And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord like all the proper things that his father did, but not like his wickedness.

in the days of Zechariah This refers to Uzziah, and he was called by three names: Uzziah, Zechariah, and Azariah, similar to (II Kings 14): Yehoahaz/Ahaziah.

who understood the visions of God who understood that the fear of God is good, and feared the Lord.

And Uzziah built towers, etc. He had to strengthen the parts of the wall they breached in his father’s days.

plowmen - Heb. אִכָּרִים, aratkori in Italian, plowmen.

for he loved the soil It is explained in Genesis Rabbah (See 22:3): Two had a passion for agriculture, and no good was found in them: he and Cain.

engines, invented by skillful men - Heb. חִשְּׁבֹנוֹת מַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוֹשֵׁב, similar to (Exod. 28:6): “expert work (מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב.)” He made war engines with craftsmanship, such as siege mounds and battering rams, as it is written (Prov. 24:6): “For you shall wage war with strategies.”

and he trespassed against the Lord, his God - Heb. וַיִּמְעַל. Here it is appropriate to say מְעִילָה (trespass), for he sinned inadvertently, similar to (Lev. 5:15): “If a person commits a trespass (תִמְעל מַעַל) and sins inadvertently.”

and he came into the Temple of the Lord for he said, “It is proper for a king to serve the King of glory.”

and in his hand was a censer to burn and he wished to strike the priest who prevented him from burning incense.

in a house of retirement Heb. בֵּית הַחָפְשִׁית. And in Yerushalmi (unknown) it is explained that he made himself a house in the cemetery, reminiscent of (Ps. 88:6): “Among the dead, a free man (חָפְשִׁי) .”

for it had been decreed upon him to come no longer among people, similar to (Esther 2:1): “and that which was decreed upon her.”

in the cemetery but not in the cave with the kings.