SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:15
E hizo en Jerusalén máquinas por industria de ingenieros, para que estuviesen en las torres y en los baluartes, para arrojar saetas y grandes piedras, y su fama se extendió lejos, porque se ayudó maravillosamente, hasta hacerse fuerte.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 26:15
Verse 15. Engines-to shoot arrows and great stones] The Targum says, "He made in Jerusalem ingenious instruments, and little hollow towers, to stand upon the towers and upon the bastions, for the shooting of arrows, and projecting of great stones." This is the very first intimation on record of any warlike engines for the attack or defense of besieged places; and this account is long prior to any thing of the kind among either the Greeks or Romans. Previously to such inventions, the besieged could only be starved out, and hence sieges were very long and tedious. Shalmaneser consumed three years before such an inconsiderable place as Samaria, 2 Kings xvii. 5, 6; Sardanapalus maintained himself in Nineveh for seven years, because the besiegers had no engines proper for the attack and destruction of walls, &c., and it is well known that Troy sustained a siege of ten years, the Greeks not possessing any machine of the kind here referred to. The Jews alone were the inventors of such engines; and the invention took place in the reign of Uzziah, about eight hundred years before the Christian era. It is no wonder that, in consequence of this, his name spread far abroad, and struck terror into his enemies.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers, and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal , etc.] Such as with the Romans were called “catapultae”, “ballistae” f106 , “scorpiones” f107 , etc. and by this it appears that these were not first invented in Greece and Rome, but in Judea. It is said f108 , that the Romans received the machine to batter cities from the Greeks, and that the Trojan horse was no other than a battering ram; but if they did, the invention of them must be ascribed, not to them, but rather to the Syrians and Phoenicians, according to Pliny f109 ; though others suppose the Carthaginians, who were a colony of theirs, to be the inventors of them; yet, after all, they seem to be the device of some skilful men among the Jews, in the times of Uzziah; according to Diodorus Siculus f111 , they were not found out when Nineveh was besieged in the times of Sardanapalus: and his name spread far abroad ; in distant countries, for his warlike dispositions and preparations, which made them stand in fear of him: for he was helped until he was strong ; he was wonderfully helped by the Lord to build fortified places, raise a numerous army, and provide all sorts of armour for them, and invent such machines as would greatly annoy the enemy, whereby he became very potent, and injected dread round about him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-15 - As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, and minded religion, God made him to prosper. Those only prosper whom God makes to prosper; for prosperit is his gift. Many have owned, that as long as they sought the Lord, an kept close to their duty, they prospered; but when they forsook God every thing went cross. God never continues either to bless the indolent or to withhold his blessing from the diligent. He will neve suffer any to seek his face in vain. Uzziah's name was famed throughou all the neighbouring countries. A name with God and good people make truly honourable. He did not delight in war, nor addict himself to sports, but delighted in husbandry.
Original Hebrew
ויעשׂ 6213 בירושׁלם 3389 חשׁבנות 2810 מחשׁבת 4284 חושׁב 2803 להיות 1961 על 5921 המגדלים 4026 ועל 5921 הפנות 6438 לירוא 3384 בחצים 2678 ובאבנים 68 גדלות 1419 ויצא 3318 שׁמו 8034 עד 5704 למרחוק 7350 כי 3588 הפליא 6381 להעזר 5826 עד 5704 כי 3588 חזק׃ 2388
