Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. – 2 Chronicles 26:1

Today's Scripture Reading (March 26, 2026): 2 Chronicles 26

Names. We all have them, and reasons for why we like or don't like our names. Personally, I am okay with my name, though at times I would have preferred to be called David. I tried using my middle name during my teens, but I never got used to answering to it. I have a friend who is known by two different names, depending on the group of people he is with. One name is his given name, but the second name is made up of his initials. I am not sure how he decides which name to use in each group.

Royal people often choose their regnal name or the name under which they decide to rule. Charles III surprised some watchers when he decided to use Charles as his regnal name; after all, the reigns of Charles I and II didn't end well. His mother, Elizabeth II, also chose to reign under her given name. Her full name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. (Personally, I think she made the right choice.)

Elizabeth's father chose to use another of his names as his regnal name. King George VI was born Albert Frederick Arthur George. He had used Prince Albert throughout his life before becoming King. His decision to use the name King George VI was a way for the King to tell his people that he wanted to reflect the stability of his father, King George V, after the short, tumultuous reign of his brother, King Edward VIII. Edward VIII used his given name as his regnal name, although he probably wins the prize for having been given the most names at his birth; Edward VIII was born Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David. I wonder how old he was before he could even recite his name in the proper order.

King Uzziah became king at the age of sixteen. Uzziah had a personal name and a regnal name, so it can be confusing, especially when the biblical writers aren't consistent with which name they use when speaking about him. It seems likely that Uzziah is his regnal name, while his personal or given name is Azariah. Second Kings uses both names, but is more consistent in using his personal name, Azariah. Second Chronicles uses his regnal name, Uzziah, exclusively. With Uzziah, there might be a reason why his biographers used different names to refer to him. And here it is: during the reign of Azariah/Uzziah, there was a High Priest with the same name. Officially, he was Azariah II to differentiate him from Azariah I, who was the High Priest during the reign of King Solomon. Second Kings doesn't mention this priest, but Chronicles includes his role in the story of Uzziah's sin at the Temple and the king's resulting leprosy. So, for the Chronicler, using the King's regnal name, Uzziah, allows the reader to distinguish between the King and the High Priest.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Amos 1