2 Kings 15:2 Study Bible: Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

◄ 2 Kings 15:2 ►

He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

Study Bible

He was sixteen years old when he became king
At the age of sixteen, Uzziah (also known as Azariah) ascended to the throne of Judah. This young age for a king was not uncommon in the ancient Near East, where royal succession often occurred at a young age due to the premature death of a predecessor. Uzziah's early start as king highlights the importance of mentorship and guidance from advisors, which was crucial for young rulers. His reign began during a period of relative stability in Judah, following the reign of his father, Amaziah.

and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years
Uzziah's fifty-two-year reign was one of the longest in the history of the divided kingdom, indicating a period of significant stability and prosperity for Judah. His reign is noted for military successes, economic prosperity, and infrastructural development, including fortifications and agricultural advancements. This long reign allowed for continuity in leadership, which was beneficial for the kingdom's development. However, it also ended in tragedy due to Uzziah's pride and subsequent leprosy, as detailed in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21.

His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem
Jecoliah's mention signifies the importance of maternal lineage in the biblical narrative, often indicating the influence a mother might have had on a king. Being from Jerusalem, Jecoliah was likely well-acquainted with the religious and cultural traditions of Judah, potentially providing Uzziah with a strong foundation in the faith and practices of his people. The inclusion of her name also underscores the significance of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Judah, a city chosen by God for His temple and the Davidic line.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Azariah (Uzziah)
Also known as Uzziah, he became king of Judah at the age of sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years. His reign is noted for both prosperity and eventual downfall due to pride.

2. Jecoliah of Jerusalem
The mother of Azariah, mentioned here to provide lineage and perhaps to highlight her influence or the legitimacy of Azariah's reign.

3. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, where Azariah reigned. It is a central location in the history of Israel and Judah, representing both political and spiritual significance.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Humility
Uzziah's reign began well, but his pride led to his downfall. This serves as a reminder of the importance of humility before God. Pride can lead to spiritual and personal ruin.

The Role of Godly Influence
The mention of Jecoliah may suggest the importance of a godly upbringing and influence. Parents and mentors play a crucial role in shaping the character and faith of future leaders.

Longevity in Leadership
Uzziah's long reign of fifty-two years suggests stability and prosperity. However, it also highlights the need for consistent faithfulness over time, not just a good start.

Consequences of Disobedience
Uzziah's leprosy was a direct consequence of his disobedience. This illustrates the biblical principle that sin has consequences, and it serves as a warning to remain obedient to God's commands.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the account of Uzziah's reign in 2 Kings 15:2 and 2 Chronicles 26 illustrate the dangers of pride? How can we guard against pride in our own lives?

2. What role do you think Jecoliah might have played in Uzziah's early life and reign? How can we apply the importance of godly influence in our families and communities today?

3. Considering Uzziah's long reign, what are some ways we can ensure that our leadership or influence remains positive and faithful over time?

4. How does the account of Uzziah connect with the broader biblical theme of obedience and its consequences as seen in Leviticus 26?

5. Reflect on Isaiah 6:1 and the transition that occurred at the end of Uzziah's reign. How can times of transition in leadership or life be opportunities for renewed vision and commitment to God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Chronicles 26
This chapter provides a more detailed account of Uzziah's reign, including his achievements and his downfall due to pride, which led to his leprosy.

Isaiah 6:1
Isaiah's vision of the Lord occurs in the year of King Uzziah's death, marking a significant transition in the prophetic ministry of Isaiah and the history of Judah.

Leviticus 26
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, which can be related to Uzziah's reign, where initial obedience brought prosperity, but pride led to his downfall.

Sermons

Another King Beginning Well, Ending Ill	J. Orr	2 Kings 15:1-7
Prosperity and its Dangers	C.H. Irwin	2 Kings 15:1-7
Some Lessons from the History of Kings	D. Thomas	2 Kings 15:1-38

People

Abel, Ahaz, Amaziah, Amram, Aram, Argob, Arieh, Azaliah, Azariah, David, Elah, Gadi, Gileadites, Hoshea, Jabesh, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jehu, Jeroboam, Jerusha, Jotham, Maacah, Menahem, Naphtali, Nebat, Pekah, Pekahiah, Pul, Remaliah, Rezin, Shallum, Tappuah, Tiglathpileser, Tirzah, Uzziah, Zachariah, Zadok, Zechariah

Places

Abel-beth-maacah, Assyria, Damascus, Galilee, Gilead, Hazor, Ibleam, Ijon, Janoah, Jerusalem, Kedesh, Samaria, Syria, Tirzah

Topics

Fifty, Fifty-two, Jecholiah, Jecoliah, Jecoli'ah, Jerusalem, Mother's, Reign, Reigned, Reigning, Ruling, Sixteen

Dictionary of Bible Themes

2 Kings 15:1-2

7240 Jerusalem, history

2 Kings 15:1-38

5366 king

Library

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Meditations Before Dinner and Supper.
Meditate that hunger is like the sickness called a wolf; which, if thou dost not feed, will devour thee, and eat thee up; and that meat and drink are but as physic, or means which God hath ordained, to relieve and cure this natural infirmity and necessity of man. Use, therefore, to eat and to drink, rather to sustain and refresh the weakness of nature, than to satisfy the sensuality and delights of the flesh. Eat, therefore, to live, but live not to eat. There is no service so base, as for a man …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Living Book
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Symbol of "Asshur", the principal Assyrian idol.] There is only one Book that never grows old. For thousands of years men have been writing books. Most books are forgotten soon after they are written; a few of the best and wisest are remembered for a time. But all at last grow old; new discoveries are made; new ideas arise; the old books are out of date; their usefulness is at an end. Students are the only people who still care to read them. The nations to which the …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

2 Kings 15:2 NIV
2 Kings 15:2 NLT
2 Kings 15:2 ESV
2 Kings 15:2 NASB
2 Kings 15:2 KJV

2 Kings 15:2 Commentaries

Bible Hub