·incense', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 8 words.
Ralbag
'neither shall it be for your honor from Hashem God' - Meaning, this thing that arose in your heart to do will not bring you honor from Hashem - as if to say that on account of it, punishment and disgrace would come upon him from Him.
Metzudat David
'It does not pertain to you' – You are not permitted to burn incense. 'for you have trespassed' – For you have sinned in this. 'neither shall it be for your honor' – Meaning: it will not be, as you imagine, that this incense-offering will bring you honor from Hashem — it is not so.
Malbim
It does not pertain to you - That is, you are encroaching on ground that is not yours, for the priesthood was given to the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated; therefore leave the sanctuary, for no outsider may enter the sanctuary needlessly, and you have trespassed against what is holy. neither shall it be for your honor - For one who is fit for the priesthood, it is an honor to him from God; but one who is unfit for it and seizes it by force, it becomes a disgrace for him, since those who treat it with contempt shall themselves be brought low.
Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Hashem, beside the altar of incense.
verse value 4631
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 86 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "from·upon" (מֵעַ֖ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·the·priests" (עִם־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·was·wroth" (וַיִּזְעַף֙), "and·in·his·hand" (וּבְיָד֥וֹ), "censer" (מִקְטֶ֖רֶת). The root זעף appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "in·house·of" (root בית, 191x in II Chronicles); "before" (root פנים, 116x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·burn·incense', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 12 words.
Rashi
and in his hand was a censer to burn and he wished to strike the priest who prevented him from burning incense.
Ralbag
'Then Uzziah was wroth' - Meaning, he grew angry with the priests; and at the moment of his anger, Hashem, may He be blessed, struck him with a plague, and leprosy broke out on his forehead, and he was forced to leave there quickly, for Hashem had struck him.
Metzudat David
'Then Uzziah was wroth' – Because they protested against him. 'and he had a censer in his hand' – The fire-pan, with the incense in it, was already in his hand. 'and while he was wroth' – At the moment of his wrath the leprosy broke out on his forehead; and since leprosy is white — as it says, "and if the bright spot is white" (Leviticus 13:4) — Scripture therefore describes it with the language of "shining forth," for it gleamed on account of its whiteness. 'beside the altar of incense' – [This refers to the moment] he was standing beside the altar.
Metzudat Zion
Was wroth (vayiz'af) - An expression of anger. Censer (miktoret) - This is the name for a fire-pan when it holds the incense and is ready for burning it.
Malbim
Then Uzziah was wroth - The definition of "wrath" is that one is grieved and his spirit is dimmed because a matter did not turn out as he wished. And in the midst of his wrath the leprosy broke out on his forehead, as a sign of the evil of his thoughts - the impurity having burst forth through the forehead.
And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there; indeed, himself made haste also to go out, because Hashem had smitten him.
verse value 3241
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "because" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·the·priests" (וְכׇל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 146: and·he·turned, in·his·forehead. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·turned" (וַיִּ֣פֶן), "and·all·the·priests" (וְכׇל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים), "and·behold·he" (וְהִנֵּה־ה֤וּא). The root כהן appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "because" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles); "priest" (root כהן, 90x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root צרע ("leprous") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root בהל ("and·they·thrust·him·out") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·there', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
'they thrust him out quickly' – They removed him from there in haste and speed. 'himself made haste also to go out' – He himself hurried to leave quickly, for he saw that Hashem had struck him and that punishment had come upon him.
Metzudat Zion
Thrust out (nidchaf) - An expression of pushing and hastening to leave.
Malbim
and they thrust him out quickly - For a leper conveys impurity by entering [a room], though they had not yet definitively ruled the affliction impure; nevertheless they were obligated not to delay, and so they rushed him to hurry out. He too was driven to leave, for he sensed that Hashem had struck him by providence.
And Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in a house set apart, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Hashem; and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
verse value 7035
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 92 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·separateness" (הַֽחׇפְשִׁית֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 452: his·death, from·house·of. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·day·of" (עַד־י֣וֹם), "his·death" (מוֹת֗וֹ), "the·separateness" (הַֽחׇפְשִׁית֙). The root בית appears 3 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "his·son" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root יותם ("and·Jotham") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 7 words.
Rashi
in a house of retirement Heb. בֵּית הַחָפְשִׁית. And in Yerushalmi (unknown) it is explained that he made himself a house in the cemetery, reminiscent of (Ps. 88:6): “Among the dead, a free man (חָפְשִׁי) .” for it had been decreed upon him to come no longer among people, similar to (Esther 2:1): “and that which was decreed upon her.”
Metzudat David
'a house set apart' – [Hebrew: beit hachofshit] meaning he relinquished the governance of the kingdom and was free of its toil, as our Sages said, that kingship is considered a form of servitude, given how much toil it demands. 'for he was cut off' – For he was barred from entering the House of Hashem because of the impurity of his leprosy; therefore he relinquished the governance of the kingdom as well. 'over the king's house' – He was appointed over the king's house, to judge the people's cases in the king's stead.
Metzudat Zion
Cut off (nigzar) - Excised.
Malbim
and dwelt in a house set apart - For a leper is sent out beyond the three camps, and with regard to houses within walled cities he is sent outside the wall; our Sages said that a house was made for him in the cemetery, since the cemetery too lay outside the wall. But according to the plain sense, [the phrase means] that he was freed from the duties of the kingship.
Now Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last.
verse value 2936
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "he·wrote" (כָּתַ֛ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·last" (וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים, 8 letters). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Amoz" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "acts·of" (root דבר, 108x in II Chronicles); "he·wrote" (root כתב, 29x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root ישעיהו ("Isaiah") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·last', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ [and·rest·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [acts·of] (216) + עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ [Uzziah] (98) + הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים [the·first] (606) + וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים [and·the·last] (320) + כָּתַ֛ב [he·wrote] (422) + יְשַֽׁעְיָ֥הוּ [Isaiah] (401) + בֶן־אָמ֖וֹץ [son·of·Amoz] (189) + הַנָּבִֽיא [the·prophet] (68) = 2936.
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said: ‘He is a leper’; and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 5664
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 83 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 529: with·his·fathers, with·his·fathers. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "in·field·of" (בִּשְׂדֵ֤ה), "the·burial" (הַקְּבוּרָה֙), "a·leper" (מְצוֹרָ֣ע). The root אב appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·kings" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "his·son" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'he', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 4 words.
Rashi
in the cemetery but not in the cave with the kings.
Metzudat David
'in the field of burial' – And not in the cave of the burial of the kings. 'He is a leper' – And therefore it was not fitting to bury him in the cave together with the kings.
Malbim
in the field of burial - In the field near the burial ground of the kings, and not in the cave itself, for they said, "He is a leper."
Malbim