Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: Ver. 1. _Manasseh was twelve years old._] See 2 Kings 21:1 . _ And he reigned fifty and five years._] So long he reigned, (1.) For the punishment of the people's sins; (2.) That he might have... [ Continue Reading ]
_But did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel._ Ver. 2. _But he did that which was evil._] He quickly made mad Work, as we say, turning all upside down. So great is the loss of good prince... [ Continue Reading ]
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Ver. 3. _For he built again._] Heb., He returned, and built. He returned, but not to God. Whilst his father live... [ Continue Reading ]
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. Ver. 4. _In the house of the Lord._] Which was as bad as for a wife to bring her paramours into her husband's bed.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. Ver. 5. _And he built altars._] See 2 Kings 21:5 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Ver. 6. _And he cau... [ Continue Reading ]
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Ver. 7. _The idol which he had made._] This was some... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. Ver. 8. _Neither will I any more._]... [ Continue Reading ]
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, [and] to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. Ver. 9. _So Manasseh made Judah._] The people follow their prince, as in a beast the body followoth the head: and as in a fish, putrefaction... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Ver. 10. _And the Lord spake to Manasseh,_] _sc., _ By his prophets, Isaiah, Joel, Micah, Habakkuk, and others; _sed surdo fabulam; _ they lost their sweet words.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. Ver. 11. _Wherefore the Lord brought upon them._] Manasseh, though son to good Hezekiah, and one of our Saviour's proge... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, Ver. 12. _And when he was in affliction._] When the rod spake, he heard it Mic 6:9 who would not hear the word. 2Ch 33:10 God sent him into the dungeon to repent; as he did David... [ Continue Reading ]
And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God. Ver. 13. _And prayed to him._] His afflictions, like Benhadad's best counsellors, sent Manasseh with a cord about his nec... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 14. _Now after this he built... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast [them] out of the city. Ver. 15. _And he took away the strange gods._] This he had promised to do, doubtless, in his d... [ Continue Reading ]
And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. Ver. 16. _And he repaired the altar of the Lord._] Which himself had defaced in his idolatrous humour. His contrition was seconded with conversion;... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, [yet] unto the LORD their God only. Ver. 17. _Nevertheless the people did sacrifice._] Do Manasseh what he could to the contrary. _Plus valet malum inolitum, quam bonum insolitum._ It is hard to break people off their sinful and supers... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they [are written] in the book of the kings of Israel. Ver. 18. _And his prayer unto God._] See on 2 Chronicles 33:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
His prayer also, and [how God] was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they [are] written among the sayings of the seers. Ver. 19. _His prayer also_] Which was sure some... [ Continue Reading ]
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 20. _And they buried him in his own house._] See on 2 Kings 21:18 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Amon [was] two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. Ver. 21. _Amon was twenty and two years old._] See 2 Kings 21:19 . _ And reigned two years._] Twelve, saith the Greeks. Perhaps he reigned ten years in his father's absence, as Philo saith he did.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; Ver. 22. _Which Manasseh his father had made._] But not burnt, as he ought. Deu 7:5 See 2 Kings 21:20 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. Ver. 23. _But Amon trespassed more and more._] Heb., He multiplied trespass; adding rebellion to sin, he died in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. 2Ch 33:25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. Ver. 24, 25. See on 2 Kings 21:21,24 .... [ Continue Reading ]