2 Kings 21:13

_AND I WILL STRETCH OVER JERUSALEM THE LINE OF SAMARIA, AND THE PLUMMET OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB: AND I WILL WIPE JERUSALEM AS A MAN WIPETH A DISH, WIPING IT, AND TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN._ The line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab. Captives doomed to destruction were sometimes grouped together, and marked off by means of a measuring line and plummet (2 Samuel 8:2; Isaiah 34:11; Amos 7:7); so that "the line of Samaria" means the line drawn for the destruction of Samaria; "the plummet of the house of Ahab," for exterminating his apostate family; and the import of the threatening declaration here is, that Judah would be overthrown, as Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab had been. I will wipe Jerusalem

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....

Verse 2 Kings 21:13. _THE LINE OF SAMARIA_] I will treat Jerusalem as I have treated Samaria. Samaria was taken, pillaged, ruined, and its inhabitants led into captivity; Jerusalem shall have the same _measure_. _AND THE PLUMMET OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB_] The house of Ahab was totally destroyed, and not a man of his race left to sit upon the throne of Israel: so shall it be done to the house or royal family of Judah; they shall be all finally destroyed, and not a man of their race shall any more sit on the throne of Judah; nor shall Judah have a throne to sit on. Thus Jerusalem shall have the same _weight_ as well as the same _measure_ as Samaria, because it has copied all the abominations which brought that kingdom to total destruction. _I WILL WIPE JERUSALEM AS_ A MAN _WIPETH A DISH_] The Vulgat

The general meaning is plain, but the exact force of the metaphor used is not so clear. If the “line” and the “plummet” be “symbols of rule” or law, the meaning will be - “I will apply exactly the same measure and rule to Jerusalem as to Samaria - I will treat both alike with strict and even justice.”...

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 21:1 THE REIGNS OF MANASSEH AND AMON. 2 KINGS 21:1 THE REIGN OF MANASSEH. Hezekiah's good and glorious reign was followed by one of exactly the opposite character. His son and successor, Manasseh, reversed Hezekiah's entire religious policy, and returned to the wicked practices of his grandfather Ahaz. In verses 3-9 and verse 16 his various abominations are enumerated, while in verses 10-15 God's sentence is pronounced upon them. The account of his reign terminates with a brief summary (verses 17, 18)....

AND I WILL STRETCH OVER JERUSALEM THE LINE OF SAMARIA,.... The Targum is, the line of destruction; and the sense is, that the same measure should be measured to Jerusalem as was to Samaria; that is, the same lot and portion should befall one as the other, that is, be utterly destroyed: AND THE PLUMMET OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB; the Targum is, the weight or plummet of tribulation; signifying, that the same calamities should come upon the families of Jerusalem, and especially on the family of Manasseh as came upon the family of Ahab. It is a metaphor from builders that take down as well as raise up buildings by rule and measure, see 2 Samuel 8:2 AND I WILL WIPE JERUSALEM, AS A MAN WIPETH A DISH, WIPING IT, AND TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN; as when one takes a dish or cup that has broth in it, or any liquid, as oil; and the Septuagint render it alabaster, in which oin

4. MANASSEH AND AMON CHAPTER 21 _ 1. Manasseh's reign of wickedness (2 Kings 21:1; 2 Chronicles 33:1)_ 2. The word of the LORD against it (2 Kings 21:10) 3. Manasseh's end (2 Kings 21:16; 2 Chronicles 33:18) 4. Reign and death of Amon (2 Kings 21:19; 2 Chronicles 33:20) Hezekiah had a w

REIGNS OF MANASSEH AND AMON. The fact that the reformation begun by Hezekiah was so thoroughly undone at his death, and that his son was able to reign undisturbed for fifty-five years, proves that his reforms were only superficial and could not have been popular. The thoroughly Deuteronomic tone of this chapter is very noticeable. The idolatry of Manasseh is specially condemned in Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:13; Deuteronomy 18:10 f. He is the only king of Judah who is compared to Ahab (2 Kings 21:3 and 2 Kings 21:13). Accord

THE LINE... THE PLUMMET. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of the Cause), for what is measured by them. WIPE... WIPETH... WIPING. Figure of speech _Polyptoton_, emphasizing the completeness of the work....

_the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab_ The figures are taken from the occupation of the builder. The builder employs line and plummet that he may carry out his work exactly according to the plan prescribed. But here the pattern is one of utter destruction, which God Himself threatens to carry out after the fashion of Samaria and the house of Ahab, which the previous generation had beheld utterly destroyed. Samaria and the house of Ahab were famous for building (see 1 Kings 22:39 note). Hence the peculiar fitness of the figure. These great builders, with all that they had built, were swept away and just so should it be with Jerusalem. The way in which a portion of the judgement was carried out is described by the Chronicler: -The Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh in chains (R.V.) and bound him with fetters, and...