"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; Give ear unto the Law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha! To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord. I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to see My face, who hath required this at your hands, to trample My courts? Bring no more vain oblations! Incense is an abomination unto Me: New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting... Wash you! make you clean!"[353]
Of Jotham we hear nothing more. He died a natural death at an early age. If the years of his reign are counted from the time when his father's affliction devolved on him the responsibilities of office, it is probable that he did not long survive the illustrious leper, but was buried soon after him in the City of David his father.
[342] Hence, perhaps, the expression that the people "took him." If Amaziah died at fifty-nine, he probably had other sons.
[343] Compare the interchange of the names Azariel and Uzziel (Exod. vi. 18) in 1 Chron. vi. 2, 18. Azariah means "Jehovah hath helped," and Uzziah "Strength of Jehovah." It is just possible that his name was changed at his accession, as the chief priest also was named Azariah, and confusion might otherwise have arisen.
[345] Isa. xiv. 29. A mixed language arose in this district in consequence (Neh. xiii. 24; Zech. ix. 6). The word Palestine only applies strictly to the district of Philistia. Milton uses it, with his usual accuracy, in the description of Dagon as
[346] Uzziah's opposition to Assyria--of which there seems to be no doubt, for he must be the Azrijahu of the _Eponym Canon_--took place about 738, and was a coalition movement. But it gives rise to great chronological and other difficulties. As the solution of these is at present only conjectural, I refer to Schrader (E. Tr.), ii. 211-219. He is called Azrijahu Jahudai.
[347] 2 Kings xv. 5 (2 Chron. xxvi. 21, "a house of sickness"). LXX., [Greek: en oikô aphphousôth]; Vulg., _in domo libera seorsim_. Comp Lev. xiii. 46. Theodoret understands it that he was shut up privately in his own palace: [Greek: endon en thalamô hyp' oudenos horômenos]. Symmachus, [Greek: egkekleismenos].