CHAPTER XXXIII _Manasseh reigns_ fifty-five _years, and restores idolatry,_ _pollutes the temple, and practises all kinds of abominations,_ 1-9. _He and the people are warned in vain_, 10. _He is delivered into the hands of the Assyrians, bound with_ _fetters, and carried to Babylon_, 11. _He... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:3. _ALTARS FOR BAALIM_] The SUN and MOON. _And made groves_, אשרות Asheroth, Astarte, VENUS; _the host of heaven_, all the PLANETS and STARS. These were the general objects of his devotion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:5. _HE BUILT ALTARS_] See the principal facts in this chapter explained in the notes on 2 Kings 21:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:7. _A CARVED IMAGE_] "He set up an image, the likeness of himself, in the house of the sanctuary." The _Targumist_ supposes he wished to procure himself Divine honours.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:12. _AND WHEN HE WAS IN AFFLICTION_] Here is a very large addition in the Chaldee: "For the Chaldeans made a brazen mule, pierced full of small holes, and put him within it, and kindled fires all around it; and when he was in this misery, he sought help of all the idols which h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:13. _AND PRAYED UNTO HIM_] "While he was thus praying, all the presiding angels went away to the gates of prayer in heaven; and shut all the gates of prayer, and all the windows and apertures in heaven, lest that his prayer should be heard. Immediately the compassions of the C... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:15. _HE TOOK AWAY THE STRANGE GODS_] He appears to have done every thing in his power to destroy the idolatry which he had set up, and to restore the pure worship of the true God. His repentance brought forth fruits meet for repentance. How _long_ he was in captivity, and _when... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:17. _THE PEOPLE DID SACRIFICE_] "Nevertheless the people did sacrifice on the high places, but only to the name of the WORD of the Lord their God." - _Targum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:18. _THE WORDS OF THE SEERS THAT SPAKE TO HIM_] "Which were spoken to him in the name of the WORD of the Lord God of Israel." - _Targum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:19. _HIS PRAYER ALSO_] What is called the _Prayer of_ _Manasseh, king of Judah, when he was holden captive in Babylon_, being found among our apocryphal books, I have inserted it at the end of the chapter, without either asserting or thinking that it is the identical prayer whi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:21. _AMON - REIGNED TWO YEARS_] See on 2 Kings 21:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:22. _SACRIFICED UNTO ALL THE CARVED IMAGES_] How astonishing is this! with his father's example before his eyes, he copies his father's _vices_, but not his _repentance_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:23. _TRESPASSED MORE AND MORE._] He appears to have exceeded his father, and would take no warning.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:24. _HIS SERVANTS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM_] On what account we cannot tell.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 33:25. _THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND SLEW ALL THEM_] His murder was not a _popular_ act, for the people slew the regicides. They were as prone to idolatry as their king was. We may rest satisfied that idolatry was accompanied with great _licentiousness_ and sensual gratifications else i... [ Continue Reading ]