Definition: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither [shall it be] for thine honour from the LORD God.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse together. It’s a really important and slightly dramatic passage in the Bible! Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: This verse comes from the Book of 2 Chronicles, which tells about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian conquest. The Babylonians had destroyed many important places, including Uzziah’s temple. God is upset with this destruction and sends his messengers to tell the people to stop. What’s Happening in the Verse: “And they withstood Uzziah the king…” : This means the Israelites (and perhaps other people at the time) were resisting Uzziah, who was the king of Jerusalem. “…and said unto him, [It appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD…” : The Israelites were telling Uzziah that he shouldn't be burning incense – a special offering to God – in the temple. They were asking him not to do this. "...but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense:” This is key! The priests were specifically tasked with lighting the incense. They were chosen for this job and had a special responsibility. "go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither…” : This is where the anger really comes in. They were trespassing – entering the sacred space of the temple without permission. “Neither…” means not . "...for thine honour from the LORD God." : This is the most important part. The Israelites were warned that their actions were wrong and disrespectful to God. They were breaking a rule set by God himself, which was incredibly serious! In Short: The Israelites were defying a king's instructions and trespassing in a sacred place – they were disrespecting God’s law. What’s the Big Takeaway? This verse is a reminder that we should always respect religious rules and boundaries, especially those set by authority figures like kings and priests. It emphasizes obedience and reverence for God. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme? Give you a simpler analogy to understand the concept?