2 Kings 21:7

_AND HE SET A GRAVEN IMAGE OF THE GROVE THAT HE HAD MADE IN THE HOUSE, OF WHICH THE LORD SAID TO DAVID, AND TO SOLOMON HIS SON, IN THIS HOUSE, AND IN JERUSALEM, WHICH I HAVE CHOSEN OUT OF ALL TRIBES OF ISRAEL, WILL I PUT MY NAME FOR EVER:_ And he set a graven image, х_ PECEL_ (H6459) _ HAA-'ASHEERAAH_ (H842)] - a carved image of the Asherah, a statue or relieve figure. The placing of the Asherah within the precincts of the temple, which was dedicated to the worship of the true God, is dwelt upon as the most aggravated outrage of the royal idolater....

1-9 Young persons generally desire to become their own masters, and to have early possession of riches and power. But this, for the most part, ruins their future comfort, and causes mischief to others. It is much happier when young persons are sheltered under the care of parents or guardians, till age gives experience and discretion. Though such young persons are less indulged, they will afterwards be thankful. Manasseh wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, as if on purpose to provoke him to anger; he did more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed. Manasseh went on from bad to worse, till carried captive to Babylon. The people were ready to comply with his wishes, to obtain his favour and because it suited their depraved inclinations. In the reformation of large bodies, numbers are mere time-servers, and in temptation fall away....

Verse 2 Kings 21:7. _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. 2 Kings 21:26....

A GRAVEN IMAGE OF THE GROVE - Rather, “the carved work of the Asherah.” This Asherah which Manasseh placed in the very temple itself, from where it was afterward taken by Josiah to be destroyed 2 Kings 23:6. Such a profanation was beyond anything that had been done either by Athaliah 2 Kings 11:18, or by Ahaz 2 Kings 16:14; 2 Chronicles 29:5....

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)....

Ver. 7 AND HE SET A GRAVEN IMAGE OF THE GROVE THAT HE HAD MADE IN THE HOUSE,.... Which was either an image that had been placed in a grove planted by him, and now removed into the house or temple of the Lord; or, as some think, this was a representation of a grove, a carved grove of gold or silver, in the midst of which an image was placed in the temple; though what Selden observes b, seems best of all, that this was an image of Asherah, as in the original text; that is, of Astarte or Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, 1 Kings 11:5, the same the Phoenicians are said to call Astroarche, and affirm it to be the moon c: in 2 Chronicles 33:7 it is called a carved image the idol he had made; and an Arabic writer d says, it had four faces, which seems to be a figure of the cherubim; but, according t

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

A GRAVEN IMAGE OF THE GROVE. a carved _'Asherah_ (2 Kings 21:3). Removed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:6). See App-42....

_A graven image of the grave_ R.V. THE GRAVEN IMAGE OF ASHERAH. Though usually of wood, such images were also made of silver and carved in stone. The image in question here would be specially grand in view of the position it was to occupy. _the Lord said to David_ For the words to David cf. 2 Samuel 7:13; and to Solomon 1 Kings 8:20....