2 Kings 21:16

_MOREOVER MANASSEH SHED INNOCENT BLOOD VERY MUCH, TILL HE HAD FILLED JERUSALEM FROM ONE END TO ANOTHER; BESIDE HIS SIN WHEREWITH HE MADE JUDAH TO SIN, IN DOING THAT WHICH WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD._ Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood. Not content with the patronage and the practice of idolatrous abominations, he was a cruel persecutor of all who did not conform. The land was deluged with the blood of good men, among whom, it is traditionally said, Isaiah suffered a horrid death, by being sawn asunder (see the notes at Hebrews 11:37)....

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 21:16. _SHED INNOCENT BLOOD VERY MUCH_] Like the deities he worshipped, he was _fierce_ and _cruel_; an unprincipled, merciless tyrant: he slew innocent people and God's prophets....

Compare Jeremiah 2:30; Hebrews 11:37; Isaiah 57:1. According to tradition, Isaiah was among the first to perish. More than a century afterward, the final judgment upon Jerusalem was felt to be in an special way the punishment of Manasseh’s bloody persecution of God’s people (marginal reference)....

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)....

MOREOVER, MANASSEH SHED INNOCENT BLOOD VERY MUCH,.... Putting to death the prophets that reproved him and his people for their idolatries, and such who would not comply therewith; and it is commonly said, both by Jewish and Christian writers, that Isaiah was slain, and even sawn asunder by him, Hebrews 11:37, TILL HE HAD FILLED JERUSALEM FROM ONE END TO ANOTHER; a metaphor taken from filling a vessel brimful: BESIDE HIS SIN WHEREWITH HE MADE JUDAH TO SIN, IN DOING THAT WHICH WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD; the sin of idolatry he drew them into, and even obliged them to commit....

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

INNOCENT BLOOD. Tradition says that Isaiah was one who suffered martyrdom (Jos. _Ant_. x. 2 Kings 3:1)....

Other wickedness of Manasseh. His death (2 Chronicles 33:18-20) 16. _Manasseh shed innocent blood very much_ This is alluded to again in 2 Kings 24:4 as the cause of God's continued anger against Judah. It is singular that the Chronicler makes no special mention of this particular offence. Josephus on the contrary (_Ant._x. 3, 1) says -He did not even spare the prophets, but even of these he slew some daily (καθʼ ἡμέραν) so that Jerusalem ran with blood". The tradition that Isaiah himself was one of the sufferers in this slaughter was current among early Christian legends, and some have taken the mention of -sawing asunder" (Hebrews 11:37) as an allusion to his fate. from one