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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 September 4
The King Uzziah Stricken with Leprosy (Sometimes Called "Man in Oriental Costume") - (1639)
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Chatsworth House, Duke of Devonshire Collection, Derbyshire, England, UK
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: 2 Kings 15 summarizes the reigns of 6 kings: Azariah (also called Uzziah) King of Judah (1-7); Zechariah King of Israel (8-16); Menahem King of Israel (17-22); Pekahiah King of Israel (23-26); Pekah King of Israel (27-31); and Jotham King of Judah (32-38). Illustrated above is one of the most striking events of the chapter, the leprosy of Azariah/Uzziah. Some sources doubt that this painting depicts Azariah/Uzziah; but, to quote from the link attached to the title, "the face is blotched with greyish-white flecks, which are not due to discolouration of the paint, and can hardly be anything other than the marks of leprosy." [Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 14:21; 2 Kings 14:29; 2 Chronicles 26:1-5; Amos 1:1; 2 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 15:18; 2 Kings 16:2; 2 Chronicles 26:16-23; Isaiah 6; 2 Chronicles 27:1-6, 8; 2 Chronicles 27:7-9; 1 Chronicles 5:6, 25-26; 2 Kings 16:1-2; 2 Chronicles 28:1-4; Isaiah; Hosea; Amos; Micah].
Azariah (Uzziah) King of Judah. Azariah/Uzziah came to the throne of Judah when he was 16 years old; and he reigned for 52 years. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD except that he did not remove the high places where idolatrous worship was practiced. Also (as revealed in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21) the LORD struck him with leprosy for his pride in presuming to offer incense in the Temple, contrary to the Mosaic law (Numbers 18:3, 7). His son, Jotham, became co-regent and administered the kingdom; but Azariah/Uzziah dwelt in a house for lepers separated from other houses; and, when he died, he was buried in Jerusalem; and Jotham took sole rule of Judah (1-7).
Zechariah King of Israel. In Israel, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam II, reigned for six months. He did evil in the sight of the LORD; and Shallum conspired against him, killed him, and took his throne. Zachariah was the fourth and last of the dynasty of Jeroboam II, in accord with the LORD's word that Jeroboam II's sons would sit on his throne until the fourth generation (8-12). Shallum reigned for only a month in Israel before he was usurped by Menahem. To consolidate his rule, Menahem conquered the area from Tiphsah to Tirzah; and, because the inhabitants resisted him, he ripped up their women who were carrying children (13-16).
Menahem King of Israel. After consolidating his rule, Menahem reigned for 10 years in Israel. He was an evil king; and Pul, the King of Assyria, came against him; and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of silver which he raised by taxing his officials for fifty shekels each. Menahem's son Pekahiah succeeded him when he died (17-22).
Pekahiah King of Israel. Pekahiah reigned in Israel for two years. He was evil. One of his captains, Pekah, killed him plus others and took the throne (23-26).
Pekah King of Israel. Pekah reigned in Israel for twenty years. He was evil (27-28). During Pekah's reign Tiglathpileser king of Assyria conquered many cities in the land and took numerous captives to Assyria. This was the beginning of the Jewish dispersion. Hoshea killed Pekah and took his throne (29-31).
Jotham King of Judah.In Judah, Jotham became sole ruler of Judah after his father Azariah/Uzziah died. He began his reign at the age of 25 and reigned for 16 years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, except for leaving the high places as centers of worship. He built the "higher gate" of the Temple (see link below in verse 35). During his reign he was harassed by Rezin, King of Syria, and by Pekah, King of Israel. When Jotham died, Ahaz, his son, succeeded him (32-38).
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;
4 Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
5 And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.
6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
7 So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.
8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
12 This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.
14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
16 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
17 In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
22 And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
27 In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
33 Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.
34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
37 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
38 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
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