Topical Bible: Idolatry: Manasseh

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Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah, was the fourteenth king of Judah and reigned for fifty-five years, the longest of any king in the history of Judah (2 Kings 21:1). His reign is notably marked by a significant departure from the religious reforms of his father, Hezekiah, and a return to idolatrous practices that provoked the anger of the LORD.

Idolatrous Practices

Manasseh's reign is characterized by a comprehensive revival of idolatry in 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). Furthermore, he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them, building altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem I will put My Name" (2 Kings 21:4). This act of defilement extended to the inner courts of the temple, where he constructed altars for all the host of heaven (2 Kings 21:5).

Manasseh's idolatry was not limited to the worship of foreign deities. He engaged in practices that were explicitly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, including child sacrifice, divination, and witchcraft. He made his son pass through the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists (2 Kings 21:6). These actions were abominations in the sight of the LORD and led Judah into greater sin than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites (2 Kings 21:9).

Consequences and Prophetic Condemnation

The idolatry of Manasseh had severe consequences for Judah. The LORD spoke through His prophets, declaring that because of Manasseh's abominations, He would bring such disaster upon Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle (2 Kings 21:12). The LORD proclaimed that He would wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, turning it upside down (2 Kings 21:13). This prophecy foreshadowed the eventual Babylonian exile, a direct result of the nation's persistent idolatry and rebellion against God.

Repentance and Legacy

Despite his grievous sins, Manasseh's account takes a redemptive turn. According to 2 Chronicles 33:12-13, during his captivity in Babylon, Manasseh 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 recognized the LORD as God. Upon his return, he attempted to undo some of the damage by removing foreign gods and idols from the temple and restoring the altar of the LORD (2 Chronicles 33:15-16).

However, the legacy of Manasseh's idolatry had lasting effects on Judah. His son Amon continued in his father's earlier idolatrous ways, and the people of Judah persisted in their sin, ultimately leading to the nation's downfall. Manasseh's reign serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of idolatry and the importance of faithfulness to the covenant with the LORD.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 21:4-7
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Manasseh and Josiah
... Hezekiah, was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh's wicked reign,
when paganism was revived, and many of the people were led into idolatry. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 32 manasseh and josiah.htm

Manasseh's Sin and Repentance
... in the royal house, where a Hezekiah was followed by a Manasseh, who scorned all ...
in his course of conduct, he went wrong: first, in his idolatry; and second ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/manassehs sin and repentance.htm

Manasseh
... That was the course which Manasseh took, just as headstrong and irreverent youths ...
never speak of without shame"a hideous reign of idolatry, and immorality ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/manasseh.htm

Thyatira
... What that religious system of licentious idolatry was is well known; but something
may be ... of things in the days of Israel's Kings - "And Manasseh turned aside ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/thyatira.htm

Josiah
... even younger than his grandfather Manasseh had been at his accession, and another
reversal of the father's religion! These vibrations from idolatry to Jehovah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah.htm

The Kingdom of Judah.
... 6) A revival under Josiah, grandson of Manasseh, whose piety ... reforms at the age of
twenty and spent six years in hewing down the altars and images of idolatry. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... on the state of his heart, not on outward circumstances, Manasseh was the son ...
circumstances than Josiah"nay, scarcely in a heathen: he had idolatry around him ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Rachel.
... exalts Naphtali, though the son of a maid-servant, above Manasseh, as when ... own account,
(because he was the leader of the Israelitish idolatry introduced by ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/the reason of the order 2.htm

Micah
... or even utterances of Micah; eg the prediction of the fatal siege, v.1, or of the
overthrow of idolatry, v.10-14. ... i-vii.6"come from the reign of Manasseh. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/micah.htm

Hezekiah
... The solemn warnings against idolatry, spoken through Moses in the hearing of all
Israel ... from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 28 hezekiah.htm