God’s Word for You
2 Chronicles 26:6-8 Leadership
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Tuesday, May 6, 2025
6 He went out and made war against the Philistines. He broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. He built cities in the territory of Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his name went out even to the entrance of Egypt, for he became very strong.
The Philistines had been a problem since Joshua and the Israelites entered Canaan in 1404 BC, six hundred years before Uzziah’s time. The Danites had fought them, Samson had fought them, Saul had fought them, David had fought them, Jehoram had fought them, and now Uzziah fought them. Just about every other generation of Israelites had known war against the Philistines. Uzziah was aggressive. He attacked Gath and Ashdod, which were both ancient strongholds.
Jabneh is only mentioned here in the Bible, but it is called Jamnia in the apocrypha (Judith 2:28). It is on the Mediterranean Coast and has its own harbor (2 Maccabees 12:8-9) and is described as being 240 stadia (30 miles) from Jerusalem. It sits on a hill on the south side of the Wadi Rubin (also called the River Sorek), which was the home of Delilah in the Samson account (Judges 16:4). Today it is called Yavne. It is five miles north of Ashdod, and there is also a “Gan Yavne,” which means “Garden of Jabneh,” just outside of Ashdod to the east on the road (Highway 4) that runs north to Yavne/Jabneh and then onward to Tel Aviv. In December 2024, Yavne was hit by a drone attack in the current war over Gaza.
How shall we understand that Uzziah built towns “among the Philistines”? It would seem that after some peaceful treaty was made, Uzziah as the victor was given assurances that the Philistines would permit villages to be built in the territory of Ashdod. The Philistines were troublesome for Uzziah’s grandson Ahaz and remained so until the time of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 5:68 is the last mention of them in our literature) and it is thought that the Romans finally silenced the last military noise from Philistia during New Testament times. There were Christians living in former Philistine cities in the book of Acts (Acts 8:26, 8:40).
The Meunites had given trouble to King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1), and now they appear for the second and last time in the Scriptures. “Gur” is usually a verb meaning to dwell as a newcomer, and therefore Gur Baal would seem to mean “Baal’s new home” or something like that. It’s location is not certain, but the Meunites were associated with Edom, and so someplace “down south” is enough of a guess for us.
The passage also says that Uzziah received tribute (avoiding a war, perhaps) from the Ammonites, and that his name and reputation made its way even to “the entrance (literally “mouth”) of Egypt.” Therefore Uzziah stabilized his borders west, south, and east—only leaving the north from our passage. We will see in the verses that follow how he strengthened the nation in many different ways.
Three concepts appear again and again in Uzziah’s account beginning with these verses: Strength (verse 8), fame (verse 8), and God’s help (verse 7). He was also a very active and energetic king while his health lasted (“He went… he broke down… he built”). While his wicked father worshiped idols and ran away to hide from conspirators, Uzziah went to work as a leader and a true king.
We have different gifts (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:4), but those with the gifts of administration and leadership are themselves very special gifts that God gives to his church. Sometimes a congregation’s pastor is that kind of leader, but leadership is not a requirement for ministry. Sometimes the Lord brings leadership from among the laypeople. “God appointed some in the church to be, first of all, apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Then workers of miracles, healers, helpers, leaders, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
However God blesses us with leadership, through pastors or staff ministers, or through lay people with wonderful gifts of leadership, foresight, energy, and guidance, he gives to his people just the right leaders at just the right times. We should pray for those leaders, that God would keep them faithful, keep them humble, keep them energetic and foresighted, and keep them firmly and deeply rooted in his word. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5), and “those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness; all their hard work brings a profit” (Proverbs 14:22-23). Pray that our heavenly Father would bless our leaders just as he blesses each of us who serves. For Jesus invites us: “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), and we both need and desire good and faithful leaders. Therefore we ask!
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.