1 MANASSEH was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

1Manasseh was twelue yeeres old when he began to reigne, and he reigned fiftie and fiue yeres in Ierusalem:

2But did that which was euil in the sight of the Lord, like vnto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For hee built againe the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken downe, and he reared vp altars for Baalim, and made groues, and worshipped all the host of heauen, and serued them.

4Also hee built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had saide, In Ierusalem shall my Name be for euer.

5And he built altars for all the host of heauen, in the two Courts of the house of the Lord.

6And he caused his children to passe through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he obserued times, and vsed inchantments, and vsed witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much euill in the sight of the Lord, to prouoke him to anger.

7And hee set a carued image (the idole which he had made) in the house of God, of which God had said to Dauid, and to Solomon his sonne: In this house, and in Ierusalem which I haue chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my Name for euer.

8Neither will I any more remoue the foot of Israel from out of the land which I haue appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to doe all that I haue commanded them, according to the whole Law, and the statutes, and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

9So Manasseh made Iudah, and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to erre, and to doe worse then the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

10And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11 Wherfore the Lord brought vpon them the captaines of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thornes, & bound him with setters, & caried him to Babylon.

12And when hee was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his fathers,

13And prayed vnto him, and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him againe to Ierusalem into his kingdome. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord hee was God.

14Now after this, hee built a wall without the citie of Dauid, on the Westside of Gihon, in the valley, euen to the entring in at the fish-gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it vp a very great height, and put captaines of warre in all the fenced cities of Iudah.

15And hee tooke away the strange gods and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Ierusalem, and cast them out of the citie.

16And hee repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings, and thanke offerings, and commaunded Iudah to serue the Lord God of Israel.

17Neuerthelesse, the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet vnto the Lord their God only.

18 Nowe the rest of the actes of Manasseh, & his prayer vnto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the booke of the kings of Israel:

19His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sinne, and his trespasse, and the places wherein he built high places, and set vp groues and grauen images before hee was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the Seers.

20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his owne house: and Amon his sonne reigned in his stead.

21 Amon was two and twentie yeeres old, when he beganne to reigne, and reigned two yeares in Ierusalem.

22But he did that which was euill in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed vnto all the carued images, which Manasseh his father had made, and serued them;

23And humbled not himselfe before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himselfe: but Amon trespassed more and more.

24And his seruants conspired against him, and slew him in his owne house.

25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Iosiah his sonne, king in his stead.

I == 2nd Kings 21:1

 

II == Deut 18:9 ; 2nd Chr 28:3

 

III == Deut 16:21 ; 17:3 ; 2nd Kings 18:4 ; 2nd Chr 30:14 ; 31:1 ; 32:12

 

IV == Deut 12:11 ; 1st Kings 8:29 ; 9:3 ; 2nd Chr 6:6 ; 7:16

V == 2nd Chr 4:9

 

VI == Lev 18:21 ; Deut 18:10-11 ; 2nd Kings 21:6 ; 23:10 ; 2nd Chr 28:3 ; Ezek 23:37 , 39

 

 

VII == 2nd Kings 21:7 ; Ps 132:14

 

 

 

VIII == 2nd Sam 7:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Deut 28:36 ; Job 36:8 ; Ps 107:10-11

 

 

XII == 1st Peter 5:6

 

XIII == 1st Chr 5:20 ; Ezra 8:23 ; Ps 9:16 ; Dan 4:25

 

XIV == 1st Kings 1:33 ; 2nd Chr 27:3

 

 

 

 

XV == 2nd Chr 33:3 , 5 , 7

 

 

XVI == Lev 7:12

 

 

XVII == 2nd Chr 32:12

 

XVIII == 1st Sam 9:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == 2nd Kings 21:18

 

XXI == 2nd Kings 21:19

 

 

 

 

XXIII == 2nd Chr 33:12

 

XXIV == 2nd Kings 21:23-24

 

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, following the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD had cleared out of the way of the Israelites.

3 He rebuilt the high places which his father Hezekiah had torn down, erected altars for the Baals, made sacred poles, and prostrated himself before the whole host of heaven and worshiped them.

4 He even built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem shall my name be forever":

5 he built altars to the whole host of heaven in the two courts of the LORD'S house.

6 It was he, too, who immolated his sons by fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced augury, divination and magic, and appointed necromancers and diviners of spirits, so that he provoked the LORD with the great evil that he did in his sight.

7 He placed an idol that he had carved in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon: "In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel I shall place my name forever.

8 I will not again allow Israel's feet to leave the land which I assigned to your fathers, provided they are careful to observe all that I commanded them, keeping the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses."

9 Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into doing even greater evil than the nations which the LORD had destroyed at the coming of the Israelites.

10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

11 Therefore the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the Assyrian king; they took Manasseh with hooks, shackled him with chains, and transported him to Babylon.

12 In this distress, he began to appease the LORD, his God. He humbled himself abjectly before the God of his fathers

13 and prayed to him. The LORD let himself be won over: he heard his prayer and restored him to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Then Manasseh understood that the LORD is indeed God.

14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the City of David to the west of Gihon in the valley, extending to the Fish Gate and encircling Ophel; he built it very high. He stationed army officers in all the fortified cities of Judah.

15 He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD'S house and all the altars he had built on the mount of the LORD'S house and in Jerusalem, and he cast them outside the city.

16 He restored the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed on it peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.

17 Though the people continued to sacrifice on the high places, they now did so to the LORD, their God.

18 The rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, can be found written in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

19 His prayer and how his supplication was heard, all his sins and his infidelity, the sites where he built high places and erected sacred poles and carved images before he humbled himself, all can be found written down in the history of his seers.

20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his own palace. His son Amon succeeded him as king.

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.

22 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon offered sacrifice to all the idols which his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped them.

23 Moreover, he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; on the contrary, Amon only increased his guilt.

24 His servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.

25 But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against King Amon, and then they, the people of the land, made his son Josiah king in his stead.

v 1-9 . Manasseh was born three years after Hezekiah’s great sickness, and at twelve years of age, began as vice-regent  with his father. For some reason, God allowed him to reign 55 years, longer than any other king of Israel or Judah.
Apparently proud of being a ruler at such a young age, he fell easy prey to flatterers who secretly objected to Hezekiah’s reforms. It is also strongly possible that Hezekiah’s later life were not exemplary. He reverted to every bad thing Grandfather Ahaz had done and worse, 2 Ki. 16:3,4. He made an idol as wicked Ahab of Israel had done. We must look to 2 Chronicles 33 for his captivity in Babylon and repentance.
Manasseh desecrated the temple by building altars to idols and astrology (2 Ki. 17:16) figures in heaven, right in the temple and the two courts. In addition to offering his son (children, 2 Chr. 33:6) on an altar, he consulted mediums, wizards etc. contrary to Moses.  He even set up an Ashera fertility pole right in the temple, which God had set as the place where His name was to be exalted. God had promised David and Solomon that the temple and His people would be permanent if they obeyed His commands. Manasseh not only sinned, but seduced the rest of the nation to sin worse than heathen nations that the Lord had destroyed before Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V 10 The Lord had been sending prophets to both Israel and Judah to warn them. The Amorites were one of the most wicked nations driven from the land, yet Manasseh was more wicked, and caused the rest of Judah to worship idols. The Lord would bring shocking destruction on Judah. They would be measured out for destruction as Samaria had been. This would be to cleanse out the filth and lay them aside for a time, just as a dish is laid aside after cleansing. Israel had provoked God from the days of Moses, but now so severely that He is giving them over to the enemy.  Manasseh disregarded justice and shed innocent blood throughout the land.
[Jewish tradition says that he had Isaiah killed for rebuking his sin. That Isaiah hid in a hollow cedar tree, they fastened him in and sawed both in two.]

11-19 tells of Manasseh’s capture by Assyrians and taken in chains and fetters to Babylon. Though he had been so wicked, when he was afflicted he sought the Lord, humbled himself and prayed. God heard his prayer and returned him to Jerusalem, so he was convinced that God is the Lord. After his return, he built a high outer wall for the original portion of the city, and put officers over fortresses all over Judah. He was a good illustration of what God can do to wicked men who turn to him. He removed all traces of idol worship which he had built, then repaired and started giving offerings on the altar of the Lord. The people still worshiped in high places, but not to idols, only to the Lord.

V 20 He was not buried with the kings, but in a garden on his own property.

V 21-25 His son Amon was just as inclined to evil as he had been. 2 Chr. 33:23 add that he did not humble himself as his father did, but went deeper in sin. Manasseh’s repentance came to late to turn Amon to the Lord, but his years of repentance may have had a dynamic influence on his little grandson, Josiah. Amon’s servants assassinated him, and the people executed them and made little Josiah king. Amon was buried with his father.