2 Kings Chapter 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.
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 destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, 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, "I will put my name in Jerusalem."
5 He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD's house.
6 He made his son to pass through the fire, practised sorcery, used enchantments, 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 Asherah 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 the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever;
8 I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only 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."
9 But they didn't listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 The LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
11 "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has also made Judah to sin with his idols;
12 therefore the LORD the God of Israel says, 'Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.
13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of Ahab's house; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
14 I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to all their enemies,
15 because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.' "
16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the LORD's sight.
17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
18 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 place.
19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
20 He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, as Manasseh his father did.
21 He walked in all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them;
22 and he abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and didn't walk in the way of the LORD.
23 The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.
24 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.
25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.
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2 Kings Chapter 21 Guide
Here we have the story of reaction. It manifested itself in two reigns, both utterly evil, Manasseh's, lasting fifty- five years, and Amon's, lasting two years.
The story of Manasseh's sin was not merely of personal wrongdoing, but also of the deliberate undoing of what his father had been at such pains to accomplish. What we have hinted at more than once as issuing from such failure as that of the chosen people is here declared in so many words. Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel. Nothing can be clearer as a warrant for the absolute righteousness of the judgment that fell upon them when they were driven out.
After Manasseh, Amon became king. Some of his servants conspired against him, and slew him. But so utterly depraved had become the people of the land, and so completely were they in sympathy with the evil ways of these evil kings, that they slew the man who had slain Amon.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Kings Chapter 21 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Wicked reign of Manasseh. -- (1-9)
- The prophetic denunciations against Judah. -- (10-18)
- Wicked reign and death of Amon. -- (19-26)
Verses 1-9
Young persons generally desire to become their own masters, and to have early possession of riches and power. But this, for the most part, ruins their future comfort, and causes mischief to others. It is much happier when young persons are sheltered under the care of parents or guardians, till age gives experience and discretion. Though such young persons are less indulged, they will afterwards be thankful. Manasseh wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, as if on purpose to provoke him to anger; he did more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed. Manasseh went on from bad to worse, till carried captive to Babylon. The people were ready to comply with his wishes, to obtain his favour and because it suited their depraved inclinations. In the reformation of large bodies, numbers are mere time-servers, and in temptation fall away.
Verses 10-18
Here is the doom of Judah and Jerusalem. The words used represent the city emptied and utterly desolate, yet not destroyed thereby, but cleansed, and to be kept for the future dwelling of the Jews: forsaken, yet not finally, and only as to outward privileges, for individual believers were preserved in that visitation. The Lord will cast off any professing people who dishonour him by their crimes, but never will desert his cause on earth. In the book of Chronicles we read of Manasseh's repentance, and acceptance with God; thus we may learn not to despair of the recovery of the greatest sinners. But let none dare to persist in sin, presuming that they may repent and reform when they please. There are a few instances of the conversion of notorious sinners, that none may despair; and but few, that none may presume.
Verses 19-26
Amon profaned God's house with his idols; and God suffered his house to be polluted with his blood. How unrighteous soever they were that did it, God was righteous who suffered it to be done. Now was a happy change from one of the worst, to one of the best of the kings of Judah. Once more Judah was tried with a reformation. Whether the Lord bears long with presumptuous offenders, or speedily cuts them off in their sins, all must perish who persist in refusing to walk in his ways.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.