Topical Bible: Manasseh: King of Judah: History of

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Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah, ascended to the throne of Judah at the tender age of twelve and reigned for fifty-five years, making his reign the longest of any king in Judah's history (2 Kings 21:1). His rule is chronicled in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, where he is depicted as a monarch who led his nation into a period of profound spiritual decline.

Idolatry and Apostasy

Manasseh's reign is marked by a stark departure from the religious reforms instituted by his father, Hezekiah. He is noted for reintroducing and expanding idolatrous practices throughout Judah. The biblical account in 2 Kings 21:2-7 details his actions: "He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites." Manasseh rebuilt the high places his father had destroyed, erected altars for Baal, made an Asherah pole, and worshiped all the host of heaven. He even placed a carved image of Asherah in the temple of the LORD, about which God had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My Name" (2 Kings 21:7).

Moral and Social Corruption

Under Manasseh's leadership, Judah not only fell into idolatry but also into moral and social corruption. He is accused of shedding much innocent blood, filling Jerusalem with it from one end to another (2 Kings 21:16). His reign is characterized by a disregard for the covenantal laws given to Israel, leading the people astray and provoking the LORD to anger.

Prophetic Warnings and Divine Judgment

The prophets of the LORD spoke against Manasseh's actions, warning of impending judgment. The LORD declared through His prophets that He would bring such disaster upon Jerusalem and Judah that "the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle" (2 Kings 21:12). This prophecy foretold the eventual downfall and exile of Judah, a consequence of Manasseh's sins and the people's unfaithfulness.

Repentance and Restoration

Despite his grievous sins, the narrative in 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 offers a glimpse of hope and redemption. When Manasseh was taken captive by the Assyrians and brought to Babylon, he 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 and his kingdom. This act of divine mercy led Manasseh to recognize the LORD as God.

Upon his return, Manasseh attempted to undo some of the damage he had caused. He removed foreign gods and idols from the temple, restored the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed peace and thank offerings on it. He commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:15-16). However, the high places were not removed, and the people continued to sacrifice there, albeit to the LORD their God.

Legacy

Manasseh's reign left a complex legacy. While his late repentance and efforts to restore true worship are noted, the long-term effects of his earlier actions had already set Judah on a path toward destruction. His son Amon succeeded him and continued in his father's early ways, further entrenching the nation's spiritual decline. Manasseh's life serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, yet it also highlights the possibility of redemption through genuine repentance.

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2 Kings 21:1-18
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
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2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
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Library

The Kingdom of Judah.
... (3) The wicked reign of Manasseh, who sought to ... need both on the part of the king
and on ... role and their pernicious influence upon Judah's history can hardly be ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

Chronicles
... eg, is said to be recorded in the history of the kings of Israel (2 Chronicles
33:18); clearly this cannot be northern Israel, as Manasseh was a king of Judah. ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Manasseh's Sin and Repentance
... peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve ... But this king took
his chastisement wisely ... Manasseh praying was freer in his chains than ever ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/manassehs sin and repentance.htm

Manasseh
... Among the rank of idolaters Manasseh stood first, and it was the song and glory
of the false priests that the king of Judah was on the side of the gods ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/manasseh.htm

The King.
... famous archers"a sinister omen of the king's waning fortunes ... the hardy half-independent
men of Manasseh and Gad ... and from his own kinsmen of Judah recruits "day ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

About this Same Time, Judah, the Son of Jacob...
... About this same time, Judah, the son of Jacob, took ... period, Aseneh bore him two sons,
Manasseh and Ephraim ... he received the chief power from the king, was thirty ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xi about this same.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... Ashurbanipal, the successor of Esarhaddon, includes Manasseh in a ... probable that he
is the king referred to in ... upon the closing years of Judah's history, but we ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... The last good king of Judah before him was Hezekiah, who had been dead sixty or
seventy ... That religious king had been succeeded by his son Manasseh, the most ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
... after the disorders connected with the reign of Manasseh and his captivity, the
good king Josiah neglected it. ... men to teach in the cities of Judah, who had ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xv formation and history.htm

The King --Continued.
... even to the Euphrates; and the bounding courage of king and people ... "Gilead is mine,
and Manasseh is mine ... Ephraim also is the defence of my head, Judah my staff ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/xii the kingcontinued.htm