2 Chronicles 26:15

And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

And he made {H6213} in Jerusalem {H3389} engines {H2810}, invented {H4284} by cunning men {H2803}, to be on the towers {H4026} and upon the bulwarks {H6438}, to shoot {H3384} arrows {H2671} and great {H1419} stones {H68} withal. And his name {H8034} spread {H3318} far abroad {H7350}; for he was marvellously {H6381} helped {H5826}, till {H3588} he was strong {H2388}.

In Yerushalayim he built devices designed by experts for the towers and angles, from which to shoot arrows and lob large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was miraculously helped, until he became strong.

And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously so that he became powerful.

And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 26:15 highlights King Uzziah's remarkable success in Jerusalem, particularly his military innovations and the widespread fame he achieved. The verse attributes his strength and renown directly to divine assistance, stating he "was marvellously helped, till he was strong."

Context

This verse is part of a detailed account of King Uzziah's reign over Judah, found in 2 Chronicles chapter 26. Uzziah, also known as Azariah, ascended the throne at age 16 and reigned for 52 years. His early reign was marked by seeking God, guided by the prophet Zechariah, and consequently, God granted him great prosperity and military success. This verse describes the peak of his inventive military prowess, where he equipped Jerusalem's defenses with advanced weaponry. These "engines" were likely early forms of catapults or ballistas, designed to hurl projectiles, demonstrating a sophisticated approach to siege warfare for his time.

Key Themes

  • Divine Help as the Source of Strength: The most prominent theme is that Uzziah's strength and success were not merely due to his own ingenuity or military might, but because he "was marvellously helped" by God. This underscores a foundational biblical principle that true power and lasting prosperity come from divine favor and assistance.
  • Innovation and Progress: Uzziah was a forward-thinking ruler, commissioning "cunning men" to invent advanced military technology. This shows a king who invested in the security and development of his kingdom, leveraging human skill and intelligence.
  • Widespread Reputation: As a direct result of his divinely enabled strength and military achievements, Uzziah's "name spread far abroad." This speaks to the impact of his reign and how God's blessing can lead to significant influence and recognition.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "marvellously helped" comes from the Hebrew root Χ’Χ–Χ¨ ('azar), meaning "to help" or "to assist." The adverbial form used here emphasizes that this help was extraordinary and supernatural, indicating divine intervention. It highlights that Uzziah's strength was not self-generated but a gift, setting the stage for the crucial lesson that follows in the very next verse, where his pride leads to his downfall despite all his achievements.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for us today:

  • Acknowledge God as the Source: Like Uzziah, we may possess skills, intelligence, or resources, but true and lasting strength, success, and influence ultimately come from God's help. It's a reminder to approach our endeavors with humility and reliance on divine provision, as seen in the broader biblical teaching that unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
  • Leverage Gifts for Good: Uzziah used human ingenuity for the defense of his kingdom. Similarly, our talents, innovations, and hard work can be used for positive impact when they are aligned with God's purposes and empowered by His Spirit.
  • Beware of Pride: While this verse celebrates Uzziah's success, it serves as a critical prelude to his eventual fall due to pride (2 Chronicles 26:16). It reminds us that prosperity and fame, when not properly attributed to God, can lead to arrogance and spiritual decline. The blessing is for strength, not for self-glory.

In essence, 2 Chronicles 26:15 celebrates King Uzziah's divinely-assisted strength and innovation, but implicitly warns that such strength must always be rooted in humility and continued reliance on the God who "marvellously helped" him.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 4:24

    And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

  • Exodus 31:4

    To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

  • 2 Chronicles 2:14

    The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

  • 2 Chronicles 2:7

    Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that [are] with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
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