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2 Kings 21

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Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi–bah.

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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

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For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

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And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

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And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

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And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

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And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

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Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.

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But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

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And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets, saying,

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Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:

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Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

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And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

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And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;

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Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.

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Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

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Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

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Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

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And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did.

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And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:

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And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord.

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And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

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And 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.

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Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

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2 Kings 21

The account of Manasseh's reign, his prolonged apostasy, his eventual repentance following his capture and exile, and the subsequent religious reformation attempts establish the pattern of extended judgment and the gradual movement toward exile. The chapter opens with Manasseh's accession to the throne at age twelve and his immediate turn to apostasy: he reconstructed the high places that Hezekiah had destroyed and set up an altar to Baal in the temple of YHWH itself. Manasseh's reign is characterized as more evil than the nations that YHWH had driven out before the Israelites. The text notes that Manasseh 'did much evil in the sight of YHWH,' yet YHWH extends an opportunity for repentance through the agency of prophets. Yet Manasseh refuses to listen to the prophetic word, and YHWH brings the king of Assyria against him. In exile, Manasseh suffers affliction and turns to YHWH; his prayer results in his restoration to his kingdom. Upon his return, Manasseh institutes religious reforms. The theological significance lies in the presentation of repentance and forgiveness as possibilities even for the most grievous apostasy.

2 Kings 21:22

He abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in the way of the LORD — Amon's fundamental sin consists of abandoning the LORD (עָזַב אֶת־יְהוָה, *azav et-YHWH*). The contrast—'abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors'—emphasizes the betrayal of ancestral covenant. He does not 'walk in the way of the LORD,' a phrase indicating covenant obedience.

2 Kings 21:23

The servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in his house — Amon's brief reign ends in assassination by his servants (עֲבָדָיו, *avadav*). The conspiracy and regicide (וַיִּמְלַט עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ, *way-yimlat al-ha-melekh be-beto*) reflect the political instability that characterizes weakened monarchies. The king's assassination in his own house indicates complete loss of security and authority.

2 Kings 21:24

But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made his son Josiah king in place of him — the populace responds to Amon's assassination by executing the conspirators and crowning his son Josiah. The phrase 'the people of the land' (עַם־הָאָרֶץ, *am ha-aretz*) indicates popular intervention in succession politics. Josiah's coronation by popular initiative suggests either his youth requiring regency or the populace's determination to restore legitimate succession after assassination.

2 Kings 21:25

Now the rest of the acts of Amon, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? — the summary formula for Amon's two-year reign, following his brief apostasy and assassination, emphasizes the insignificance of his reign. His wickedness, while real, was cut short by assassination before it could achieve the depth of Manasseh's comprehensive corruption.

2 Kings 21:26

He was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza; and his son Josiah succeeded him — Amon receives burial in the garden of Uzza (גַּנּוֹ־עֻזָּא, *gano Uzza*), the alternative burial location used also for Manasseh. The succession of Josiah marks the transition to Judah's final reformer, who will attempt to reverse the apostasy established by Manasseh and continued by Amon.

2 Kings 21:9

But they did not listen; Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations had done that the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel — Manasseh not only commits apostasy himself but 'seduced' the people (וַיַּתְעוּ אוֹתָם, *way-yat'u otam*) to follow his wickedness. The phrase 'more evil than the nations' (הֵרַע עַל־כֹּל־הַגּוֹיִם, *he-ra al-kol-ha-goim*) indicates that Manasseh's wickedness exceeds even the abominable practices of the destroyed nations. His comprehensive apostasy becomes a model of evil surpassing all precedent in Israel's history.

2 Kings 21:5

He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD — the phrase 'in the two courts of the house of the LORD' indicates that altars to the host of heaven were erected in the outer court and inner court (חַצְרֵי בֵית־יְהוָה, *chatzrei bet YHWH*), encompassing the entire sacred precinct. The systematic placement of foreign altars throughout the temple represents institutional capture: the temple becomes a site of syncretic worship rather than exclusive Yahwistic devotion.

2 Kings 21:6

He made his son pass through the fire; he practiced soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger — Manasseh practices child sacrifice (הֶעֱבִיר אֶת־בְנוֹ בָּאֵשׁ, *he'evir et-bno ba-esh*), specifically prohibited in Torah, along with divination, necromancy, and other forbidden magical practices. The comprehensive nature of the evil—child sacrifice, divination, medium consultation—indicates complete reversal of Mosaic law. The phrase 'He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger' (וַיַּעַשׂ הַרַע בְעֵינֵי יְהוָה לְהַכְעִיסוֹ, *way-ya'as ha-ra be-eynei YHWH le-hakheiso*) emphasizes the totality and the divine irritation provoked by such comprehensive violation.

2 Kings 21:8

I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land that I gave to their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, and all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.' — the oracle, quoting the divine promise made to David and Solomon, establishes the conditional nature of secure tenure in the land: obedience to divine commandments ensures stability. The promise—'I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land'—becomes conditional upon covenant obedience. Manasseh's apostasy violates this condition, indicating that exile will result from his transgression.

2 Kings 21:10

The LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, — the divine response to Manasseh's apostasy comes through prophetic warning. The formula 'The LORD spoke by his servants the prophets' indicates that despite Manasseh's comprehensive rebellion, the LORD continues to offer warnings through the prophetic succession.

2 Kings 21:1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah — Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה, *Menasseh*) accedes as a child (twelve years old), yet his fifty-five-year reign is the longest in Judean history. His extended tenure presents paradox: the longest reign accompanies the most comprehensive apostasy. The mother's name, Hephzibah (חֶפְצִיבָה, 'My Delight Is in Her'), suggests her importance in his early upbringing. The length of his reign indicates that his wickedness was not cut short by divine judgment during his lifetime.

2 Kings 21:2

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, following the abominable practices of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel — Manasseh's fundamental character is established immediately: he 'did what was evil' (עַשׂה־הָרַע בְעֵינֵי יְהוָה, *asah ha-ra be-eynei YHWH*). His wickedness consists of following the 'abominable practices of the nations,' inverting Hezekiah's reform program. Manasseh actively reverts to the idolatry that Hezekiah had systematically dismantled.

2 Kings 21:3

For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he erected altars for Baal, made a sacred pole, as King Ahaz of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them — Manasseh reverses Hezekiah's reforms systematically: rebuilds the high places (*bamot*), erects Baal altars, creates an Asherah pole, and worships the host of heaven (astral deities). The specific reference to 'as King Ahaz of Israel had done' (connecting Manasseh to Ahaz's apostasy, not David's faithfulness) indicates his deliberate rejection of the Davidic religious tradition. His comprehensive apostasy restores the full syncretic pantheon that Hezekiah had eliminated.

2 Kings 21:4

He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, 'In Jerusalem I will put my name' — Manasseh's most severe violation consists of constructing altars within the temple itself (בֵּית יְהוָה, *bet YHWH*), the place the LORD had chosen for the divine name. This direct desecration of the sacred house surpasses Ahaz's violations (the Damascene altar) in its explicit rejection of the temple's sanctity. Manasseh places foreign altars within the very edifice dedicated to the LORD.

2 Kings 21:7

He set the carved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever — Manasseh erects an Asherah image within the temple itself. The divine pronouncement—'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen... I will put my name forever'—makes the Asherah image's presence a direct contradiction of the LORD's promise. The establishment of a fertility-goddess image in the place where the LORD promised perpetual presence represents the ultimate violation of the covenant and the temple's purpose. The contrast between divine promise and human violation becomes starkly absolute.

2 Kings 21:11

'Because King Manasseh of Judah has committed these abominations, and has done things more wicked than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has caused Judah also to sin with his idols — the prophetic oracle identifies Manasseh's actions as 'abominations' (תּוֹעֵבוֹת, *to'evot*), the strongest condemnatory language. The comparison to Amorite wickedness (the pre-Israelite inhabitants) indicates that Manasseh's apostasy reaches beyond even pagan excess. The phrase 'has caused Judah also to sin with his idols' indicates that Manasseh's leadership has corrupted the entire nation.

2 Kings 21:12

therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I am bringing such disaster upon Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of every one who hears of it will tingle — the prophetic oracle announces judgment: disaster will strike 'Jerusalem and Judah' so severe that 'the ears of every one who hears of it will tingle' (וַיִּנְעוּ שְׁנֵי־אָזְנַיִם, *way-yina'u shnei-aznayim*, literally 'both ears will tingle'), a biblical idiom for shocking news. The severity of announced judgment indicates the magnitude of Manasseh's transgression.

2 Kings 21:13

I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down — the oracle uses the language of architectural measurement and demolition: measuring line and plumb line refer to destruction surveys. The reference to 'Samaria' and 'the house of Ahab' invokes Israel's destroyed capital and its most wicked northern dynasty. The climactic image—'I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down' (וָאֶמְחֶה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַם, *va-emcheh et Yerushalayim*)—represents complete destruction and subjugation. Jerusalem, the city of David, faces annihilation comparable to Samaria's fall.

2 Kings 21:14

And I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and give them into the hand of their enemies; they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies — the oracle announces exile: the remnant of Judah (the only remaining population from the divided monarchy) will be 'cast off' and delivered to enemies. The phrase 'cast off the remnant of my inheritance' (וְנָטַשְׁתִּי אֶת־שְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתִי, *ve-natashti et-she'erit nachalatı*) revokes the promise that a remnant would be preserved. Judah, having rejected the covenant more comprehensively than Israel, will not receive even the remnant salvation. Exile becomes inevitable.

2 Kings 21:15

because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day' — the oracle traces the evil back to the Exodus generation: 'since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day,' representing continuous rebellion from the beginning. The appeal to the Exodus emphasizes how profoundly Israel has betrayed the foundational covenant relationship.

2 Kings 21:16

Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other, besides the sin that he caused Judah to sin so that they did the evil in the sight of the LORD — Manasseh's wickedness includes political violence: he 'shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other' (לְמַד דָּם נָקִי הַרְבֵּה, *lemad dam naki harbeh*). The phrase 'filled Jerusalem from one end to the other' suggests systemic execution of opponents or innocents. This violence, coupled with his cultic apostasy, marks Manasseh as theologically and politically catastrophic. The reference to innocent blood will echo in later judgment theology, particularly in Jeremiah.

2 Kings 21:17

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? — the summary formula acknowledges Manasseh's extensive historical record while emphasizing that 2 Kings selects only the theologically significant apostasy. His sin, not his administrative achievements, constitutes his legacy.

2 Kings 21:18

Manasseh slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and his son Amon succeeded him — despite his comprehensive wickedness, Manasseh receives honorable burial 'in the garden of his own house' (בְגַנּוֹ־בַיִת, *be-gano-bayit*), not in the royal necropolis of David. The alternative burial location suggests either lack of temple access due to his leprosy (if he experienced such) or ritual impurity from his blood-shedding. His son Amon succeeds him, continuing the Davidic line despite the spiritual catastrophe of Manasseh's reign.

2 Kings 21:19

Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz of Jotbah — Amon (אָמוֹן, *Amon*) reigns briefly (two years), suggesting either youth and inexperience or early death. His accession at twenty-two years indicates a young, possibly ideologically fractured reign. The mother's name suggests no significant priestly connection unlike earlier Judean queens.

2 Kings 21:20

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done — Amon perpetuates Manasseh's apostasy formula, continuing the comprehensive wickedness. His brief two-year reign offers no opportunity for reform or change of direction. Like Manasseh, Amon is condemned with the standard evil formula, yet without elaboration of specific transgressions.

2 Kings 21:21

He walked in all the way in which his father walked, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them — Amon follows Manasseh's example precisely: 'walked in all the way in which his father walked' (וַיִּשְׁמֹר בְכָל־הַדֶּרֶךְ, *way-yishmor be-khol-ha-derekh*), perpetuating idolatrous practices. The phrase indicates no independent reflection or potential reform, merely continuation of ancestral wickedness.