Azariah Reigns in Judah
Azariah comes to the throne young, reigns long in Jerusalem, and is remembered as a king who does what is right like Amaziah, though the high places remain active.
I1n the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah. 2He 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. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
Verse 1In Jeroboam’s twenty-seventh year over Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah becomes king of Judah.
It sets Azariah’s reign in the larger royal timeline.
Verse 2Azariah begins reigning at sixteen, rules fifty-two years in Jerusalem, and his mother is Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
It supplies the reign’s basic biographical frame.
Verse 3He does what is right in the LORD’s sight, following the pattern of his father Amaziah.
It gives the section’s main moral judgment on Azariah.
Verse 4The high places remain, and the people keep sacrificing and burning incense there.
It qualifies Azariah’s righteousness with unfinished reform.
The LORD afflicts Azariah so that he lives apart while Jotham governs, and the reign closes with the usual notice of his acts, burial, and succession.
5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. 6As for the rest of the acts of Azariah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7And Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in the City of David. And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
Verse 5The LORD afflicts the king with leprosy until death, so he lives in a separate house while Jotham governs the people.
It explains the king’s isolation and Jotham’s active rule.
Verse 6The rest of Azariah’s acts and accomplishments are said to be written in the chronicles of Judah’s kings.
It closes the narrative record with a source notice.
Verse 7Azariah dies and is buried near his fathers in the City of David, and Jotham reigns in his place.
It completes the reign and marks the succession.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-4
Azariah comes to the throne young, reigns long in Jerusalem, and is remembered as a king who does what is right like Amaziah, though the high places remain active.
This paragraph introduces Azariah’s reign and gives its basic spiritual assessment. - vv. 5-7
The LORD afflicts Azariah so that he lives apart while Jotham governs, and the reign closes with the usual notice of his acts, burial, and succession.
This paragraph narrows the reign to its affliction and orderly handoff to the next king.