2Ki 21:1-9 | Clarke | STEP | Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years, and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry and murder, . God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land, . Manasseh's acts and death, . Amon his son succeeds him, and reigns two years; is equally profligate with his father; is slain by his servants, and buried in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigns in his stead, . Verse 1 Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

2 Kings 21:1-9

Introduction

Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years, and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry and murder, 2Kgs 21:1-9. God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land, 2Kgs 21:10-15. Manasseh's acts and death, 2Kgs 21:16-18. Amon his son succeeds him, and reigns two years; is equally profligate with his father; is slain by his servants, and buried in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigns in his stead, 2Kgs 21:19-26.

Verse 1

Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. Verse 2

After the abominations of the heathen - He exactly copied the conduct of those nations which God had cast out of that land. Verse 3

Made a grove - He made Asherah, the Babylonian Melitta or Roman Venus. See 2Kgs 17:10, and the observations at the end of that chapter; and see here on 2Kgs 21:7 (note).

Worshipped all the host of heaven - All the stars and planets, but particularly the sun and the moon. Verse 4

Built altars - He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple. Verse 6

Made his son pass through the fire - Consecrated him to Moloch.

Observed times - ועונן veonen; he practiced divination by the clouds; by observing their course at particular times, their different kinds, contrary directions, etc., etc.

Used enchantments - ונחש venichesh; he used incantations, spells, and charms.

Dealt with familiar spirits - ועשה אוב veasah ob; he was a necromancer; was a raiser of spirits, whom he endeavored to press into his service; he had a Python.

And wizards - וידענים veyiddeonim; the knowing ones, the white witches, and such like; see on Lev 19:26-31 (note), where most of these terms are particularly explained and illustrated. Verse 7

He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house - Every one may see that Asherah here must signify an idol, and not a grove; and for the proof of this see the observations at the end of the chapter, 2Kgs 21:26 (note). Verse 8

Neither will I make the feet of Israel - Had they been faithful to God's testimonies they never had gone into captivity, and should even at this day have been in possession of the promised land. Verse 9

Seduced them to do more evil - He did all he could to pervert the national character, and totally destroy the worship of the true God; and he succeeded.