2 Chronicles Chapter 33
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshipped all the army of the sky, and served them.
4 He built altars in the LORD's house, of which the LORD said, "My name shall be in Jerusalem forever."
5 He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD's house.
6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practised sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD's sight, to provoke him to anger.
7 He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God's house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
8 I will not any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses."
9 Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they didn't listen.
11 Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 When he was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
13 He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.
14 Now after this, he built an outer wall to David's city, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15 He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the LORD's house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the LORD's house, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 He built up the LORD's altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to the LORD their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and 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, behold, they are written amongst the acts of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house; and Amon his son reigned in his place.
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
23 He didn't humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
24 His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
25 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
Footnotes
- Verse 19 (Hozai)
- or, the seers
Version: World English Bible
- About World English Bible (WEB)
- WEB Glossary
- WEB Web Site (source documents)
- Bible on one web page
- Download WEB (for MS Word)
Audio
To Listen to this Chapter
The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.
2 Chronicles Chapter 33 Guide
Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, seems to have set himself to the most willful and persistent restoration of every form of abomination. All the things specifically forbidden were set up in the places sacred to the name of Jehovah; and with appalling thoroughness he undid all that his father had done. The strong hand of God was stretched out against him, and with the Assyrian as the scourge the king was carried away in irons, broken and defeated. In his distress the stubborn will seems to have been bent, and he cried to God for help. Manasseh's repentance was evidently the chief subject in the mind of the chronicler, and while his sins are painted faithfully and revealed in all their hideousness, all becomes but background which flings into relief Manasseh's genuine penitence and the ready and gracious response of God.
There is a solemn warning in the history of Amon, who, on coming to the throne, followed the earlier example of his father, and was so utterly corrupt that his own servants conspired against him and slew him. While repentance of personal sin brings ready forgiveness, the influence of the sin is terribly likely to abide.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Chronicles Chapter 33 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Manasseh's and repentance. -- (1-20)
- Amon's wicked reign in Judah. -- (21-25)
Verses 1-20
We have seen Manasseh's wickedness; here we have his repentance, and a memorable instance it is of the riches of God's pardoning mercy, and the power of his renewing grace. Deprived of his liberty, separated from his evil counsellors and companions, without any prospect but of ending his days in a wretched prison, Manasseh thought upon what had passed; he began to cry for mercy and deliverance. He confessed his sins, condemned himself, was humbled before God, loathing himself as a monster of impiety and wickedness. Yet he hoped to be pardoned through the abundant mercy of the Lord. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah was God, able to deliver. He knew him as a God of salvation; he learned to fear, trust in, love, and obey him. From this time he bore a new character, and walked in newness of life. Who can tell what tortures of conscience, what pangs of grief, what fears of wrath, what agonizing remorse he endured, when he looked back on his many years of apostacy and rebellion against God; on his having led thousands into sin and perdition; and on his blood-guiltiness in the persecution of a number of God's children? And who can complain that the way of heaven is blocked up, when he sees such a sinner enter? Say the worst against thyself, here is one as bad who finds the way to repentance. Deny not to thyself that which God hath not denied to thee; it is not thy sin, but thy impenitence, that bars heaven against thee. (2Ch 33:21-25)
Verses 21-25
Amon's father did ill, but he did worse. Whatever warnings or convictions he had, he never humbled himself. He was soon cut off in his sins, and made a warning for all men not to abuse the example of God's patience and mercy to Manasseh, as an encouragement to continue in sin. May God help us to be honest to ourselves, and to think aright respecting our own character, before death fixes us in an unchangeable state.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.