Introduction:
Manasseh is a significant figure in the Bible, known for his reign as king of Judah and his complex legacy. His account is primarily found in the Old Testament books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Manasseh's reign is marked by idolatry, repentance, and a lasting impact on the kingdom of Judah.

Background:
Manasseh was the son of King Hezekiah and Hephzibah. He ascended to the throne at the age of twelve and reigned for fifty-five years, the longest of any king in Judah (2 Kings 21:1). His reign is often divided into two distinct periods: his initial years characterized by idolatry and apostasy, and his later years marked by repentance and reform.

Idolatry and Apostasy:
Manasseh's early reign is noted for its departure from the religious reforms of his father, Hezekiah. He rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah had destroyed, erected altars for Baal, and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done (2 Kings 21:3). He also worshiped the host of heaven and served them (2 Kings 21:3). Manasseh's actions provoked the LORD to anger, as he led Judah into greater sin than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites (2 Kings 21:9).

Manasseh's idolatry included the desecration of the temple in Jerusalem, where he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD (2 Kings 21:5). He practiced witchcraft, divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists, further provoking the LORD (2 Kings 21:6). His reign was marked by violence, as he shed much innocent blood, filling Jerusalem from end to end (2 Kings 21:16).

Prophetic Condemnation:
The prophets of the LORD spoke against Manasseh's actions, declaring that the LORD would bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle (2 Kings 21:12). The LORD's judgment was pronounced because of Manasseh's abominations and the sins he led Judah to commit (2 Kings 21:11).

Repentance and Reform:
The account in 2 Chronicles provides additional insight into Manasseh's life, particularly his repentance. After being taken captive by the Assyrians and brought to Babylon, Manasseh sought the LORD in his distress. He humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed to Him. The LORD was moved by his entreaty and brought him back to Jerusalem, where Manasseh knew that the LORD is God (2 Chronicles 33:12-13).

Upon his return, Manasseh undertook reforms. He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city (2 Chronicles 33:15). He restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship and thank offerings on it, commanding Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:16).

Legacy:
Despite his repentance, the consequences of Manasseh's earlier actions had a lasting impact on Judah. His son Amon followed in his father's initial footsteps, committing the same sins and failing to humble himself before the LORD (2 Chronicles 33:22-23). The prophetic words concerning the judgment on Judah were ultimately fulfilled with the Babylonian exile.

Manasseh's life serves as a powerful testament to the depths of human sinfulness and the boundless mercy of God. His account is a reminder of the potential for repentance and redemption, even for those who have strayed far from the path of righteousness.4519. Menashsheh -- "causing to forget," a son of Joseph, also a ...
... from him, also a king of Judah , also two Israelites. Transliteration: Menashsheh
Phonetic Spelling: (men-ash-sheh') Short Definition: Manasseh. ... Manasseh. ...
/hebrew/4519.htm - 6k

Manasseh's Sin and Repentance
... THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES MANASSEH'S SIN AND REPENTANCE. ... And the Lord spake
to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.11. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/manassehs sin and repentance.htm

Manasseh and Josiah
... National Retribution Chapter 32 Manasseh and Josiah. The kingdom of Judah,
prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah, was once ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 32 manasseh and josiah.htm

Manasseh
... MANASSEH. BY REV. ... "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.""2 Chronicles 33.l. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/manasseh.htm

A Miracle of Grace
... "So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse
than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/a miracle of grace.htm

Chapter xlviii
... to Joseph: Behold, thy father is sick. So he took his two sons along with
him, Manasseh and Ephraim. When it was told to Jacob: Behold ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlviii.htm

The Captivity.
... Manasseh's son, Amon, undid all the reformation of his latter years, and brought
back idolatry; and indeed, the whole Jewish people had become so corrupt, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

The Saints' Rest is not to be Expected on Earth.
... And then when he lieth in Manasseh's fetters, or is fastened to his bed with
pining sickness, the world is nothing, and heaven is something. ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter x the saints rest.htm

Psalm 80
... the cherubims abide. ^2In Ephraim's, and Benjamin's. and in Manasseh's sight,.
O come for our salvation; stir up thy strength and might. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 80.htm

Hymn for the Epiphany
... Of Ephraim's sons He is adored: Manasseh's sacred house as Lord Reveres Him:
to His might the seed Of brethren twelve their fealty plead. ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/xii hymn for the epiphany.htm

Chronicles
... Manasseh's long reign of fifty-five years"a stumbling-block, on the Chronicler's
theory"has to be explained by his repentance (2 Chronicles 33:11ff.). ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Manasseh's (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Manasseh's (9 Occurrences). ... He held up his father's
hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. ...
/m/manasseh's.htm - 9k

Ephraim's (14 Occurrences)
... Genesis 48:14 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head,
who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands ...
/e/ephraim's.htm - 10k

Manas'seh's (2 Occurrences)
Manas'seh's. Manasseh's, Manas'seh's. Manasses . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See RSV). Manasseh's, Manas'seh's. Manasses . Reference Bible.
/m/manas'seh's.htm - 7k

Limit (115 Occurrences)
... Joshua 17:7 And the limit of Manasseh's land was from Asher to Michmethath, which
is before Shechem; the line goes on to the right hand, to the people of En ...
/l/limit.htm - 36k

Manasseh (140 Occurrences)
... own children. The tribe of Manasseh was associated with that of Ephraim
and Benjamin during the wanderings in the wilderness. They ...
/m/manasseh.htm - 68k

E'phraim (146 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom
Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. (See RSV). ...
/e/e'phraim.htm - 35k

E'phraim's (6 Occurrences)
... Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father's hand, to remove it from
Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. (See RSV). Genesis 50:23 ...
/e/e'phraim's.htm - 7k

Amon (20 Occurrences)
... The prophet Micaiah was committed to his custody (1 Kings 22:26; 2 Chronicles
18:25). (2.) The son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah. ... See MANASSEH. ...
/a/amon.htm - 18k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother
Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10 ...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... the Beginning 2. Finding of the Law 3. The Great Reform 4. Disaster at Megiddo The
name given 6 years before the death of his grandfather Manasseh resumes the ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Who was King Manasseh in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Asherah / Ashtoreth? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens (Zephaniah 1:5)? | GotQuestions.org

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