Another mother comes before us here in connection with the new king of Judah, Azariah or Uzziah. There was that to commend about him, and it is mentioned in the brief review of verses 3 and 4. He reigned many years, and 2 Chronicles 26 lets us know that this king sought God in the days of a certain Zechariah. Uzziah had understanding in the visions of God, and just as long as he had God before him, he prospered. He warred, he built, he provided wells and towers, adding to the peace and prosperity of the country; his name spread abroad, for he was marvelously helped till he was strong; but his heart, like that of his father, was lifted up, and he brought on himself the judgment of God.
What no other than a priest had done, he did,—daring to enter the holy place to burn incense there, and he came out a leper. Again, for the inner history of the man, the moral history, we turn to 2 Chronicles, and 2 Kings giving an outline only of his life. Jotham, his son, acted as king during the king's leprosy, and succeeded to the throne upon Uzziah's death.
It was at this period that the great prophet Isaiah was raised up. Indeed, to learn the true state of the nation we must read the prophecies of Isaiah and his contemporaries, Hosea and Amos.
Zachariah, son of the second Jeroboam reigned over Israel only six months; few and evil were his days, ending with his murder, not secretly, but before the people, by Shallum the son of Jabesh who seized the kingdom. Thus ended the reign of the house of Jehu (verse 12), but Shallum was king only a month when Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and killed him, making himself king.
Menahem began his reign with cruelty, and held the throne ten years, but the king of Assyria came against him, and exacted a heavy tribute. Dying, he was succeeded by his son Pekahiah who reigned two years. His life was like that of those who had gone before him. Pekah the son of Remaliah, one of Pekahiah's captains, conspired against the new king and with others, killed him. This murderer held the throne of Israel twenty years.
Evil as his predecessors, was Pekah; God was forgotten,—disowned. In his reign came another Assyrian king, and entering the northern and eastern portions of the land, carried away many of the people of Israel to be captives.
Hoshea, son of Elah killed Pekah and made himself king, adding another name to the list of murderers occupying in turn the throne of Israel. The chapter closes with a glance back at Judah. Jotham was king sixteen years at Jerusalem; his was a better reign than some of his predecessors; but nationally the people were sinking deeper and deeper in sin, and God sent both the king of Syria and the king of Israel against Judah for punishment.