{"id":100679,"date":"2018-07-09T18:03:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-919\/"},"modified":"2022-01-18T23:06:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T21:06:43","slug":"wall-919","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-919\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-II Chronicles-26"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"919","date":"20290307","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"100745","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible II Chronicles 26 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible II Chronicles 26","slug":"jps-audio-bible-ii-chronicles-26","old_id":"100745","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"II Chronicles 26","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_II_Chronicles_26","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"100815","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Dermatological Early Warning System,\u00a0 Disregarded ","post_title":"A Dermatological Early Warning System,\u00a0 Disregarded","slug":"a-dermatological-early-warning-system-disregarded","old_id":"100815","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Stricken, Uzziah remained in isolation for the rest of his life, and his reign passed to his son\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

While King Uzziah\u2019s reign started strong, both spiritually and materially, it ended rather ignominiously. We are told, in verses 4-5, that in Uzziah\u2019s early years \u201cHe did what was pleasing to the Lord just as his father Amaziah had done\u201d and \u201cHe applied himself to the worship of God.\u201d In successive verses we hear of Uzziah\u2019s material success. He built towers and wells, introduced new agricultural techniques and equipped his army with the latest weaponry. But then Uzziah let success go to his head and he got cocky.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

No longer satisfied to dedicate his energies to fulfilling the specific job he was divinely destined for, Uzziah wanted more. He aspired to do the work of the priests in the Holy Temple, even though he himself was not of priestly lineage. The Temple priests tried to steer him away from his folly, but he would have none of it. And so, he was punished with the biblical affliction of <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/em> <\/span>(translated as leprosy). The Talmud gives seven reasons that one might be afflicted with <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/em>: gossip, murder, perjury, forbidden relationships, arrogance, theft, and envy. In Uzziah\u2019s case, it\u2019s apparent that his arrogance was the cause of his affliction.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While many sources translate <\/span>tza\u2019arat<\/em> <\/span>as leprosy, that is not at all what it was, despite some similarity in symptoms. As Tamar Fox puts it, \u201c(<\/span>Tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/em>) is a disease like no other; part medical condition, part spiritual pathology.\u201d <\/span>Tzara\u2019at<\/em> <\/span>not only afflicted human skin; it also appeared on homes and material possessions. It was a physical cue from God that a serious spiritual malady was settling in. But along with the disease, God provided a remedy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two full chapters of the Book of Leviticus \u2013 116 verses in total \u2013 are devoted to the laws of dealing with <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/em>. There was a procedure by which a suspected case of <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/span><\/em> had to be confirmed by a priest. And there was a proscribed remedy involving isolation, repentance, and offerings. Unlike with medical conditions, the first stage of the remedy \u2013 isolation \u2013 was not related to a concern of contagion. In fact, there were several situations in which a postponement of isolation was permissible. Isolation in this case, not unlike what many people in today\u2019s Covid world report, provided an opportunity for reflection \u2013 the necessary first step to changing behavior.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As dreadful a malady as <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/em> <\/span>was, there is an element of it being a gift. God had provided an alarm system for impending spiritual decline that couldn\u2019t be ignored, and He provided a guaranteed path to recovery. But, while other documented biblical cases of <\/span>tzara\u2019at<\/em> <\/span>were resolved with repentance, Uzziah remained in isolation for the rest of his life. He was banished from the Temple, and his reign passed to his son. He was evidently never able to recover from the spiritual ailment that got him into trouble in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s a cautionary tale of how personal arrogance replacing observable evidence can get in the way of progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: The King Uzziah Stricken with Leprosy, by Rembrandt, 1635 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64179,"alt":"","title":"2kings15-uzziah leprosy rembrandt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","width":800,"height":999,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-768x959.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":959,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":999,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":999,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":999,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":999,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Dermatological Early Warning System,\u00a0 Disregarded","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Stricken, Uzziah remained in isolation for the rest of his life, and his reign passed to his son","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64179,"alt":"","title":"2kings15-uzziah leprosy rembrandt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","width":800,"height":999,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-768x959.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":959,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":999,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":999,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":999,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":999,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings15-uzziah-leprosy-rembrandt-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"100807","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Kings\u00a0 And Priests: Let This Be A Warning ","post_title":"Kings\u00a0 And Priests: Let This Be A Warning","slug":"kings-and-priests-let-this-be-a-warning","old_id":"100807","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To all leaders, including the Hasmoneans\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Until this point, for the most part, the Book of Chronicles would diverge from the Book of Kings to emphasize the positive side of the kings of Judah. Bad kings were given their due, but the good ones were enhanced. Uzziah is an exception. In II Kings 15:4-6, Uzziah is given a very brief cameo. \u201cHe did what was pleasing to the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. However, the shrines were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings at the shrines.\u00a0 The LORD struck the king with a plague, and he was a leper until the day of his death...\u201d That is all we know about the king.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

II Kings gives the impression that his only flaw was not fully removing the <\/span>bamot<\/span><\/em>, shrines, a problem for most of his predecessors. II Chronicles paints a very different picture. Uzziah was a great king who applied himself to the worship of God. He fortified the southern kingdom at a time when the northern one was falling apart. This fortification, however, led to his downfall. The text explicitly notes that as he grew strong, he began to think of himself as all powerful. This arrogance did not lead him to reject God. It led him to want to join the priestly watch with his kingship. God was furious with this and afflicted him with leprosy. Why include all this detail? The version in Kings paints a much better picture of the king.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer may lie in a lesson the author was trying to convey. Affliction of leprosy in a leader happens when that leader tries to overstep their boundaries. In recent history, in II Kings 5, Elisha the prophet instructs his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 Gehazi that a prophet, as a leader, must not take payment for his good works. Gehazi disobeys Elisha and exacts payment from Naaman. As punishment, Elisha afflicts Gehazi with leprosy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The most famous example though is Aaron and Miriam in Numbers 12. This is the inverse to the story in our chapter. In Numbers 12, two siblings - one the High Priest - speak ill of their brother Moses, the leader. God punishes them by afflicting Miriam with leprosy.\u00a0 The author of II Chronicles references these two stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is also a warning for the future. II Chronicles was refined and codified in the Second Temple period. The author of II Chronicles directly references these two stories to teach the lesson that each leader must stay in their lane. Later in that period, the Hasmoneans would come to take over both the kingship and the priesthood. Perhaps this was a warning to those who thought themselves so powerful that they could combine these two roles. God set up a king and a priest. A Moses and an Aaron. When someone tries to combine those two roles it only leads to disaster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":100813,"alt":"","title":"2chron26-Priest-King","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","width":683,"height":714,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-287x300.jpg","medium-width":287,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":714,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":714,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","1536x1536-width":683,"1536x1536-height":714,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","2048x2048-width":683,"2048x2048-height":714,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","post_full_size-width":683,"post_full_size-height":714,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-402x420.jpg","home_baner-width":402,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Kings\u00a0 And Priests: Let This Be A Warning","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":100813,"alt":"","title":"2chron26-Priest-King","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","width":683,"height":714,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-287x300.jpg","medium-width":287,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":714,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":714,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","1536x1536-width":683,"1536x1536-height":714,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","2048x2048-width":683,"2048x2048-height":714,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King.jpg","post_full_size-width":683,"post_full_size-height":714,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/2chron26-Priest-King-402x420.jpg","home_baner-width":402,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"100819","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Loving The Very Dirt ","post_title":"Loving The Very Dirt","slug":"loving-the-very-dirt","old_id":"100819","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38047,"post_title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","slug":"shoshana-michael-zucker","old_id":"38047","first_name":"Shoshana Michael ","last_name":"Zucker ","description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor by profession, but would much rather be learning and teaching Torah. A graduate of Barnard College, she made aliyah in 1983 and now lives in Kfar Saba where she is an active member of the Masorti Congregation Hod veHadar. ","short_description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor and lives in Kfar Saba \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38048,"alt":"","title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","width":231,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","medium_large-width":231,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","large-width":231,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","1536x1536-width":231,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","2048x2048-width":231,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","post_full_size-width":231,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","home_baner-width":231,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An agrarian king who was into farming the land\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

As a child, I learned more Hebrew from songs, and their translations, than I did from formal classes. One of the first songs I learned was based on 2 Chronicles 26:9-10: \u201cUzziah built towers in Jerusalem\u2026 and fortified them. He built towers in the wilderness and hewed out many cisterns....\u201d The melody was composed by Yohanan Zarai in 1956 and later choreographed as a circle dance (<\/span>hear a classic Israeli version here<\/span><\/a>, and a rather bizarre version by the Chad Mitchell Trio here)<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I learned the words. I learned the melody, and if I was taught the dance, I promptly forgot it. Throughout it all, I was confused. Why were we singing about towers and cisterns (what is a cistern?) in the wilderness? No one ever explained and I moved on to other things.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

More than 50 years have passed and reading 2 Chronicles for the first time thanks to 929, I encounter the words again. And now I think I understand. It was barely two decades after the State of Israel was founded; building projects held special meaning and conquering the wilderness was the challenge of the day. Uzziah\u2019s civil engineering projects were a Biblical role model for a modern project and therefore celebrated. To my teachers that may have been so clear that there was no need to explain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Reading 2 Chronicles for the first time, I also encountered the complete verses. The inventory of towers in verse 9 is unsurprising. Kings build and develop their capital cities, but the verse 10 is different. Uzziah \u201cbuilt towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns\u201d not as monuments but for the benefit of his cattle, and the farmers and vine growers he employed in all regions of the country, \u201cfor he was a lover of <\/span>adamah<\/span><\/em> \u05d0\u05d3\u05de\u05d4 soil.\u201d Not\u00a0 \u201c\u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05e5 the land\u201d which might read in a political sense or even \u201c \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05de\u05d4 the soil\u201d which could refer to specific soil, but rather generic soil. The image of king, a political and military leader, with an abiding appreciation for one of the world\u2019s most basic resources is impressive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Without discounting the prophetic criticism that Amos and Hosea brought against royal land-management (see Ellen Davis, <\/span>Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible<\/span><\/em>), it seems significant that the Chronicler chose to highlight Uzziah\u2019s love for the soil. He built buildings, yes; but he was also recalled as a leader who remembered not only that the first <\/span>Adam<\/span><\/em>\/human \u05d0\u05d3\u05dd was formed from the \u05d4\u05d0\u05d3\u05de\u05d4 <\/span>adama<\/span><\/em>\/soil, but that life ever after must be nourished by nutrients emerging from the soil.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56559,"alt":"","title":"jud-end-wheat-field","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","width":1920,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Loving The Very Dirt","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An agrarian king who was into farming the land","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56559,"alt":"","title":"jud-end-wheat-field","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","width":1920,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/jud-end-wheat-field-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"100817","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Seeing Is Believing ","post_title":"Seeing Is Believing","slug":"seeing-is-believing","old_id":"100817","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Though so is fearing\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

We are told that King Uzziah \u201capplied himself to the worship of God during the time of Zechariah, instructor in the visions of God; during the time he worshiped the L<\/span>ORD<\/span>, God made him prosper\u201d (5). Presumably, this Zechariah is Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who prophesied against Uzziah\u2019s grandfather, Joash, as reported in 24:20. Be that as it may, why would he be identified as an \u201cinstructor\u201d (<\/span>mevin<\/span><\/em>) in \u201cvisions\u201d (<\/span>bir\u2019ot<\/span><\/em>) of God (<\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>) rather than as a prophet, and why would Zechariah\u2019s capacity for visions influence Uzziah\u2019s religious behavior?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Curiously, the Aramaic Targum to this verse presumes another, contextually more suitable Hebrew text. It renders the crucial word as <\/span>bid\u2019chalta<\/span><\/em> as though reading <\/span>bir\u2019ot<\/span><\/em> as <\/span>b\u2019yir\u2019at<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201can instructor in the fear of God.\u201d Indeed, the phrase <\/span>yir\u2019at elohim<\/span><\/em> meaning, minimally, morality, is a recurring expression in Tanakh, used, inter alia, by Abraham (Gen. 20:11), Joseph (Gen. 42:18), Moses (Exodus 20:17), Jonah (1:9), and Nehemiah (5:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When this verse is cited in the Jerusalem Talmud (Sotah 9:13)\u2014in the context of \u201cthe early prophets\u201d (<\/span>nevi\u2019im rishonim<\/span><\/em>)\u2014it is cited as \u201cWho understood <\/span>the fear of God<\/span><\/em>,\u201d exactly as reflected in the Targum. Nor was this overlooked by medieval exegetes. Pseudo-Rashi explicitly said: \u201cWho understood that <\/span>the fear of God<\/span><\/em> is good,\u201d and Ralbag not only cited it as: \u201cWho understood <\/span>the fear of God<\/span><\/em>,\u201d but a marginal note that accidentally crept into the printed text of Ralbag cites \u201cthe Naples edition of the Writings\u201d (<\/span>k\u2019tuvim d\u2019fus Napoli<\/span><\/em>) to the same effect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak, however, retained the same reading we have, and Malbim even justified it, writing:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophets and Men of Holy Spirit (<\/span>ba`alei ru\u2019ach hakodesh<\/span><\/em>) would make their observations based on divine visions, such as Ezekiel\u2019s chariot vision, and other visions observed by the prophets\u2026 Zechariah understood such visions and in a generation in which such a person lived, it was appropriate to seek God through him and that brought prosperity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84724,"alt":"","title":"ps63-eye seeing God","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Seeing Is Believing","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Though so is fearing\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84724,"alt":"","title":"ps63-eye seeing God","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-eye-seeing-God-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"100788","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Uzziah Gets Blanched ","post_title":"Uzziah Gets Blanched","slug":"uzziah-gets-blanched","old_id":"100788","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Quarantine, anyone?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

26:19 \u201cAnd Uzziah was angry, the censer for burning incense in his hand, and as he raged against the priests, skin blanch broke out on his forehead in front of the priests upon the incense altar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The disease, <\/span>tsara\u2019at<\/span><\/em>,<\/em> is traditionally rendered as \u201cleprosy,\u201d but the symptoms do not correspond to leprosy--the chief symptom is a loss of pigmentation--hence the coined name in this translation. In any case, it was thought to be highly contagious, necessitating quarantine. In Kings, no mention is made of the violation of the cult as a reason for the affliction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 3: Writings, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Uzziah Gets Blanched","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Quarantine, anyone?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"100789","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - II Chronicles 26 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - II Chronicles 26","slug":"points-to-ponder-ii-chronicles-26","old_id":"100789","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Comp lit.<\/em> The parallel to the telling here of the reign of Uzziah in Kings is very abbreviated. One verse in 2 Kings 14:22, and five verses in 2 Kings 15:1-5.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Many verbs<\/em>\u2026 Uzziah did a lot:\u00a0 \u201cHe rebuilt\u2026 and restored\u2026 He did\u2026 He applied himself\u2026he worshiped\u2026 he went forth to fight\u2026 breached\u2026 he built\u2026 fortified\u2026 he built.. Hewed out\u2026 provided\u2026 made..his fame spread far\u2026\u201d (verses 2-15).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. With love<\/em>. Uzziah didn\u2019t invest in agriculture throughout the land for no reason, for \u201che loved the soil\u201d (verse 10).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The sin of pride<\/em>. Uzziah\u2019s story shows how power can turn into grandiosity and hubris; how pride can ruin everything. Uzziah was a very successful king, but he forgot what the source of his power was (that\u2019s Who, not what) and his heart grew arrogant. So much so that even the religious act of offering incense lost its meaning as serving God, and turned into a show of strength opposite the priests.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Leprosy?<\/em> Why specifically tzara\u2019at<\/em>, leprosy? Is this a random icky punishment, or is there some deep connection to the crime? It\u2019s a good question, in answer to which perhaps memories of other lepers in the Tanach can shed some light. For instance Miriam\u2019s leprosy (Num. 12) or Gehazi\u2019s (2 Kings 5).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"II Chronicles 26","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"100688","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - II Chronicles 26 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - II Chronicles 26","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-ii-chronicles-26","old_id":"100688","type":"song","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. We are assembling a free living library of Jewish texts and their interconnections, in Hebrew and in translation. With these digital texts, we can create new, interactive interfaces for Web, tablet and mobile, allowing more people to engage with the textual treasures of our tradition.","short_description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42230,"alt":"","title":"Sefaria Logo2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","width":1200,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"919","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201cThe world Yeshayahu lived in: Part I\u201d<\/a> by Jonny Gordon: Understanding the context in which Yeshayahu prophesied.<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cThe Earthquake\u201d<\/a> by Shimon Yaakov Ben Tzion: Looking at the historical context of Isaiah.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - II Chronicles 26","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"II Chronicles","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"919","date":"20290307","wall_id":"919"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/100679"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}