II Chronicles 33:12

And when he was in affliction - Here is a very large addition in the Chaldee: "For the Chaldeans made a brazen mule, pierced full of small holes, and put him within it, and kindled fires all around it; and when he was in this misery, he sought help of all the idols which he had made, but obtained none, for their were of no use. He therefore repented, and prayed before the Lord his God, and was greatly humbled in the sight of the Lord God of his fathers."

when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God--In the solitude of exile or imprisonment, Manasseh had leisure for reflection. The calamities forced upon him a review of his past life, under a conviction that the miseries of his dethronement and captive condition were owing to his awful and unprecedented apostasy (Ch2 33:7) from the God of his fathers. He humbled himself, repented, and prayed for an opportunity of bringing forth the fruits of repentance. His prayer was heard; for his conqueror not only released him, but, after two years' exile, restored him, with honor and the full exercise of royal power, to a tributary and dependent kingdom. Some political motive, doubtless, prompted the Assyrian king to restore Manasseh, and that was most probably to have the kingdom of Judah as a barrier between Egypt and his Assyrian dominions. But God overruled this measure for higher purposes. Manasseh now showed himself, by the influence of sanctified affliction, a new and better man. He made a complete reversal of his former policy, by not only destroying all the idolatrous statues and altars he had formerly erected in Jerusalem, but displaying the most ardent zeal in restoring and encouraging the worship of God.

And prayed unto him,.... To have mercy on him, and forgive him his sins: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication; and granted his request, showed favour to him, and forgave him his sins: and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom; so wrought upon the heart of the king of Assyria, as to give him his liberty, and restore him to his dominions; it is very probable his captivity was not long; for, being soon brought by his affliction to a sense and confession of his sins, by the overruling providence of God, he was quickly released: then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God; and not the idols he had served; that he was a holy God, and hated sin, and a just God in afflicting him for it, and gracious and merciful in forgiving his sins, and bringing him out of his troubles.

לו וּכהצר = לו הצר וּבעת, Ch2 28:22. In this his affliction he bowed himself before the Lord God of his fathers, and besought Him; and the Lord was entreated of him, and brought him again to Jerusalem, into his kingdom. The prayer which Manasseh prayed in his need was contained, according to Ch2 33:18., in the histories of the kings of Israel, and in the sayings of the prophet Hozai, but has not come down to our day. The "prayer of Manasseh" given by the lxx is an apocryphal production, composed in Greek; cf. my Introduction to the Old Testament, 247.

In this chapter we have the history of the reign, I. Of Manasseh, who reigned long. 1. His wretched apostasy from God, and revolt to idolatry and all wickedness (Ch2 33:1-10). 2. His happy return to God in his affliction; his repentance (Ch2 33:11-13), his reformation (Ch2 33:15-17), and prosperity (Ch2 33:14), with the conclusion of his reign (Ch2 33:18-20). II. Of Amon, who reigned very wickedly (Ch2 33:21-23), and soon ended his days unhappily (Ch2 33:24, Ch2 33:25).

33:12-17 The book of Kings does not mention Manasseh’s repentance, telling only of the promise of judgment resulting from his wicked deeds (see 2 Kgs 21:10-16). Chronicles tells the good things he did after he repented, following his father Hezekiah’s example. However, Manasseh’s actions were unable to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord or to avert God’s judgment on Judah (2 Chr 33:17). 33:12 Manasseh’s response followed the requirements of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple (7:14).