1 THEN all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Eloth, and restored it to
Judaha, after that the king slept
with his fathers.
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
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2a He built Eloth, and restored it to
Judah Eloth itself means 'a stand or grove of lofty trees'. It
may be that an 'Oasis' type area is referenced, it being located in a
desert area. As to it being 'built' at this time, that likely references the
'fort' or structure of defense so built and placed there at this time though
this 'Eloth'/'Oasis' was of more ancient time and thus was being in the
process of being 'restored to Judah'. In the time of King Solomon, Solomon
would send out 'ships or Tarshish' into the world from this port area, also
known as Ezion-Geber. And the earliest claim Israel/Judah would have had
claim to this area may well be when it was used by Moses and the children of
Israel as a locality of encampment for a duration of time. At any rate, it
was an area and sea port location once possesed by Israel and so is thus
specified as being 'restored' to Judah so having a prior claim to it.
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