2 Chronicles 33:14

_NOW AFTER THIS HE BUILT A WALL WITHOUT THE CITY OF DAVID, ON THE WEST SIDE OF GIHON, IN THE VALLEY, EVEN TO THE ENTERING IN AT THE FISH GATE, AND COMPASSED ABOUT OPHEL, AND RAISED IT UP A VERY GREAT HEIGHT, AND PUT CAPTAINS OF WAR IN ALL THE FENCED CITIES OF JUDAH._ He built a wall without the city ... on the west side of Gihon ... even to the entering in at the fish gate. 'The well-ascertained position of the Fish Gate shows that the Valley of Gihon could be no other than that leading northwest of Damascus Gate, and gently descending southward, uniting with the Tyropoeon at the northeast corner of mount Zion, where the latter turns at right angles and runs toward Siloam. The wall thus built by Manasseh, on the west side of the valley of Gihon, would extend from the vicinity of the northeast corner of the wall of Zion in a northerly direction, until it crossed over the valley to form a...

1-20 We have seen Manasseh's wickedness; here we have his repentance, and a memorable instance it is of the riches of God's pardoning mercy, and the power of his renewing grace. Deprived of his liberty, separated from his evil counsellors and companions, without any prospect but of ending his days in a wretched prison, Manasseh thought upon what had passed; he began to cry for mercy and deliverance. He confessed his sins, condemned himself, was humbled before God, loathing himself as a monster of impiety and wickedness. Yet he hoped to be pardoned through the abundant mercy of the Lord. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah was God, able to deliver. He knew him as a God of salvation; he learned to fear, trust in, love, and obey him. From this time he bore a new character, and walked in newness of life. Who can tell what tortures of conscience, what pangs of grief, what fears of wrath, what ag...

Verse 2 Chronicles 33:14. _HE BUILT A WALL_] This was probably a weak place that he fortified; or a part of the wall which the Assyrians had broken down, which he now rebuilt....

Rather, “he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west of Gihon-in-the-valley.” The wall intended seems to have been that toward the northeast, which ran from the vicinity of the modern Damascus gate across the valley of Gihon, to the “fish-gate” at the northeast corner of the “city of David.” We may gather from this verse that, late in his reign, Manasseh revolted from the Assyrians, and made preparations to resist them if they should attack him. Assyria began to decline in power about 647 B.C., and from that time her outlying provinces would naturally begin to fall off. Manasseh reigned until 642 B.C....

EXPOSITION The first twenty verses of this chapter are taken up with the account of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah, who, beginning to reign at the early age of twelve years, reigned in all fifty-five years; the remaining five verses with the account of the reign of his son Amon. The parallel to this chapter is 2 Kings 21:1. The repeated references in this chapter to Manasseh's neglect, and to his people's neglect, after his example, of injunction, promise, and threat of the Word of the Lord and of the Law, make it a prominent instance of the spirit of the compiler, and an indication of one of the main objects he had in view, and kept in view in writing these chronicles. 2 CHRONICLES 33:1 The parallel adds the name of Manasseh's mother, the

NOW AFTER THIS HE BUILT A WALL WITHOUT THE CITY OF DAVID,.... Which perhaps had been broken down by the Assyrian army, when it came and took him; Vitringa l thinks this is the wall of the pool of Siloah, Ne 3:15 which seems to be the first and oldest wall, as Josephus m; for that turning to the north bent towards the pool of Siloam; an Arabic writer n calls it the southern wall: ON THE WEST SIDE OF GIHON; on the west side of the city, towards Gihon; for that was to the west of it, 2 Chronicles 32:30, IN THE VALLEY, EVEN TO THE ENTERING IN AT THE FISH GATE; through which the fish were brought from Joppa, and where, according to the Targum, they were sold: AND COMPASSED ABOUT OPHEL; the eastern part of Mount Zion; some say it was the holy of holies,...

2 Chronicles 33:1. _Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: but did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,_ Yet who could have had a better father than Manasseh had? He was given to Hezekiah during those fifteen years which God graciously added to that good king's life. Manasseh was, therefore, doubtless carefully trained, and looked upon as being one who would maintain God's worship, and the honour of his father's name. But grace does not run in the blood; and the best of parents may have the worst of children. Thus Manasseh, though he was the son of Hezekiah, «did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,» 2 Chronicles 33:2. Like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had

7. DECLINE AND APOSTASY UNDER MANASSEH AND AMON CHAPTER 33 _ 1. Manasseh's wicked reign (2 Chronicles 33:1)_ 2. Manasseh's imprisonment and restoration (2 Chronicles 33:11) 3. His reign after restoration and his death (2 Chronicles 33:14) 4. The reign of Amon (2 Chronicles 33:21) Manasseh, the twelve year old son of Hezekiah, did not follow the ways of his father, but did evil in the sight of the LORD. He had no godly Jehoiada, like Joash, to stand by him and guide him. He was surrounded, no doubt, by counsellors, but they were evil counse

2 Chronicles 33:1. THE REIGN OF MANASSEH (see notes on 2 Kings 21:1). 2 Chronicles 33:1 is based upon 2 Kings 21:1, which is fairly accurately followed; but 2 Chronicles 33:11 is almost wholly from the hand of the Chronicler; it deals with Manasseh's captivity and consequent repentance; in answer to his prayer, Manasseh is restored and devotes the rest of his life to the loyal service of Yahweh. As far as Manasseh's repentance and subsequent good works are concerned, it is difficult to believe that

15. THE REIGN OF MANASSEH. (2 Chronicles 33:1-19) TEXT 2 Chronicles 33:1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. 2. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel. 3. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4. And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. 6. He also made his children to pass through the fire