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1 Chronicles 6:10
And Johanan begat Azariah, (heit is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)

valiant men

1 Chronicles 12:28
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.

1 Chronicles 26:6
Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for theywere mighty men of valour.

along with eighty brave priests of the LORD
The mention of eighty priests highlights the gravity of the situation. These priests were not only numerous but also described as "brave," indicating the courage required to confront a king. The priests were Levites, set apart for service to God, and their bravery underscores their commitment to uphold God's law. This reflects the biblical principle that true courage is rooted in faithfulness to God (Joshua 1:9).

went in after him
The priests went in after King Uzziah, who had unlawfully entered the temple to burn incense, a duty reserved for priests. This act of confrontation was necessary to uphold the sanctity of the temple and the proper worship of God. The priests' actions demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of pride and presumption. This incident foreshadows the New Testament teaching that all believers are called to be a royal priesthood, serving God with reverence and humility (1 Peter 2:9).

– The word “Then” roots the scene in the flow of chapter 26.

• Just after Uzziah “entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16), the narrative immediately pivots: the very next movement responds to his pride.

• Scripture consistently shows that when an authority figure rebels, God quickly raises a witness (Numbers 12:10;2 Samuel 12:1).

• The timing underscores God’s faithfulness to guard His holiness without delay (Leviticus 10:2).

– Azariah is the high priest, the covenant guardian for temple worship.

• His office carries the duty to protect the sanctuary from unauthorized approaches (Exodus 30:7-8;Numbers 18:7).

• By stepping forward, Azariah embodies spiritual leadership that confronts sin, even in a king (Psalm 141:5).

• His name, “Yahweh has helped,” quietly reminds us that any courage shown here is supplied by God, not human strength (2 Chronicles 15:2).

– The number is strikingly large.

• It signals that what Uzziah attempted was not a minor infraction; it required a collective stand.

• Eighty priests equal the size of an entire temple division (1 Chronicles 23:4-6), emphasizing united resistance to sacrilege.

• The multiplication of witnesses fulfillsDeuteronomy 17:6, ensuring that the confrontation is established “on the testimony of two or three witnesses”—here, far more.

– Scripture highlights their courage because opposing a king could cost them their lives (Esther 4:11).

• Their bravery flows from reverence for God above fear of man (Deuteronomy 31:6;Acts 5:29).

• They model pastoral responsibility: guarding doctrine and worship even when culture—or royalty—pressures compromise (2 Timothy 4:2).

• The phrase “of the LORD” stresses that their authority derives from covenant loyalty, not personal preference (Malachi 2:4-7).

– The priests enter the holy place, following the king who had no right to be there.

• By “going in,” they demonstrate that spiritual authority can—and must—challenge civil authority when God’s commands are violated (1 Kings 21:20;Matthew 14:4).

• Their movement echoes earlier interventions: Moses confronting Korah (Numbers 16:31-33) and Samuel rebuking Saul (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

• The action is restorative, not merely punitive: they intend to turn Uzziah back before judgment falls (Galatians 6:1;James 5:19-20).

2 Chronicles 26:17 records the decisive, courageous response of covenant priests to a proud king’s trespass. God immediately raises Azariah and eighty fellow priests to protect His holiness, demonstrate that no one—even a monarch—is above divine law, and offer an opportunity for repentance. The verse teaches that true spiritual leadership stands united, fears God more than man, and moves promptly to uphold the sanctity of worship.

Valiant men.--Sons of valour (1Chronicles 5:18), so called because they had the moral courage to oppose the king.