Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, reigned as king of Judah for fifty-five years, making his reign the longest of any king in the history of Judah. His rule is chronicled in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. Despite being the son of Hezekiah, a king noted for his faithfulness to God, Manasseh is remembered as one of the most wicked rulers in Judah's history. His reign is marked by a significant departure from the religious reforms of his father and a return to idolatrous practices.

Idolatry and Abominations

Manasseh's reign is characterized by his embrace of the abominations of the heathen nations surrounding Judah. He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, erected altars for Baal, and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done (2 Kings 21:3). Manasseh also worshiped all the host of heaven and served them, a direct violation of the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).

Moreover, he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My Name" (2 Kings 21:4). He constructed altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD (2 Kings 21:5). This desecration of the temple was a profound act of rebellion against God.

Child Sacrifice and Occult Practices

Manasseh's wickedness extended to the practice of child sacrifice. He made his son pass through the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, a practice associated with the worship of the Ammonite god Molech (2 Chronicles 33:6). This act was strictly forbidden by God and was considered one of the most heinous sins (Leviticus 18:21).

In addition to child sacrifice, Manasseh engaged in various forms of occult practices. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists (2 Chronicles 33:6). These practices were abominations in the sight of the LORD and were explicitly condemned in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Leading Judah Astray

Manasseh's influence led the people of Judah into sin. The Scriptures state, "Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites" (2 Kings 21:9). His actions provoked the LORD to anger, and the prophets warned of impending judgment upon Judah because of his sins (2 Kings 21:10-15).

Repentance and Restoration

Despite his extensive wickedness, Manasseh's account takes a surprising turn. After being taken captive by the Assyrians and brought to Babylon, Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed to Him. God was moved by his entreaty and brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). This act of divine mercy highlights the possibility of repentance and restoration, even for the most wayward of rulers.

Upon his return, Manasseh attempted to undo some of the damage he had caused. 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 also restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship and thanksgiving offerings on it, commanding Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:16).

Legacy

Manasseh's legacy is a complex one. While his reign is predominantly remembered for its wickedness and idolatry, his eventual repentance and efforts to restore true worship in Judah serve as a testament to God's willingness to forgive those who genuinely seek Him. Nevertheless, the consequences of his earlier actions had lasting effects on the nation, contributing to the spiritual decline that ultimately led to Judah's exile.2 Kings 21:1-17
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.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 33:2-7
But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
Nave's Topical Index

How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the ...
... over all men, over priests, kings, rulers, fathers, children ... servants the prophets,
saying, Because Manasseh king of ... has done all these wicked abominations in a ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii how the bishop is.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... between master and servant, and between rulers and their ... Gad, and the half tribe
of Manasseh, sware thus ... in the passage which describes the wicked promise of ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... wicked young woman, the ugliest and most wicked it had ... the punishment for any one
who voluntarily committed such a ... rank of subjects to that of rulers of Iran ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment ... holy order thereof: And
hence Jeremiah, when he would set forth the condition of a wicked people, he ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

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