_Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hephzibah._ Ver. 1. _Manasseh was twelve years old._] He was born three years after his father's great recovery, 2Ki 20:6 and about twenty-four years after the ruin of... [ Continue Reading ]
And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. Ver. 2. _And he did evil in the sight of the Lord._] Drawn thereunto, likely, by his young courtiers and evil counsellors: as young lapwings are ap... [ Continue Reading ]
For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Ver. 3. _He built up again the high places, &c._] Which he, perhaps, was persuaded t... [ Continue Reading ]
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. Ver. 4. _And he built altars in the house of the Lord._] Ahaz-like. 2Ki 16:18 See on 2 Kings 21:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. Ver. 5. _In the two courts of the house of the Lord._] Both in the priests' court, and in the people's also, poured he forth his whoredoms: as being acted and agitated by a spirit of fornication, an impetus t... [ Continue Reading ]
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger. Ver. 6. _And he made his son to pass through the fire._] Yea, more than one of his child... [ Continue Reading ]
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: Ver. 7. And he set a graven image of the grove, &c:] An image... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. Ver. 8. _According to all that I have commanded them,_] vi... [ Continue Reading ]
But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel. Ver. 9. _But they hearkened not._] Nothing is more stupid than idolaters; they have ears but hear not, &c. _ To do more evil than did the nations._] Whom th... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying, Ver. 10. _And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets._] Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Micah, &c, one or other of whom Manasseh martyred every day, saith Josephus. _a_ Isaiah he sawed asunder with a wooden saw, &c. _ a_ Lib. x. cap. 4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, [and] hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which [were] before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: Ver. 11. _Above all that the Amorites did._] _Noluit solita peccare, et puduit eum non esse impudentem._ _a... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I [am] bringing [such] evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. Ver. 12. _Therefore thus saith the Lord._] God loveth to signify beforehand, saith the historian, and he therefore threateneth that he... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line._] A metaphor from carpenters, who with line and plummet d... [ Continue Reading ]
And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; Ver. 14. _And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance._] Which is now unto me "as a speckled bird: the birds round about are aga... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they have done [that which was] evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. Ver. 15. _Since the day that their fathers, &c._] This hath been their custom from their youth. See it all along Eze 20:1-49... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much._] This tiger laid hold with his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?_ Ver. 17. _And his sin that he sinned._] Those prodigies of sins afore mentioned, and hardly to be matched in any man, unless it were N... [ Continue Reading ]
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 18. _And was buried in the garden of his own house._] By his own appointment likely, in his last will and testament, _a_ as holding himself unworthy... [ Continue Reading ]
Amon [was] twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. Ver. 19. _And he reigned two years in Jerusalem._] He was soon cut off for his great wickedness. Some grievous sinners God so... [ Continue Reading ]
And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did. Ver. 20. _As his father Manasseh did._] He imitated him in his sins, but not in his repentance. I have sinned with Peter, but not repented with Peter, said Stephen Gardiner, dying in despair. Amon humbled not him... [ Continue Reading ]
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: Ver. 21. _And served the idols._] It was a fault in Manasseh that he had not burnt them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD. Ver. 22. _And he forsook the Lord._] Though he had been better taught by his father, who had repented, likely, before Amon was born.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. Ver. 23. _And the servants of Amon conspired._] Probably these had corrupted him as another Joash. 2Ki 12:20-21... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Made Josiah … king.] This was a blessed change; Josiah came as a fresh spring after a sharp winter.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 26. _And he was buried._] But not lamented, as his son Josiah afterwards was by all the people.... [ Continue Reading ]