(After the vainglorious Amaziah came Uzziah, a strong and vigorous king. He encouraged agriculture, he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and fortified the city in a stronger way. He dug cisterns to water the herds, and had many vineyards and orchards. He was successful in his wars and extended his territory to the west, conquering several Philistine towns. But the story goes on to say that he became so proud of his success and his strength that he attempted to usurp the work of the priests. While he was offering incense in the temple, which he had no right to do, he suddenly became a leper. After that he was forced to live in a house apart by himself while his son acted as regent for him until he died.)
And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after the king died. Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long [{288}] as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. 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.
And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim. And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to Egypt, for he grew exceeding strong.
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. And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: and he had husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry.
Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that 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. The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred. 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. 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. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the battlements, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
JERUSALEM, FROM THE WEST, LOOKING OVER THE POOL IN THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY OF HINNOM.
The Jaffa Gate is in the wall a little to the right of the center of the picture. The road in the center is the highway from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The pool in the center is surrounded by Mohammedan graves. The beginning of the road to Bethlehem runs from the Jaffa Gate toward the left, at the base of the wall. The high buildings towering over this road are the Tower of David, on the site of a very ancient fortress. A garrison of Turkish soldiers is still kept there.