King Azariah (Uzziah)

How He Became King: After his father Amaziah was murdered
When He Began Reigning: 16 years old
Reign Length: 52 years
Ruled Over: Judah
Type of King: Good
Prophet: Zechariah, Isaiah, Hosea, Amos
Death: Died a leper due to his disobedience
Burial: Buried in Jerusalem, but not in the tomb of the kings

Azariah became king after conspirators murdered his father. He began reigning when he was 16 years old, and he reigned over Judah for 52 years. At the beginning of his reign he did that which was right:

2 Kings 15:1: “In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
2 Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;”

The Bible says that as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper:

2 Chronicles 26:5: “And 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.”

The Lord gave him a series of military victories against the Philistines and the Arabians, and other nations began sending him gifts:

2 Chronicles 26:6: “And 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.
7 And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.”

The king strengthened both Jerusalem and the country:

2 Chronicles 26:9: “Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10 Also 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.”

Azariah also built a mighty army:

2 Chronicles 26:11: “Moreover 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.
12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.
13 And 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.
14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
15 And 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.”

However, the king became proud, and that pride led to his downfall. One day Azariah went into the Temple and decided to burn incense – even though that job was for the priests alone. When the priests tried to stop him, the king became angry with them. That is when God intervened:

2 Chronicles 26:16: “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.
17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, that were valiant men:
18 And 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.
19 Then 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.”

Because of his sin God smote Azariah with leprosy, and he remained a leper until he died. In his pride he exalted himself and defied God’s commands, and in return God greatly humiliated him. When he died he was buried in Jerusalem, but because he was a leper he was not buried in the tomb of the kings:

2 Chronicles 26:23: “So 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.”

Jotham his son then reigned in his stead.