2 Kings 21:1-7
Summary for 2Kgs 21:1-2: 21:1-2 a fifty-five years: Manasseh’s long reign (697–642 BC) certainly cannot be attributed to his faithfulness to the Lord but to the Lord’s continued honoring of his covenant promises (see also 8:19 b; 19:34 c; 20:6 d; 2 Sam 7:11-16 e). External conditions were largely stable. Though the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon (680–669 BC) and Ashurbanipal (668–626 BC) conducted a number of military campaigns, none was directed against Judah until later in Manasseh’s reign, probably around 650–648 BC (see 2 Chr 33:10-13 f). Ashurbanipal’s attention was on building projects, religious pursuits, and the arts, including a great library.• He did what was evil: Manasseh was the most wicked of Judah’s kings; discussion of his reign focuses on his evil religious practices.
Summary for 2Kgs 21:3-5: 21:3-5 g Manasseh’s spiritual infidelity included rebuilding local pagan shrines that his father had destroyed (18:3 h). He also promoted wicked religious practices associated with the worship of Baal and set up an Asherah pole (see 18:3 i; 1 Kgs 16:32 j) and reintroduced astral worship. God had judged the northern kingdom for these sins (2 Kgs 17:16 k).
21:6 l Manasseh’s wickedness included participation in the abominable Molech rites and all manner of forbidden cult and occult practices (16:3 m; see Lev 18:21 n).
• the Lord’s ... anger: God responded to Manasseh’s detestable religious practices with his righteous judgment, just as he had with the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 17:18-20 o).
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