- 46-
This would accord with the persistent use of the latter name in 2 Chronicles - considering
the view-point of the writer and with its occurrence in the prophetic writings (Hosea 1:1;
Amos 1:1; Isaiah 1:1; 6:1; 7:1). And the explanation just suggested seems confirmed by
the circumstance that although this king is always called Uzziah in 2 Chronicles, yet the
Hebrew word for "help," which forms the first part of the name Azariah, recurs with
marked emphasis in the account of the Divine help accorded in his expeditions (2
Chronicles 26:7, 13, 15).
At the accession of Uzziah (as we shall prefer to call him) the throne of Israel had been
already occupied for fourteen years by Jeroboam II., the son and successor of that
Jehoash who had inflicted such defeat on Amaziah of Judah (2 Kings 14:23). His
exceptionally long reign extended over fifty-one years,* being the longest of that of any
Israelitish king."**
- In 2 Kings 14:23, the number is 41 - am - which must be a clerical error for 51, an. For
a comparison of the date in 2 Kings 14:23 with that in 15:8, gives 15 + 38 = 53 years, or
deducting one at each end (the years not being full), fifty-one years. Commonly the
numerals are conciliated by assuming an interregnum of ten or eleven years after the
death of Jeroboam II. (2 Kings 15:8). But of this there is not the least indication in 2
Kings 14:29 - rather the contrary. Again, according to Hosea 1:1, that prophet's activity
extended from the reign of Jeroboam II, to that of Hezekiah of Judah - a period almost
impossible if Jeroboam II. had only reigned forty-one years. For other attempts to
conciliate the numbers here and in 2 Kings 15:1, see the Art. Zeitrechrung (Herzog. Real-
Enc. u.s., pp. 471, 472). We have followed Bahr in his Comment. on the passage in
Lange's Bibel-Werk, Part vii.
** This even if we make his reign one of forty-one years.
Holy Scripture gives only the briefest sketch of outward events during that half-century
in Israel. Religiously, it was marked by a continuance of the wrongful institutions of the
founder of the Israelitish monarchy (Jeroboam I.). Politically, it was distinguished by the
complete defeat of Syria, and the recovery of all the territory which had, in the most
flourishing times of united Judah,* been conquered by David or occupied by Solomon' in
the language of the sacred text, "from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain" (2
Kings 14:25).
- The expression in 2 Kings 14:28: "which belonged to Judah," need not be struck out, as
proposed by some. It indicates that it was part of the ancient territory of Judah, before the
two kingdoms were divided, although it was now recovered for Israel (the northern
kingdom), within whose territorial limits it was.
Indeed, the conquests of Jeroboam seem to have extended even beyond this, and to the
boundary of Moab (see Amos 6:14, where for "river of the wilderness," read "of the
(^)