2 Chronicles 33

2 Chronicles 33:1

Ch. 2 Chronicles 33:1-10 (Cp. 2 Kings 21:1-16). Manasseh’s Reign. His Apostasy

1. in Jerusalem] The Chronicler omits here the name of Manasseh’s mother, Hephzi-bah.

2 Chronicles 33:2

2. But did … like unto] R.V. And he did … after (so 2 Kin.). had cast out] R.V. cast out (so 2 Kin.). The Hebrew of 2 Chronicles 33:2 exactly corresponds in Chron. and 2 Kin.

2 Chronicles 33:3

3. Baalim] R.V. the Baalim. Baal was the title of the supreme God of the Canaanites, who was worshipped in different places under somewhat different aspects; hence the plural (“Baalim”) here. The altars would be distributed through the country to suit the convenience of the people. groves] R.V. Asheroth; cp. 2 Chronicles 14:3 (note). the host of heaven] Cp. 2 Kings 17:16; Jeremiah 8:2.

2 Chronicles 33:4

4. shall my name be for ever] Cp. 2 Chronicles 7:16.

2 Chronicles 33:5

5. the two courts] Cp. 2 Chronicles 4:9, (note).

2 Chronicles 33:6

6. And he caused] R.V. He also made. There is stress on the pronoun “He” (that wicked one!). to pass through the fire] Cp. 2 Chronicles 28:3, note. in the valley of the son of Hinnom] Cp. Jeremiah 7:31-32. observed times] R.V. practised augury. The precise meaning of the Heb. word (‘τnηn) is quite uncertain. “Augury” among the Romans consisted chiefly in observing birds and interpreting the observations made, but augurs observed also various natural phenomena. used witchcraft] R.V. practised sorcery. The Heb. word (kishshηph) is said to mean “make a magic brew with shredded herbs.” with a familiar spirit] R.V. with them that had familiar spirits. The Heb. word (τb) probably means a necromancer who uses ventriloquism in the practice of his art. The witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28) was such a person. LXX. here has [ἐποίησεν] ἐνγαστριμύθους, i.e. “he appointed ventriloquists.”

2 Chronicles 33:7

7. a carved image, the idol] R.V. the graven image of the idol. In 2 Kings 21:7, R.V. “the graven image of Asherah.” For Asherah cp. 2 Chronicles 15:16 (note). had said … before all] R.V. said … out of all (as 2 Kin.).

2 Chronicles 33:8

8. from out of] R.V. from off. so that they will take heed] R.V. if only they will observe (as 2 Kin.). according to the whole law] R.V. even all the law.

2 Chronicles 33:9

9. and to do worse than the heathen] R.V. so that they did evil more than did the nations. Cp. Jeremiah 15:4, where the captivity itself is referred back for its cause to the evil deeds of Manasseh.

2 Chronicles 33:10

10. the Lord spake] i.e. by prophets; cp. 2 Kings 21:10-15.

2 Chronicles 33:11-13

11–13 (not in 2 Kin.). The Punishment of Manasseh, and his Repentance For a discussion of the historical probabilities of this account see the Introduction, § 8.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

12, 13. fathers, and prayed] R.V. fathers. And he prayed.

2 Chronicles 33:14

14–17 (not in 2 Kin.). The Later Deeds of Manasseh 14. a wall without the city] R.V. an outer wall to the city. even to the entering in] Or, “and [on the west] of the entering in.” and compassed about] R.V. and he compassed about. Ophel] Cp. 2 Chronicles 27:3 (note). and put captains of war] R.V. and he put valiant captains.

2 Chronicles 33:15

15. the idol] Cp. 2 Chronicles 33:7.

2 Chronicles 33:16

16. he repaired] R.V. he built up; the Hebrew word for “build” meaning also “rebuild.” Cp. 2 Chronicles 11:5, note. peace offerings] Cp. 1 Chronicles 16:1 (note). commanded Judah] Cp. 2 Chronicles 33:9; 2 Kings 21:11.

2 Chronicles 33:17

17. yet … only] R.V. but only.… Cp. 2 Chronicles 32:12, note.

2 Chronicles 33:18

18–20 (cp. 2 Kings 21:17-18). The Epilogue of Manasseh’s Reign 18. his prayer] A Prayer of Manasses is given in a collection of hymns appended to the Psalter in the Alexandrine MS. (A) of the LXX.; it is also found in the Latin Vulgate, though the translation is not by Jerome. In the English editions of the Apocrypha it occurs just before 1 Maccabees. Though widely current, it has no claim to be considered authentic, but it is worth reading. Our present Greek text seems to be an original work, and not a translation from the Hebrew (cp. Westcott in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible, s.v. Manasses). in the book of the kings] R.V. among the acts of the kings.

2 Chronicles 33:19

19. groves and graven images, before he was humbled] R.V. the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself. among the sayings of the seers] Render, in the history of his seers; cp. R.V. mg. and LXX., slightly emending the Hebrew text. To take the Heb. word (ḥ ?ôzai) as a proper name (so R.V.) is unsuitable, since the same word occurs as a common noun (“seers”) in the preceding verse.

2 Chronicles 33:20

20. in his own house] i.e. as in 2 Kin. “in the garden of his own house.”

2 Chronicles 33:21

21–25 (= 2 Kings 21:19-26). Amon’s short Reign. Josiah succeeds him 21. in Jerusalem] The Chronicler omits here Amon’s mother’s name; cp. 2 Chronicles 33:1.

2 Chronicles 33:22

22. But he did] R.V. And he did. for Amon … carved images] R.V. and Amon … graven images (as in 2 Chronicles 33:19).

2 Chronicles 33:23

23. and humbled] R.V. And he humbled. This ver. is not in 2 Kin. but Amon] R.V. but this same Amon; cp. 2 Chronicles 28:12 (note). trespassed] Render, became guilty (so R.V. mg.); cp. 2 Chronicles 19:10; 2 Chronicles 24:18; 2 Chronicles 28:10; 2 Chronicles 28:13.

2 Chronicles 33:25

25. slew] Render, smote. The Hebrew word suggests perhaps that there was a conflict between the people and the conspirators.