The Four Kings of Isaiah 1:1 in the Book of Kings and Chronicles.
· 1. Uzziah (Ahaziah): He was only 16 year old when he became king. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD; he sought always to God as he was instructed by Zechariah; and God made him prosper. He overcame the Philistines and built cities in the territory of Philistines. Surrounding nations paid tribute to him and his fame spread even to the boarder of Egypt and he became very strong. He built many towers in Jerusalem. And for he loved the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands. Moreover, he had an army of 307500, well fit for war against any nation, well equipped with army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bow and stones for slinging, and even engines to shoot arrows and great stones (2Chron. 26:1-15). However, when he grew proud, he attempted to take the role of the priest as he prepared to burn incense on the altar of incense. Regardless of the priest Azariah’s warning, He angrily burnt incense, which was forbidden in the Levitical code (Num. 3:10; 18:7). As a result, immediately God’s judgment came upon him: he was leprous in his forehead! He lived in a separate house throughout his life. When he died he was buried in the burial field that belonged to the kings, and people would say to him, “He is a leper.” (2Chron. 26:16-23; 2kgs.15:1-7). It was that very year that the Prophet Isaiah received the vision of God (cf. Isaiah 6:1ff).
· 2. Jotham: Uzziah’s son Jotham was 25 years old when he became king over Judah. Like his father he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD except he did not enter the temple of the LORD, and did not remove the high places. He built the upper gate of the Temple, and did many buildings to it. He built cities, forts and towers on the hill country of Judah. He also fought against Ammonites and overcame them; and in turn they paid 100 talents of silver, 10000 cors of wheat and 10,000 of barley. He became very mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. He reigned Judah for 16 years, and was buried in the city of David and his son Ahaz succeeded him. (2Chron. 27:1-9; 2Kgs. 15:32-38). One of his failure is not removing the high places, where people still scarified and made offerings on those high places (2Kgs. 15:35). During this time, Isaiah continued to minister and made prophecy that reflect this very fact; people making many offerings to God in those high places (cf. Isaiah 1:11) [MacArthur Study Bible, Isaiah, 619].
· 3. Ahaz: He was 20 years old when he began to reign. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He even made metal images for the Baals, and even burned his sons as an offering according to the despicable practices of the nations. He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. Therefore, God used the king of Syria to defeat him and take captive a great number of his people into Damascus. Pekah, the king of Israel, killed 120,000 from Judah in one day. In addition, Edomites had again invaded and defeated him and carried many captives. And the Philistines had made raids on the cities of Judah. These all happened to Judah because her king Ahaz made Judah act sinfully before the LORD. However, in the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD, for he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him. And He cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God and, he shut up the doors of the Temple. He made himself alters in every corner of Jerusalem. In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, which provoked God’s anger. Finally he died and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, for the people did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel (2Chron. 28:1-27; 2Kgs. 16:1-20). When Syrian king Rezin and Pekah, king of Israel tried to overthrow him, Isaiah was summoned to meet king Ahaz and encourage him to have faith in God, and wait for the sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 7).
· Hezekiah : He ruled Judah for 29 years. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. He did what was right before the LORD, and was considered the godliest and faithful king among kings of Judah. He kept the commandment that the LORD commanded Moses and he prospered (2Kgs. 18:1-8). First, he cleansed the Temple, and even all the utensils for offering the King Ahaz had discarded; and re-consecrated the Levites. And he restored long lost Temple worship, wherein he commissioned priests and Levites to make sacrifices to the LORD. Only in one day, 70 bulls, 100 rams and 200 lambs were sacrificed to the LORD as a burnt offering (2 Chron. 29:1-36). For the first time, since the division of the kingdom 215 years earlier (notes on MacArthur Study Bible, Isaiah, 622), Hezekiah restored the Passover, wherein remnants from the northern 10 tribes and people in Judah celebrated together jubilantly. And he supported and re-endorsed priestly office and service (2Chron. 30, 31). Later, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. Hezekiah paid tribute to him, but did not satisfy him and he sent his messengers to mock Hezekiah and demand complete surrender. Then Hezekiah fortified the city and trusted God alone, and finally God delivered Jerusalem (2 Chron. 32; 2Kgs. 18:17-24; 19). Moreover, God heard Hezekiah’s sincere prayer when he was sick at the point of death, and prolonged his life. At that time, Babylonian king Merodach-baladan sent envoys with letters and a present to him. And he welcomed and showed them everything in his treasure house. Because of this act, the prophet predicted that everything would be carried to Babylon (2Kgs. 20).
When Sennacherib began to attack Judah, King Hezekiah desperately sought help from the prophet Isaiah. And Isaiah assured God’s protection and together they prayed, and God delivered Judah (2kgs. 19; 2Chron. 32:20-23; Is. 37). And Isaiah also played a very important role when Hezekiah was seek and recovered. During his reign, Isaiah predicted the Babylonian captivity that would happen a century later.
God clearly manifested the covenantal promises, especially Mosaic covenant (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) in the life and time of each king. For example, when King Hezekiah brought the people into covenantal standard, God saved them from Assyria (2 Chron. 30-31); cf. Lev. 26:44). Above all, God promised the righteous seed, Immanuel, a Child to the king Ahaz (Isa. 7, 9). This is the promise, which is finally fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.
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