Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

2 CHRONICLES 26:10KJV
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2 Chronicles 26:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 26:10 mean?

2 Chronicles 26:10 describes how King Uzziah built towers in the wilderness, dug many wells, and supported agriculture and livestock throughout his land because he had a strong interest in farming. The verse highlights Uzziah’s efforts to strengthen his kingdom’s infrastructure and economy, especially in rural and mountainous areas.

The verse is part of a larger account about King Uzziah’s reign over Judah. It shows his practical leadership by mentioning specific projects—building towers (for defense or observation), digging wells (to provide water for his many cattle), and supporting farmers and vine dressers in various regions, including the mountains and Carmel. The verse emphasizes Uzziah’s personal love for agriculture, which was unusual for a king and shows his hands-on approach to ruling.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 26:10

  • "Desert" (מִדְבָּר, midbar): This word often means wilderness or uninhabited land. Uzziah’s building of towers in the "midbar" suggests he was securing even the remote, less settled parts of his territory.
  • "Husbandmen" (אִכָּר, ikkar) and "husbandry" (אֲדָמָה, adamah): "Ikkar" refers to farmers, and "adamah" means land or soil. The verse highlights not just ownership of land, but active cultivation and care for agriculture, showing Uzziah’s deep personal investment.
  • "Vine dressers" (כֹּרֵם, korem): This word refers to those who tend vineyards. Mentioning both farmers and vine dressers points to a diverse and organized agricultural system, not just general farming.

Why 2 Chronicles 26:10 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Uzziah was not only a military or political leader but also cared about the daily welfare and prosperity of his people through agriculture.
  • It shows that Uzziah’s success was partly due to his attention to practical needs like water, food, and security, not just religious or military reforms.
  • This detail connects to the wider passage by explaining why Uzziah’s reign was prosperous and stable, setting the stage for understanding both his achievements and later challenges.

Where else these words appear

“dressers” Hebrew H3755 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:12 But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
  • Isaiah 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
  • Jeremiah 52:16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.

“husbandmen” Hebrew H406 · used in 7 verses

  • Isaiah 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
  • Jeremiah 31:24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
  • Joel 1:11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

“country” Hebrew H8219 · used in 19 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • Joshua 15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
  • 2 Chronicles 28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

“digged” Hebrew H2672 · used in 22 verses

  • Deuteronomy 6:11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
  • 2 Chronicles 2:18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.
  • Isaiah 5:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.