2 Kings 21:1-7 ▼

1 Manasseh was 12 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 He did what the LORD considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that the LORD had forced out of the Israelites' way.

3 He rebuilt the illegal places of worship that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He set up altars dedicated to Baal and made a pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh, like Ahab, worshiped and served the entire army of heaven.

4 He built altars in the LORD's temple, where the LORD had said, |I will put my name in Jerusalem.|

5 In the two courtyards of the LORD's temple, he built altars for the entire army of heaven.

6 He burned his son as a sacrifice, consulted fortunetellers, cast evil spells, and appointed [royal] mediums and psychics. He did many things that made the LORD furious.

7 Manasseh had an idol of Asherah made. Then he set it up in the temple, where the LORD had said to David and his son Solomon, |I have chosen this temple and Jerusalem from all the tribes of Israel. I will put my name here forever.