16. did corruptly] Compare xxvii. 2.
he trespassed] compare xii. 2; Joshua vii. 1, xxii. 16. The Hebrew word implies presumptuous dealing with holy things.
the altar of incense] Compare Exodus xxx. 1–10. Not only the altar, but the incense itself was “most holy”; Exodus xxx. verses 34–38.
¹⁷And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, that were valiant men:
17. Azariah the priest] i.e. the high-priest (verse 20). He cannot be identified with any priest in the list given 1 Chronicles vi. 4–15 (v. 30–41, Hebrew).
¹⁸and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth 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 he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy brake forth[¹] in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense.
[¹] Hebrew rose (as the sun).
18. the priests the sons of Aaron] Compare xiii. 10, 11 and Numbers xvi. 40.
neither shall it be for thine honour] A euphemism covering a threat of danger and disgrace.
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 quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.