2 Chronicles 33

Manasseh is an abominable idolater, vers.1, &c. wherefore the LORD threateneth, and punisheth him, so that he is carried away captive to Babel, 10. There he repenteth, so that he is restored to his Kingdom again, 12. What he did after that 20. His son Amon is wicked king after him, 21. Is murdered by his servants, 24. Josia his son succeedeth in his room, 26.

1. Manasseh was twelve years old [Hebr. a son of twelve years] when he became King, and reigned five and fifty years at Jerusalem, [See a further exposition pertaining to this chapter, 2 Kings 21:1,2, etc. where this history is first recorded.]

2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to the abominations of the heathen, [See of these Deut.18.9,10, etc.] whom the LORD had driven out of possession before the face of the children of Israel.

3. For he built the high places up again, [Hebr. he returned and built; that is, he built again. See Numb.11.on vers.4.] which Jehizkia his Father had broken down, [and that according to the express command of God, Exod.34.13. Numb.33.52. Deut.12.3.] and reared up altars for Baalim, [of Baalim, see Judg.2.on v.11.] and made groves, and bowed himself down before all the host of heaven, [see Deut.4.on vers.19. and 2 Kin.21.on vers.3. so below vers.5.] and served them. [in 2 Kings 21:3. he is compared to Achab in respect of idolatry; of whose abominable idolatry, see 1 Kings 16.v.31,32,33.]

4. And built altars in the hours of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said; at Jerusalem shall my name be [See 1 Kings 8.on vers.16.] forever. [that is, during the time of the Law, or as long as the Law lasted. See Gen.13.on v.15.]

5. Moreover, he built altars for all the host of heaven in both Courts of the house of the LORD. [Namely, in the Priests court, and in the peoples court. See of these two courts, 1 Kings 6.on v.36. and 7.on v.9.]

6. And he made his sons to pass thorough the fire, [In 2 Kings 21:6. is spoken but of one son, whom he caused to pass thorough the fire. That is to be understood of one especially: Or this place is to be understood of one of his sons, as the plural number is thus often taken for the singular. See Gen.19.on ver.29.] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and practisied Jugling, and gave heed to the cry of fowl, and used sorcery, and he set up sooth-sayers, and Necromancers, and he did (very) much evil [Hebr. he multiplied to do evil. So Exod.36.5. The people multiply to bring; that is, bring very much, 1 Sam.1.12. multiplied to pray; that is, prayed very much, 2 Chron.36.14. multiplied to transgress b transgression; that is, transgressed very much, Isa.55.7. he multiplyeth to forgive; that is, he forgiveth much, and often, Amos 4:4. multiply to transgress; that is, transgress much] in the eyes of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7. He did likewise set the likeness of a carved image which he had made, [This image was called the image of the grove, or the grove-god, 2 Kings 21.vers.7. because it had stood in an idolatrous grove, which Manasseh had made to the honor of Idols. See above vers 3.] in the house of God, [contrary to Gods command, Exod.20.4. Lev.26.1. Deut.5.8. and 16.22, etc.] of which God had said to David, and to Solomon his son; in this house, and at Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever. [See above on ver.4. See also Deut.12.5,11. 2 Sam.7.13. 1 Kin.8.29. and 9.2. 1 Chron.7.4. Psa.132.13,14. Jer.32.34.]

8. And I will not cause the foot of Israel any more to remove out of the land which I have appointed for your Fathers: [That is, cause them to depart out of their land, and to be carried away captive, as was done to the ten tribes by Salmanasser King of Assyria, 2 Kings 18:11. Compare 2 Kin.21.8.] only if they take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law, and the statutes, and the Judgements, [understand by the word law, the moral law, by the statutes, the ceremonial law, and by the judgements the judicial or civil law. That is, all that God had commanded, as it is said, 2 King.21.8. Compare Gen.26. the annotate.on v.4. Deut.5.on v.31. 1 Kings 2.on v.3.] by the hand of Moseh. [that is, which I have given and commanded by the ministry of Moseh. Compare 2 King.27.8.]

9. So Manasseh made Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to ere; (so0 that they did worse then the heathen, [See 2 Kings 21.on v.9.] whom the LORD had destroy before the face of the children of Israel.

10. The LORD indeed spake to Manasseh, and to his people [To wit, by his servants the Prophets, 2 Kings 21:10.] but they heeded it not.

11. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the Captains of war, which the King of Assyria had, which took Manasseh captive among the thrones: [Wherein he had hid himself, when in the field he was surprised by these robbers. Compare 1 Sam.13.v 6.] and they bound him with two copper chains, and carried him Babel.

12. And when he [Namely, the LORD, or, king of Assyria] distressed him, [oth, when he was in distress] he earnestly besought the face of the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the face of the God of his Fathers: [to wit, testifying sorrow and repentance for his former course of life, and promising amendment for time to come.]

13. And prayed unto him, [Namely unto the Lord] and he suffered himself to be interated of him, [see the like phrase, Gen.25.21.] and heard his supplication, and he brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. [That is, perceived, and found indeed, and was convinced in his conscience, that the Lord alone was the true God, and not idols. Thus is the Hebrew word taken, Genes.3.7. and above chap.32.31.]

14. And after this he built the outer-wall at the city of David, [That is, he finished the wall which Hizkia had begun to build, above chap.32.5. or he mended and repaired the wall, which perhaps had suffered some detriment] on the west-side of Gihon [See 1 Kings 1on vers,33. And above chap.32.on ver.4. and 30.] in the valley, and to the entering in of the fish-gate, [see Nehem. 3.3.] and compassed about Ophel, [see above chap.27.on vers.3.] and raised it [to wit, the wall] up very high: he also put captains of war in all the fenced cities in Juda.

15. And he took away the strange gods, [See Gen.35.on vers.2.] and that likeness [of which was spoken above vers.7. See the Annotations thereon] out of the house of the LORD, together with all the altars, which he had built on the mount of the house of the LORD, [that is, the mount upon which the house of the lord stood, called Moria. See above chap.3.on vers.1.] and at Jerusalem: and he threw them out of the city.

16. And he disposed the altar of the LORD, [Or, repaired the altar, to with, that it might be sit, to offer thereon] and offered thereon thank-offerings, and praise-offerings, and said unto Juda, that they should serve the LORD the God of Israel.

17. But the people offered still on the high places, howbeit unto the LORD their God. [Compare 2 Kings 3.on vers.2, & 3.]

18. Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, also the words of the Seers, [That is, of the Prophets. See above chap.9.on vers.29.] that spake to him, in the Name of the LORD the God of Israel; [That is, by command and authority from God. So Deut.18.19,20. And 2 Kings 2:24. See in this last place the Annotations] behold, they are (written) in the acts of the Kings of Israel: [That is, in the record, or memorial of the acts of the Kings of Israel.]

19. And his Prayer, [Which some conceive to be that which is read in the Apocryphal books] and how (God) let himself to be intreated of him, also all his sin, and his transgression, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves, and carved images, before he was humbled, behold, they are written in the words of the Seers. [That is, of the Prophets, as above vers.18. So that here Hosai should be for Hosin. The Prophets then have for the most part set down & delivered out of the histories and records of things that were done, that they might serve for admonitions and warnings unto the Church. Others, in the acts of Hosai, conceiving this word to have been the name of Prophet, of whom we read no where else.]

20. And Manasseh fell asleep with his Fathers, and they buried him in his (own) house: [That is, in the garden of his house, 2 Kings 21:18.] and Ammon his son became king in his stead.

21. Amon was two and twenty years old, [Hebr. a son of two and twenty years] when he became king: and reigned two years at Jerusalem.

22. And he did that which was evil in the of the LORD, according as Manasseh his Father had done: for Amon offered unto all the carved images, which Manasseh his Father had made, and served them.

23. But he humbled not himself before the face of the LORD, as Manasseh his Father had humbled himself: but this Amon multiplied the guilt. [Or, increased the guilt. Compare above vers.6. and in the Annotations almost the like phrase.]

24. And his servants made a combination against him, and slew him in his (own) house.

25. But the people of the land smote all them [That is, put them to death. See Genes.8.on vers.21.] that had made the conspiracy against king Amon: and the people of the land made Josia his son king in his stead.