_A.M. 3306. B.C. 698._ The wicked reign of Manasseh, 2 Kings 21:1. Judgment denounced against him and Jerusalem, 2 Kings 21:10. His death, _2Ki 21:17, 2 Kings 21:18. The wicked reign of Amon, 2 Kings 21:19. He is slain, and succeeded by Josiah, 2 Kings 21:23._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Manasseh reigned fifty and five years_ In which time the years, wherein he was a captive in Babylon, are comprehended. He must, according to his age mentioned here, have been born three years after Hezekiah was miraculously restored, and had his life lengthened.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He did evil in the sight of the Lord_ Through his own vicious inclinations, and the instigation of the wicked princes of Judah, who in Hezekiah's time were secret enemies to the reformation which he was endeavouring to effect; and now, when the restraint which they had been under was removed by his... [ Continue Reading ]
_He built up again the high places_ Trampling upon the dust of his worthy father, and affronting his memory. _And worshipped all the host of heaven_ The sun, moon, and stars, which the Gentiles had transformed into gods. _He built altars_ To the gods of the neighbouring nations, and to the host of h... [ Continue Reading ]
_He made his son pass through the fire_ By which he dedicated him to Moloch, in contempt of the seal of circumcision by which he had been dedicated to God: see notes on Leviticus 18:21. _And observed times_ Lucky or unlucky days, according to the superstitious practice of the heathen.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He set an image of the grove_, &c. The image of that Baal which was worshipped in the grove, or of some other of his idols. The word Asherah, here rendered grove, is nearly the same with Ashtaroth, or Astarte, the imaginary female deities, which were worshipped along with Baalim. This image seems t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations,_ &c. Partly, because they were not contented with those idols which the Canaanites worshipped, but either invented, or borrowed from other nations, many new idols; and partly, because as their light was far more clear, their obligations to God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Manasseh hath done wickedly, above what the Amorites did_ The Canaanitish nations; all so called from one eminent part of them, Genesis 15:16. _And hath made Judah to sin with his idols_ By his example, encouragement, counsel, authority, and command. _Therefore I am bringing evil upon Jerusalem_ It... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria_ She shall have the same measure and lot; that is, the same judgments which Samaria has had. For _the line_ is often put for one's lot or portion, because men's portions or possessions used to be measured by lines. Or it is a metaphor taken from wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance_ The kingdom of Judah, the only remainder of all the tribes of Israel, which I once chose for my inheritance; but now, notwithstanding that I conferred on them that privilege, I will utterly reject and forsake them. _They have provoked me since the day... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood_ The blood of those prophets, and other righteous men, who either reproved his sinful practices, or refused to comply with his wicked commands. The tradition of the Jews is, that he caused Isaiah, in particular, to be _sawn asunder_, and that by _a wooden saw_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Was buried in the garden of his own house_ Not in the sepulchre of the kings; probably by his own choice and command, as a lasting testimony of his sincere repentance, and abhorrence of himself for his former crimes.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He_ (Amon) _walked in the way_, &c. He revived that idolatry which Manasseh, in the latter end of his reign, had put down. Those who set bad examples, if they repent themselves, cannot be sure that they whom their example has drawn into sin will repent; it is often otherwise.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The servants of Amon conspired against him_ He having rebelled against God, his own servants rose up against him, and slew him when he had reigned only two years; and his own house, that should have been his castle of defence, was the place of his execution. He had profaned God's house with his ido... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people slew all that had conspired against King Amon_ Thus they cleared themselves from having any hand in the crime, and did what was incumbent on them, to deter others from the like villanous practices. _And the people made Josiah his son king_ It is probable the conspirators had designed to... [ Continue Reading ]