Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:22-23

Bird's-eye view

These closing verses of 2 Chronicles 26 serve as the final epitaph for a king who began with such promise and ended in such disgrace. Uzziah's story is a textbook case of pride going before a fall, a principle hammered home throughout Scripture. He was a great king, a successful king, a blessed king, right up until the moment he thought the rules of God's house did not apply to him. The passage before us deals with the aftermath of his sin, showing us three things: God's control over the historical record, the lasting consequences of sin, and the unflinching continuity of God's covenant purposes.

The Chronicler first notes that the prophet Isaiah was the official historian for Uzziah's reign. This is significant; God did not leave the telling of His people's story to chance. He tasked His prophets with the job. Then we see the final, sad details of Uzziah's burial. His leprosy, the physical mark of his spiritual pride, followed him right to the grave, excluding him even in death. Yet, despite the failure of the man, the office continues. Jotham his son takes the throne, and the line of David, the line through which the Messiah would come, moves forward. God's plan is never thwarted by the sin of men.

Outline

Context In 2 Chronicles

The book of Chronicles is, in many ways, a theological history of Judah. The Chronicler is writing after the exile, reminding the returned remnant of God's faithfulness to His covenant with David. He is particularly interested in the temple, right worship, and the character of the kings. Uzziah's reign, which occupies the whole of chapter 26, is presented as a powerful cautionary tale. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord (26:4) and God made him prosper mightily. But when his heart was lifted up in pride, he trespassed against the Lord by entering the temple to burn incense, a task reserved for the priests. For this, God struck him with leprosy.

These final two verses, 22 and 23, are the capstone on that story. They conclude the narrative of a man who flew high and fell hard. The mention of Isaiah sets the stage for the subsequent history, as Isaiah's prophetic ministry was a major feature in the reigns of the next several kings. The description of Uzziah's burial stands in stark contrast to the honorable burials of other faithful kings, serving as a final, public reminder of his sin. And the succession of Jotham shows that while individual kings may fail, God's promise to David's house endures.

Verse by Verse Commentary

2 Chronicles 26:22

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written.

The verse begins by pointing us to the official record. Scripture is not shy about its sources. The Chronicler is telling us that if you want the full story, the exhaustive account, it has been set down by a reliable witness. And who is that witness? Not just some court functionary, but "the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz." This is no small detail. It tells us that God Himself is the ultimate historian. He doesn't just make history; He writes it. He ensures it is recorded from His perspective.

The prophetic office was not just about foretelling the future; it was about forth-telling the truth, and that includes the truth about the past. Isaiah, the great prophet of the gospel, the one who saw the Lord high and lifted up in the year that this same King Uzziah died (Isaiah 6:1), was the one tasked with writing the definitive account of his reign. This means the story of Uzziah's pride and fall is not just a moral tale; it is part of the great redemptive story that Isaiah himself would go on to proclaim. God's Word interprets God's world, and here we see the prophet of the Word interpreting the life of the king.

2 Chronicles 26:23

So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

So Uzziah slept with his fathers... This is the standard biblical phrase for the death of a king, a euphemism that softens the finality of it. He has gone the way of all his ancestors. But the softness of this phrase is immediately qualified by the harsh reality of his burial.

...and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings... Notice the careful distinction here. He is buried with his fathers, in the same royal cemetery complex, but not in the tombs of the kings themselves. He is in the correct zip code, but not in the family mausoleum. He is buried "in the field of the grave." He is an outcast, separated even in death. Why? The text gives the reason plainly.

...for they said, “He is a leper.” This was the verdict of the people, and it was a right verdict because it was first the verdict of God. His sin was written on his skin. Leprosy in the Old Testament was a picture of sin, a visible symbol of uncleanness and corruption. It rendered a man ceremonially unclean, cutting him off from the covenant community and from the worship of God. Uzziah, in his pride, had tried to barge into the holy place. As a consequence, he was permanently barred from it. His sin of presumption led to a life of exclusion, and that exclusion followed him to the grave. It was a permanent, public statement: this is what happens when a man, even a king, thinks he can approach a holy God on his own terms.

And Jotham his son became king in his place. And just like that, the story moves on. The leprous king is in the ground, and a new king is on the throne. This is a crucial part of the narrative. The sin of Uzziah was a great tragedy, but it did not derail the plan of God. The covenant with David was not dependent on the flawless obedience of David's sons. God's promises are not so fragile. The kingdom continues. The line is secure. Jotham takes his father's place, and the history of redemption marches forward, undeterred, toward the ultimate Son of David, who would not be a leper, but would instead cleanse lepers with a touch and a word.

Application

The story of Uzziah ends with a stark warning about pride. A man can have 52 years of success, victory, and prosperity, and undo it all with one act of arrogant presumption. We must never think that our past successes give us a special pass on obedience. The rules apply to everyone, and the most important rule is that we must approach God on His terms, not our own. For us, that means approaching Him only through the Mediator He has appointed, the Lord Jesus Christ. Uzziah tried to be his own priest and was made a leper; we come through our great High Priest and are made clean.

Secondly, we see that sin has lasting consequences. Uzziah's leprosy was not a temporary affliction. It defined the rest of his life and even the nature of his burial. While we are forgiven in Christ, and the eternal condemnation is removed, our sins can still leave scars and earthly consequences that we carry with us. This should motivate us to walk in humility and holiness, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of a love for the one who saved us from it.

Finally, we are reminded of the glorious sovereignty of God. A king fails, but the Kingdom continues. A man is disgraced, but God's plan is not. Our hope is not in the strength or wisdom of human leaders, but in the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God. He is writing the story, and He ensures that it will reach its appointed conclusion in the glory of His Son. Uzziah slept in a leper's grave, but Christ rose from a borrowed tomb, securing a kingdom that cannot be shaken.