2 Kings 21

1 Menashsheh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Heftzi-Bah.

2 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Yisra'el.

3 For he built again the high places which Hizkiyahu his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Ba`al, and made an Asherah, as did Ach'av king of Yisra'el, and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served them.

4 He built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD said, In Yerushalayim will I put my name.

5 He built altars for all the host of the sky in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

6 He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7 He set the engraved image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Shlomo his son, In this house, and in Yerushalayim, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Yisra'el, will I put my name forever;

8 neither will I cause the feet of Yisra'el to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moshe commanded them.

9 But they didn't listen: and Menashsheh seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Yisra'el.

10 The LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,

11 Because Menashsheh king of Yehudah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amori did, who were before him, and has made Yehudah also to sin with his idols;

12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Behold, I bring such evil on Yerushalayim and Yehudah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.

13 I will stretch over Yerushalayim the line of Shomron, and the plummet of the house of Ach'av; and I will wipe Yerushalayim as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

14 I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;

15 because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Mitzrayim, even to this day.

16 Moreover Menashsheh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Yerushalayim from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Yehudah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

17 Now the rest of the acts of Menashsheh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehudah?

18 Menashsheh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his place.

19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Meshullemet the daughter of Harutz of Yotvah.

20 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Menashsheh his father.

21 He walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them:

22 and he forsook the LORD, the God of his fathers, and didn't walk in the way of the LORD.

23 The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.

24 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Yoshiyahu his son king in his place.

25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehudah?

26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza: and Yoshiyahu his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

Wicked reign of Manasseh. (1-9) The prophetic denunciations against Judah. (10-18) Wicked reign and death of Amon. (19-26)

Verses 1-9 Young persons generally desire to become their own masters, and to have early possession of riches and power. But this, for the most part, ruins their future comfort, and causes mischief to others. It is much happier when young persons are sheltered under the care of parents or guardians, till age gives experience and discretion. Though such young persons are less indulged, they will afterwards be thankful. Manasseh wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, as if on purpose to provoke him to anger; he did more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed. Manasseh went on from bad to worse, till carried captive to Babylon. The people were ready to comply with his wishes, to obtain his favour and because it suited their depraved inclinations. In the reformation of large bodies, numbers are mere time-servers, and in temptation fall away.

Verses 10-18 Here is the doom of Judah and Jerusalem. The words used represent the city emptied and utterly desolate, yet not destroyed thereby, but cleansed, and to be kept for the future dwelling of the Jews: forsaken, yet not finally, and only as to outward privileges, for individual believers were preserved in that visitation. The Lord will cast off any professing people who dishonour him by their crimes, but never will desert his cause on earth. In the book of Chronicles we read of Manasseh's repentance, and acceptance with God; thus we may learn not to despair of the recovery of the greatest sinners. But let none dare to persist in sin, presuming that they may repent and reform when they please. There are a few instances of the conversion of notorious sinners, that none may despair; and but few, that none may presume.

Verses 19-26 Amon profaned God's house with his idols; and God suffered his house to be polluted with his blood. How unrighteous soever they were that did it, God was righteous who suffered it to be done. Now was a happy change from one of the worst, to one of the best of the kings of Judah. Once more Judah was tried with a reformation. Whether the Lord bears long with presumptuous offenders, or speedily cuts them off in their sins, all must perish who persist in refusing to walk in his ways.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 21

In this chapter a short history is given of the two wicked reigns of Manasseh and Amon; Manasseh is charged with great idolatry, with enchantments and witchcrafts, and seducing the children of Israel, 2Ki 21:1-9 and a prophecy is given out of the destruction of Jerusalem for his sins, 2Ki 21:10-16, and an account is given of his death and burial, 2Ki 21:17,18, and of his son and successor Amon, and the evils committed by him, 2Ki 21:19-22 and of the conspiracy against his life, which succeeded, and Josiah his son reigned in his stead, 2Ki 21:23-26.