2 Chronicles 26:18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For thou hast trespassed, &c.— For it is not lawful for thee to assume that honour, contrary to the will of God. Houbigant. What it was that tempted the king to this extravagant folly, is difficult to imagine; but the most likely conjecture is, that he had a vain ambition to imitate heathen princes, who in several countries joined the regal and sacerdotal offices together. But, however it may be in all other countries, the priesthood in Judea was confined to the house of Aaron only; and every one who pretended to usurp that office was, by the law of the land, to be put to death. See Numbers 18:7. Therefore God smote Uzziah with such a disease as was a kind of death, because it separated the person afflicted with it from the commerce and society of men, even as if he were departed this world. See Joseph. Bell. Jude 1:25; Jude 1:9 cap. 11 and Calmet.