Uzia Mfalme Wa Yuda
(2 Wafalme 14:21-22; 15:1-7)
126:1 1Fal 14:21; 2Nya 22:1Kisha watu wote wa Yuda wakamtwaa Uzia, aliyekuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na sita, nao wakamfanya mfalme mahali pa Amazia baba yake. 2Ndiye alijenga upya Elathi kuirudisha kwa Yuda baada ya Amazia kulala pamoja na baba zake.
3Uzia alikuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na sita alipoanza kutawala, naye akatawala huko Yerusalemu kwa miaka hamsini na miwili. Mama yake aliitwa Yekolia wa Yerusalemu. 4Akatenda yaliyo mema machoni pa Bwana, kama Amazia baba yake alivyofanya. 526:5 2Nya 15:2; Mwa 41:15; Dan 1:17; 2Nya 7:2; Dan 2:9; 10:1Akamtafuta Mungu katika siku za Zekaria, aliyemwelekeza kumcha Mungu. Wakati wote alipomtafuta Bwana, Mungu alimfanikisha.
626:6 Isa 2:6; Yer 25:20; Amo 3:9; Isa 14:29; 1Nya 21:16Alipigana vita dhidi ya Wafilisti na kubomoa kuta za Gathi, Yabne na Ashdodi. Kisha akajenga upya miji karibu na Ashdodi na mahali pengine katikati ya Wafilisti. 726:7 2Nya 21:16; 1Nya 5:20; 2Nya 20:1; 14:11; Mdo 26:22Mungu akamsaidia dhidi ya Wafilisti na dhidi ya Waarabu walioishi Gur-Baali na dhidi ya Wameuni. 826:8 Mwa 19:38; 2Nya 17:11; 1Sam 11:1; 2Sam 8:2Waamoni wakamletea Uzia ushuru, umaarufu wake ukaenea hadi kwenye mpaka wa Misri, kwa sababu alikuwa amekuwa na nguvu sana.
926:9 2Fal 14:13; 2Nya 25:23; Neh 2:13; 3:13; Zek 14:10Uzia akajenga minara huko Yerusalemu katika Lango la Pembeni, katika Lango la Bondeni na katika pembe, mahali kuta zikutanapo, kisha akaijengea ngome. 1026:10 2Nya 21:16Akajenga pia minara jangwani na kuchimba visima vingi vya maji, kwa sababu alikuwa na mifugo mingi chini ya vilimani na kwenye nchi tambarare. Alikuwa na watu wanaofanya kazi katika mashamba yake na kwenye mashamba yake ya mizabibu huko vilimani na katika ardhi zenye rutuba, kwa kuwa aliupenda udongo.
11Zaidi ya hayo, Uzia alikuwa na jeshi lililofunzwa vizuri, lililokuwa tayari kwenda vitani kwa vikosi kufuatana na idadi yao kama walivyokusanywa na Yeieli mwandishi na Maaseya msimamizi chini ya maelekezo ya Hanania, mmojawapo wa maafisa wa mfalme. 12Idadi yote ya viongozi wa jamaa waliowaongoza hawa wapiganaji walikuwa 2,600. 13Chini ya uongozi wao kulikuwa na jeshi la askari 307,500 watu waliofundishwa kwa ajili ya vita, jeshi lenye nguvu la kumsaidia mfalme dhidi ya adui zake. 1426:14 Yer 46:4Uzia akalipatia jeshi lote ngao, mikuki, chapeo, dirii, pinde na mawe ya kombeo. 15Huko Yerusalemu watu wenye utaalamu mkubwa wakatengeneza mitambo iliyotumika katika minara na kwenye pembe za ulinzi ili kurusha mishale na kuvurumisha mawe makubwa. Sifa zake zikaenea mbali sana kwa sababu alisaidiwa mno mpaka akawa na nguvu sana.
1626:16 2Fal 14:10; Kum 32:15; 2Nya 25:19; 1Nya 5:25; 2Fal 16:12-13; Hab 2:4; Kol 2:18; Kum 8:14Lakini baada ya Uzia kuwa na nguvu sana, majivuno yake yakamsababishia kuanguka. Alikosa uaminifu kwa Bwana Mungu wake, naye akaingia hekaluni mwa Bwana ili afukize uvumba kwenye madhabahu ya kufukizia uvumba. 1726:17 1Nya 6:10; 1Fal 4:2; Mdo 26:22Azaria kuhani akiwa pamoja na makuhani wengine themanini wa Bwana wenye ujasiri wakamfuata huko ndani. 1826:18 Hes 16:39; 18:1-7; Kut 30:7; Yer 13:18; 1Nya 6:49; 2Nya 19:2; Mt 14:4; Gal 2:21Wakamkabili na kumwambia, “Siyo sawa kwako, Uzia, kumfukizia Bwana uvumba. Hiyo ni kazi ya makuhani, wazao wa Aroni, ambao wamewekwa wakfu ili kufukiza uvumba. Ondoka mahali patakatifu, kwa kuwa umekosa uaminifu nawe hutaheshimiwa na Bwana.”
1926:19 2Fal 5:25-27; Hes 12:10Uzia, ambaye alikuwa na chetezo mkononi mwake tayari kufukiza uvumba, akakasirika. Alipokuwa anawaghadhibikia makuhani mbele ya madhabahu ya kufukizia uvumba katika Hekalu la Bwana, ukoma ukamtokea penye kipaji chake cha uso. 2026:20 Es 6:12Azaria kuhani mkuu pamoja na makuhani wengine wote walipomtazama wakaona kwamba alikuwa na ukoma penye kipaji chake cha uso wakaharakisha kumtoa nje. Naam, hata yeye mwenyewe alikuwa anatamani kuondoka kwa sababu Bwana alikuwa amempiga.
2126:21 Law 13:46; 14:8; Kut 4:6; 2Fal 15:5; Hes 5:2Mfalme Uzia alikuwa na ukoma mpaka siku ya kufa kwake. Akatengwa katika nyumba ya pekee akiwa mwenye ukoma, naye akawa ametengwa kutoka Hekalu la Bwana. Yothamu mwanawe akawa msimamizi wa jumba la mfalme, pia akawaongoza watu wa nchi.
2226:22 2Fal 15:1; Isa 6:1Matukio mengine ya utawala wa Uzia, kuanzia mwanzo mpaka mwisho, yameandikwa na nabii Isaya mwana wa Amozi. 2326:23 2Fal 15:7; Isa 6:1Uzia akalala pamoja na baba zake, naye akazikwa karibu nao katika shamba la kuzikia lililokuwa mali ya wafalme, kwa kuwa watu walisema, “Alikuwa na ukoma.” Yothamu mwanawe akawa mfalme baada yake.
1Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.26.1 Uzziah: or, Azariah 2He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 3Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.26.5 in the visions…: Heb. in the seeing of God 6And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.26.6 about…: or, in the country of Ashdod 7And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. 8And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.26.8 spread…: Heb. went 9Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.26.9 fortified: or, repaired 10Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.26.10 digged…: or, cut out many cisterns26.10 Carmel: or, fruitful fields26.10 husbandry: Heb. ground 11Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. 13And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.26.13 an army: Heb. the power of an army 14And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.26.14 slings…: Heb. stones of slings 15And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.26.15 spread: Heb. went forth
16¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several 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.26.21 several: Heb. free
22¶ Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. 23So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
