II Kings 21
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.
Open source ↗MANASSEH'S WICKED REIGN, AND GREAT IDOLATRY. (2Ki. 21:1-18) Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign--He must have been born three years after his father's recovery; and his minority, spent under the influence of guardians who were hostile to the religious principles and reforming policy of his father, may account in part for the anti-theocratic principles of his reign. The work of religious reformation which Hezekiah had zealously carried on was but partially accomplished. There was little appearance of its influence on the heart and manners of the people at large. On the contrary, the true fear of God had vanished from the mass of the people; corruption and vice increased, and were openly practised (Isa 28:7, &c.) by the degenerate leaders, who, having got the young prince Manasseh into their power, directed his education, trained him up in their views, and seduced him into the open patronage of idolatry. Hence, when he became sovereign, he introduced the worship of idols, the restoration of high places, and the erection of altars or pillars to Baal, and the placing, in the temple of God itself, a graven image of Asherah, the sacred or symbolic tree, which represented "all the host of heaven." This was not idolatry, but pure star-worship, of Chaldaic and Assyrian origin [KEIL]. The sun, as among the Persians, had chariots and horses consecrated to it (Kg2 23:11); and incense was offered to the stars on the housetops (Kg2 23:12; Ch2 33:5; Jer 19:13; Zep 1:5), and in the temple area with the face turned toward the sunrise (Eze 8:16).
Open source ↗Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign,.... So that he was born three years after Hezekiah's recovery from his sickness, and in the seventeenth year of his reign: and reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem: among which must be reckoned the time of his captivity in Babylon; his reign was the longest of any of the kings of Judah: and his mother's name was Hephzibah; the name the church goes by, and signifies, "my delight or pleasure is in her", Isa 62:4, no doubt she was a good woman, or Hezekiah would not have made choice of her for a wife; it is a tradition of the Jews (a), that she was the daughter of Isaiah, whose name, they say, is not mentioned, because so wicked a king was unworthy of such a grandfather. (a) Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 86. F.
Open source ↗Reign of Manasseh (cf. 2 Chron 33:1-20). - Kg2 21:1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, so that he was not born till after Hezekiah's dangerous illness (Kg2 20:1.). Kg2 21:2 Having begun to reign at this early age, he did not choose his father's ways, but set up the idolatry of his father Ahab again, since the godless party in the nation, at whose head chiefs, priests, and (false) prophets stood, and who would not hearken to the law of the Lord, and in the time of Hezekiah had sought help against Assyria not from Jehovah, but from the Egyptians (Isa 28:7, Isa 28:14., Isa 30:9.), had obtained control of the young an inexperienced king, and had persuaded him to introduce idolatry again. On Kg2 21:2 cf. Kg2 8:18 and Kg2 16:3. Kg2 21:3-5 ויּבן ויּשׁב, "he built again" the high places, which Hezekiah had destroyed (Kg2 18:4), erected altars for Baal and an Asherah, like Ahab of Israel (Kg1 16:32-33). האשׁרה is the image of Asherah mentioned in Kg2 21:7, whereas in the Chronicles the thought is generalized by the plurals לבּעלים and האשׁרות. To these two kinds of idolatry, the idolatrous bamoth and the (true) Baal-and Asherah-worship, Manasseh added as a third kind the worship of all the host of heaven, which had not occurred among the Israelites before the Assyrian era, and was probably of Assyrian or Chaldaean origin. This worship differed from the Syrophoenician star-worship, in which sun and moon were worshipped under the names of Baal and Astarte as the bearers of the male and female powers of nature, and was pure star-worship, based upon the idea of the unchangeableness of the stars in contradistinction to the perishableness of everything earthly, according to which the stars were worshipped not merely as the originators of all rise and decay in natur…
Open source ↗How delightful were our meditations on the last reign! How many pleasing views had we of Sion in its glory (that is, in its purity and in its triumphs), of the king in his beauty! (for Isa 33:17 refers to Hezekiah), and (as it follows there, Kg2 21:20) Jerusalem was a quiet habitation because a city of righteousness, Isa 1:26. But now we have melancholy work upon our hands, unpleasant ground to travel, and cannot but drive heavily. How has the gold become dim and the most fine gold changed! The beauty of Jerusalem is stained, and all her glory, all her joy, sunk and gone. These verses give such an account of this reign as make it, in all respects, the reverse of the last, and, in a manner, the ruin of it. I. Manasseh began young. He was but twelve years old when he began to reign (Kg2 21:1), born when his father was about forty-two years old, three years after his sickness. If he had sons before, either they were dead, or set by as unpromising. As yet they knew of nothing bad in him, and they hoped he would prove good; but he proved very bad, and perhaps his coming to the crown so young might help to make it so, which yet will by no means excuse him, for his grandson Josiah came to it younger than he and yet acted well. But being young, 1. He was puffed up with his honour and proud of it; and thinking himself very wise, because he was very great, valued himself upon his undoing what his father had done. It is too common for novices to be lifted up with pride, and so to fall into the condemnation of the devil. 2. He was easily wrought upon and drawn aside by seducers, that lay in wait to deceive. Those that were enemies to Hezekiah's reformation, and retained an affection for the old idolatries, flattered him, and so gained his ear, and used his power at their pleasure.…
Open source ↗21:1-2 fifty-five years: Manasseh’s long reign (697–642 BC) certainly cannot be attributed to his faithfulness to the Lord but to the Lord’s continued honoring of his covenant promises (see also 8:19; 19:34; 20:6; 2 Sam 7:11-16). External conditions were largely stable. Though the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (680–669 BC) and Ashurbanipal (668–626 BC) conducted a number of military campaigns, none was directed against Judah until later in Manasseh’s reign, probably around 650–648 BC (see 2 Chr 33:10-13). Ashurbanipal’s attention was on building projects, religious pursuits, and the arts, including a great library. • He did what was evil: Manasseh was the most wicked of Judah’s kings; discussion of his reign focuses on his evil religious practices.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מָלַךְ (mâlak, H4427) — to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence… חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine אֵם (ʼêm, H517) — a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… חֶפְצִי בָּהּ (Chephtsîy bâhh, H2657) — Cheptsi-bah, a fanciful name for Palestine
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God תּוֹעֵבַה (tôwʻêbah, H8441) — properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בָּמָה (bâmâh, H1116) — an elevation חִזְקִיָּה (Chizqîyâh, H2396) — Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach, H4196) — an altar בַּעַל (Baʻal, H1168) — Baal, a Phoenician deity עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh, H842) — Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same אַחְאָב (ʼAchʼâb, H256) — Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach, H4196) — an altar בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach, H4196) — an altar צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold חָצֵר (châtsêr, H2691) — a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) עָנַן (ʻânan, H6049) — figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic נָחַשׁ (nâchash, H5172) — properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אוֹב (ʼôwb, H178) — properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer… יִדְּעֹנִי (yiddᵉʻônîy, H3049) — properly, a knowing one; specifically, a conjurer; (by impl) a ghost רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God כַּעַס (kaʻaç, H3707) — to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… פֶּסֶל (peçel, H6459) — an idol אֲשֵׁרָה (ʼăshêrâh, H842) — Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine בָּחַר (bâchar, H977) — properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נוּד (nûwd, H5110) — to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head… יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin תּוֹרָה (tôwrâh, H8451) — a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory תָּעָה (tâʻâh, H8582) — to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant נָבִיא (nâbîyʼ, H5030) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application תּוֹעֵבַה (tôwʻêbah, H8441) — properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially… רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good… אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… גִּלּוּל (gillûwl, H1544) — properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אֹזֶן (ʼôzen, H241) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) צָלַל (tsâlal, H6750) — to tinkle, i.e. rattle together (as the ears in reddening with shame, or the teeth in…
Open source ↗נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine קַו (qav, H6957) — a cord (as connecting), especially formeasuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a… שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shômᵉrôwn, H8111) — Shomeron, a place in Palestine מִשְׁקֶלֶת (mishqeleth, H4949) — a weight, i.e. a plummet (with line attached) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אַחְאָב (ʼAchʼâb, H256) — Achab, the name of a king of Israel and of a prophet at Babylon מָחָה (mâchâh, H4229) — properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil),… צַלַּחַת (tsallachath, H6747) — something advanced or deep, i.e. a bowl; figuratively, the bosom הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) — properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to… שְׁאֵרִית (shᵉʼêrîyth, H7611) — a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary בַּז (baz, H957) — plunder מְשִׁסָּה (mᵉshiççâh, H4933) — plunder
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,