Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 26:1-15
We have here an account of two things concerning Uzziah: -
I. His piety. In this he was not very eminent or zealous; yet he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He kept up the pure worship of the true God as his father did, and was better than his father, inasmuch as we have no reason to think he ever worshipped idols as his father did, no, not in his latter days, when his heart was lifted up. It is said (Ch2 26:5), He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who, some think, was the son of the Zechariah whom his grandfather Joash slew. This Zechariah was one that had understanding in the visions of God, either the visions which he himself was favoured with or the visions of the p…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 26:9
HIS BUILDINGS. (Ch2 26:9-10)
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem, &c.--whence resistance could be made, or missiles discharged against assailants. The sites of the principal of these towers were: at the corner gate (Ch2 25:23), the northwest corner of the city; at the valley gate on the west, where the Joppa gate now is; at the "turning"--a curve in the city wall on the eastern side of Zion. The town, at this point, commanded the horse gate which defended Zion and the temple hill on the southeast [BERTHEAU].
Adam Clarke on 2 Chronicles 26:8
The Ammonites gave gifts - Paid an annual tribute.
John Gill on 2 Chronicles 26:9
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate,.... Which was broken down by the king of Israel in his father's time, 2 Chronicles 25:23 and which he not only repaired, but strengthened, by building a tower upon it:
and at the valley gate; which led to the valley, Nehemiah 2:13, called the valley of the dead bodies, in which they were cast, and in which the brook Kidron ran, Jeremiah 31:40.
and at the turning of the wall; at each of those places he built towers, which Josephus (o) says were one hundred and fifty cubits high: and fortified them; put garrisons of soldiers into them.
(o) Antiqu. l. 9. c. 10. sect. 3.
