10 March 2010

Did God kill Uzziah?

Uzziah was one of God's favorite kings. He did right in the sight of the Lord just like his father, Amaziah.

Uzziah ... did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 2 Chronicles 26:3-4

God helped him kill Philistines, Arabians, and Mehunim.

He went forth and warred against the Philistines ... And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. 2 Chronicles 26:6-7

But one day Uzziah did something really awful. He burned some incense without a license.

He transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 2 Chronicles 26:16

Azariah and 80 priests descended upon him and told him that only priest can burn incense.

And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men ... and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests. 2 Chronicles 26:

So God, who saw the whole thing, did what he had to do: he gave Uzziah leprosy. (He was out of small pox at the time.)

"Behold, he was leprous in his forehead ... because the LORD had smitten him. 2 Chronicles 26:20

And Uzziah had leprosy for the rest of his life.

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death. 2 Chronicles 26:21

The Bible doesn't say that Uzziah died of leprosy. But since leprosy is often fatal when untreated, it is likely that he did.

So what do you think? We know that God gave Uzziah leprosy. But did he kill him?

4 comments:

twillight said...

No. He just suffered torment for the rest of his life.
And even if he'd died of leprosy, that'd mean, biblegod is responsible for the death of his. Remember, that there was the all-sure way of cleansing-ritual to get rid of leprosy! (slaughter some animals, sprinkle blood all over the place, don't wash it down...)

busterggi said...

A slow death is still a death.

Count it.

Clint Burky said...

Leprosy is not always fatal, yes it is most of the time, but do we know how he eventually died, and it it was attributed to his disease? To be honest, this would be one that I think should be included in your next list you are doing of deaths / possible deaths potentially attributed to God.

Remember - you don't want to give people an excuse to discredit your work as innacurate. God has much more impressive slaughters on his resume anyhow :-)

Matthew Blanchette said...

It's a sad story, though; Uzziah got screwed out of a job.