13 These family leaders were in charge of an army of 307,500 men who fought with great power. These soldiers helped the king against the enemy.
14 Uzziah gave the army shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for the slings.
15 In Jerusalem, Uzziah made machines that were invented by clever men. These machines were put on the towers and corner walls. They shot arrows and large rocks. Uzziah became famous. People knew his name in far away places. He had much help and became a powerful king.
16 But when Uzziah became strong, his pride caused him to be destroyed. He was not faithful to the Lord his God. He went into the Lord’S Temple to burn incense on the altar for burning incense.
17 Azariah the priest and 80 brave priests who served the Lord followed Uzziah into the Temple.
18 They told Uzziah he was wrong. They said to him, “Uzziah, it is not your job to burn incense to the Lord. It is not right. That is for the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to do. They are the only ones who have been prepared for the holy work of burning incense. You have not been faithful, so you must go out of the Most Holy Place. The Lord God will not honor you for this.”
19 But Uzziah was angry. He had a bowl in his hand for burning incense. While Uzziah was very angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in the Lord’S Temple by the altar for burning incense.