MANASSEH WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD - Manasseh, therefore, was not born at the time of Hezekiah’s dangerous illness; and it is probable that Hezekiah had at that time no son to succeed him. According to Josephus, this was the principal cause of his grief. HEPHZIBAH - Jewish tradition makes Hephzibah, Hez... [ Continue Reading ]
Manasseh during his minority naturally fell under the influence of the chief Jewish nobles, with whom the pure religion of Yahweh was always unpopular (compare 2 Chronicles 24:17; Jeremiah 8:1). They seem to have persuaded him, not only to undo Hezekiah’s work, but to proceed to lengths in polytheis... [ Continue Reading ]
The first step in the re-establishment of idolatry seems to have been the restoration of the high places where Yahweh was professedly worshipped 2 Kings 18:22, but with idolatrous rites 1 Kings 14:23. The next was to re-introduce the favorite idolatry of Israel, Baal-worship, which had formerly flou... [ Continue Reading ]
The “altars” of this verse seem to be the same with those of 2 Kings 21:5, and consequently were not in the temple building, but in the outer and inner courts.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the meaning of the phrase “passing through the fire,” see 2 Kings 16:3, and Leviticus 20:2. To “observe times” was forbidden in the Law (marginal references), and was no doubt among the modes of divination practiced by the Canaanite nations. It has been explained as, (1) Predicting from the sta... [ Continue Reading ]
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,... [ Continue Reading ]
During the long reign of Manasseh idolatry in all manner of varied forms took a hold upon the Jewish people such as had never been known before. Compare Jeremiah 7:18, Jeremiah 7:31; Ezekiel 23:37; Zephaniah 1:5. The corruption of morals kept pace with the degradation of religion. Compare 2 Kings 23... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHETS - None of the prophets of this reign are certainly known. One may possibly have been Hosai or Hozai (2 Chronicles 33:19, margin), who perhaps wrote a life of Manasseh.... [ Continue Reading ]
The general meaning is plain, but the exact force of the metaphor used is not so clear. If the “line” and the “plummet” be “symbols of rule” or law, the meaning will be - “I will apply exactly the same measure and rule to Jerusalem as to Samaria - I will treat both alike with strict and even justice... [ Continue Reading ]
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).... [ Continue Reading ]
The writer of Kings relates in eighteen verses the history of 55 years, and consequently omits numerous facts of great importance in the life of Manasseh. Among the most remarkable of the facts omitted are the capture of Manasseh by the king of Assyria, his removal to Babylon, his repentance there,... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS BURIED - The catacomb of David was probably full, and the later kings, from Ahaz downward, had to find sepulture elsewhere. Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the sepulchres of the kings 2 Chronicles 28:27. Hezekiah found a resting place on the way that led up to David’s catacomb 2 Chronic... [ Continue Reading ]
At Manasseh’s death, the idolatrous party, held in some check during his later years 2 Chronicles 33:15, recovered the entire direction of affairs, and obtained authority from Amon to make once more all the changes which Manasseh had made in the early part of his reign. Hence, we find the state of t... [ Continue Reading ]
This conspiracy may have been due to the popular reaction against the extreme idolatry which the young king had established.... [ Continue Reading ]
The intention of the conspirators had perhaps been to declare a forfeiture of the crown by the existing line, and to place a new dynasty on the throne. This the people would not suffer. They arrested them and put them to death; and insisted on investing with the royal authority the true heir of Davi... [ Continue Reading ]