10. He built towers in the desert. He also dug many wells. He had many cattle in the hill country and in the flat lands. He had farmers in the mountains and in the lands where growth was good. He also had men who took care of vineyards. He loved farming.
11. Uzziah had an army of trained soldiers. They were put in groups by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer. Hananiah was their leader. Jeiel and Maaseiah counted the soldiers and put them into groups. Hananiah was one of the king’s officers.
12. There were 2600 leaders over the soldiers.
13. These family leaders were in charge of an army of 307,500 men who fought with great power. These soldiers helped the king against the enemy.
14. Uzziah gave the army shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for the slings.
15. In Jerusalem, Uzziah made machines that were invented by clever men. These machines were put on the towers and corner walls. They shot arrows and large rocks. Uzziah became famous. People knew his name in far away places. He had much help and became a powerful king.
16. But when Uzziah became strong, his pride caused him to be destroyed. He was not faithful to the Lord his God. He went into the Lord’S Temple to burn incense on the altar for burning incense.
17. Azariah the priest and 80 brave priests who served the Lord followed Uzziah into the Temple.
18. They told Uzziah he was wrong. They said to him, “Uzziah, it is not your job to burn incense to the Lord. It is not right. That is for the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to do. They are the only ones who have been prepared for the holy work of burning incense. You have not been faithful, so you must go out of the Most Holy Place. The Lord God will not honor you for this.”
19. But Uzziah was angry. He had a bowl in his hand for burning incense. While Uzziah was very angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in the Lord’S Temple by the altar for burning incense.
20. Azariah the leading priest and all the priests looked at Uzziah. They could see the leprosy on his forehead. The priests quickly forced him out from the Temple. Uzziah himself hurried out because the Lord had punished him.
21. So Uzziah the king was a leper. He could not enter the Lord’S Temple. His son Jotham controlled the king’s palace and became governor for the people.
22. Everything else Uzziah did, from beginning to end, is written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.