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.
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.
Manasseh = forgetting. So named because God had made Hezekiah forget his troubles (compare Joseph, Genesis 41:51 ). A sad name for him who became the worst of Judah's kings. His name appears second in a list of kings who brought gifts to Esar-haddon.
twelve years. Therefore not born till the third of Hezekiah's fifteen added years. See note on 2 Kings 20:18 .
Hephzi-bah = my delight is in her. Compare reference to the marriage in Isaiah 62:4 . A prophecy, given at the time of Hezekiah, foretelling a happier time; even the "good" of 2 Kings 20:19 , and note.
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.
did. evil = did the evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . Generally associated with idolatry.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
heathen = nations
children = sons.
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.
the high places. Restoring what his father had destroyed (2 Kings 18:4 , 2 Kings 18:22 ).
a grove = an ' Ashe ra h . See note on Exodus 34:18 . App-42 .
as = according as.
did Ahah See 2 Kings 11:18 , and compare 1 Kings 16:31 , 1 Kings 16:32 .
the host of heaven. Never before done in Judah. Compare Deuteronomy 4:19 ; Deuteronomy 17:3 .
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
two courts. See note on 1 Kings 7:12 .
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.
his son. Son put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for his sons. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:6 .
pass through the fire. As Ahaz had done (2 Kings 16:3 ; Compare 2 Kings 23:10 . Deuteronomy 18:10 ). The name of Moloch was common at this time (Zephaniah 1:5 ).
observed times. Compare Deuteronomy 18:10 .
used enchantments. The same as modern spiritism. Compare Leviticus 19:31 .Deuteronomy 18:10 .
familiar spirits. Hebrew a familiar spirit. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .
wizards = mediums.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . Same word as 'evil', 2 Kings 21:2 .
Him. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Him" in text.
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:
a graven image of the grove = a carved 'Asherah (2 Kings 21:3 ). Removed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:6 ). See App-42 .
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.
the feet. Figure of speech Pleonasm.
move = wander.
My servant Moses. See note on Numbers 12:7 .
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.
seduced. Not said of any previous king. Compare Jeremiah 15:4 .
do more evil = do the evil more.
And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,
by = through. Hebrew by the hand of. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).
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:
done = made.
Amorites. One of the seven nations of Canaan, descendants of the Nephilim. App-23 and App-25 .
idols = filthy, or manufactured idols.
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.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
Behold Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
both his ears, &c. Compare 1 Samuel 3:11 .
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.
the line . . . the plummet. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause), for what is measured by them.
wipe . . . wipeth. . . wiping. Figure of speech Polyptoton , emphasizing the completeness of the work.
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;
remnant. Compare 2 Kings 19:30 . Jerusalem survived the calamities of 2 Kings 18:13 , but would not survive those that were coming.
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.
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.
innocent blood. Tradition says that Isaiah was one who suffered martyrdom (Jos. Ant . x. 2 Kings 3:1 ).
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?
the rest. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:12-19 . His captivity in Babylon, &c.
sin that he sinned = his great sin. Figure of speech Polyptoton.
are they not written . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
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.
slept with his fathers. His father was the best of Judah's kings, and he was the worst. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
in the garden. Not in the sepulchres of the kings.
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.
Jotbah. Compare Numbers 33:33 .Deuteronomy 10:7 .
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.
And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.
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.
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?
which he did. Some codices, with Aram, and Syriac, read "and all that which he did".
And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
he was buried = one buried him. But some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and they buried him".
sepulchre. Hebrew. keber, a (not "the") grave, or tomb. Compare 2 Kings 22:20 .