Ch. 2 Chronicles 33:1-10 (Cp. 2 Kings 21:1-16). Manasseh’s Reign. His Apostasy

1. in Jerusalem] The Chronicler omits here the name of Manasseh’s mother, Hephzi-bah.

2. But did … like unto] R.V. And he did … after (so 2 Kin.).

had cast out] R.V. cast out (so 2 Kin.). The Hebrew of 2 Chronicles 33:2 exactly corresponds in Chron. and 2 Kin.

3. Baalim] R.V. the Baalim. Baal was the title of the supreme God of the Canaanites, who was worshipped in different places under somewhat different aspects; hence the plural (“Baalim”) here. The altars would be distributed through the country to suit the convenience of the people.

groves] R.V. Asheroth; cp. 2 Chronicles 14:3 (note).

the host of heaven] Cp. 2 Kings 17:16; Jeremiah 8:2.

4. shall my name be for ever] Cp. 2 Chronicles 7:16.

5. the two courts] Cp. 2 Chronicles 4:9, (note).

6. And he caused] R.V. He also made. There is stress on the pronoun “He” (that wicked one!).

to pass through the fire] Cp. 2 Chronicles 28:3, note.

in the valley of the son of Hinnom] Cp. Jeremiah 7:31-32.

observed times] R.V. practised augury. The precise meaning of the Heb. word (‘ônçn) is quite uncertain. “Augury” among the Romans consisted chiefly in observing birds and interpreting the observations made, but augurs observed also various natural phenomena.

used witchcraft] R.V. practised sorcery. The Heb. word (kishshçph) is said to mean “make a magic brew with shredded herbs.”

with a familiar spirit] R.V. with them that had familiar spirits. The Heb. word (ôb) probably means a necromancer who uses ventriloquism in the practice of his art. The witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28) was such a person. LXX. here has [ἐποίησεν] ἐνγαστριμύθους, i.e. “he appointed ventriloquists.”

7. a carved image, the idol] R.V. the graven image of the idol. In 2 Kings 21:7, R.V. “the graven image of Asherah.” For Asherah cp. 2 Chronicles 15:16 (note).

had said … before all] R.V. said … out of all (as 2 Kin.).

8. from out of] R.V. from off.

so that they will take heed] R.V. if only they will observe (as 2 Kin.).

according to the whole law] R.V. even all the law.

9. and to do worse than the heathen] R.V. so that they did evil more than did the nations. Cp. Jeremiah 15:4, where the captivity itself is referred back for its cause to the evil deeds of Manasseh.

10. the Lord spake] i.e. by prophets; cp. 2 Kings 21:10-15.

11. Assyria] No Assyrian inscription at present known speaks of the captivity of Manasseh, but we have monumental evidence that there was a great insurrection against Asshur-bani-pal, the grandson of Sennacherib, in which Western Asia (and perhaps Manasseh) was involved. The restoration of Manasseh after this to his kingdom is not incredible, for Neco I. of Egypt was first put in fetters and afterwards sent back to Egypt. (Schrader, Keilinschriften und das AT., pp. 366 ff.)

among the thorns] R.V., in chains, but better, with hooks (as R.V. mg.); cp. 2 Kings 19:28 (= Isaiah 37:29). Assyrian kings sometimes thrust a book into the nostrils of their captives and so led them about. The practice is illustrated on many Assyrian reliefs in the British Museum. The same mistranslation (“thorn” for “hook”) occurs in Job 41:2 [40:26, Heb.], cp. R.V.

to Babylon] Nineveh, not Babylon, was the capital of Assyria, but as Asshur-bani-pal at times resided in Babylon, there is nothing improbable in any important prisoner of his being carried thither.

11–13 (not in 2 Kin.). The Punishment of Manasseh, and his Repentance

For a discussion of the historical probabilities of this account see the Introduction, § 8.

12. affliction] R.V. distress, as in 2 Chronicles 28:22.

12, 13. fathers, and prayed] R.V. fathers. And he prayed.

14–17 (not in 2 Kin.). The Later Deeds of Manasseh

14. a wall without the city] R.V. an outer wall to the city.

even to the entering in] Or, “and [on the west] of the entering in.”

and compassed about] R.V. and he compassed about.

Ophel] Cp. 2 Chronicles 27:3 (note).

and put captains of war] R.V. and he put valiant captains.

15. the idol] Cp. 2 Chronicles 33:7.

16. he repaired] R.V. he built up; the Hebrew word for “build” meaning also “rebuild.” Cp. 2 Chronicles 11:5, note.

peace offerings] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:1 (note).

commanded Judah] Cp. 2 Chronicles 33:9; 2 Kings 21:11.

17. yet … only] R.V. but only.… Cp. 2 Chronicles 32:12, note.

18–20 (cp. 2 Kings 21:17-18). The Epilogue of Manasseh’s Reign

18. his prayer] A Prayer of Manasses is given in a collection of hymns appended to the Psalter in the Alexandrine MS. (A) of the LXX.; it is also found in the Latin Vulgate, though the translation is not by Jerome. In the English editions of the Apocrypha it occurs just before 1 Maccabees. Though widely current, it has no claim to be considered authentic, but it is worth reading. Our present Greek text seems to be an original work, and not a translation from the Hebrew (cp. Westcott in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible, s.v. Manasses).

in the book of the kings] R.V. among the acts of the kings.

19. groves and graven images, before he was humbled] R.V. the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself.

among the sayings of the seers] Render, in the history of his seers; cp. R.V. mg. and LXX., slightly emending the Hebrew text. To take the Heb. word (ḥôzai) as a proper name (so R.V.) is unsuitable, since the same word occurs as a common noun (“seers”) in the preceding verse.

20. in his own house] i.e. as in 2 Kin. “in the garden of his own house.”

21–25 (= 2 Kings 21:19-26). Amon’s short Reign. Josiah succeeds him

21. in Jerusalem] The Chronicler omits here Amon’s mother’s name; cp. 2 Chronicles 33:1.

22. But he did] R.V. And he did.

for Amon … carved images] R.V. and Amon … graven images (as in 2 Chronicles 33:19).

23. and humbled] R.V. And he humbled. This ver. is not in 2 Kin.

but Amon] R.V. but this same Amon; cp. 2 Chronicles 28:12 (note).

trespassed] Render, became guilty (so R.V. mg.); cp. 2 Chronicles 19:10; 2 Chronicles 24:18; 2 Chronicles 28:10; 2 Chronicles 28:13.

25. slew] Render, smote. The Hebrew word suggests perhaps that there was a conflict between the people and the conspirators.