2 Chronicles 33

2 Chronicles 33:1-10

In this chapter we have, 1. Manasseh’s idolatry, ver. 1-10. 2. His captivity under the king of Affyria, ver. 11. 3. His repentance and prosperity, ver. 12-14. 4. His reformation, ver. 15-17. 5. The conclusion of his reign, ver. 18-20. 6. Amon succeeds him, reigns successfully, and is slain by his servants, ver. 21-25.

1. MANASSEH was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. 2. But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3. ¶ For he + built again the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the loaf of heaven, and served them. 4. Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, in Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5. And he built altars for all the loaf of heaven, in the two courts of the house

of the LORD. 6. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with the wizards: he brought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 7. And he set a carved image (the idol which he had made) in the house of God, of which God had said to David, and to Solomon his son, in his house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever. 8. Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take need to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law, and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. 9. So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10. And the LORD (jude to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

Manasseh’s wicked beginning was before observed, 2 Kings said. Malatson, profane, abandoned to every evil, and thriving as if to root out the name of the Lord, that it should be no more bad in remembrance: had not against reproof, and not content to be who himself, compelling his people to worse abominations than ever the heathen committed. Note, [1.] The work of reformation is difficultly accomplished, the establishment of wickedness readily complied with. [2.] Could many a good father return from their graves, their hearts would break to see the abominations of their ungodly children. [3.] God leaves out the world without some checks of conscience, or reproofs from his word, but they rush determinately on their ruin.

11. ¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the loaf of the king of Affyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with letters, and carried him to Babylon. 12. And when he was in affliction, he brought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13. And prayed unto him, and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. 14. Now after this, he built a wall without the city of David, on the well-side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the Eih-gate, and compelled about Othel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. 15. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace-offerings, and thank-offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17. Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places, or unto the LORD their God only. 18. ¶ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the feers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19. His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin, and his trepidis, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the feers. 20. ¶ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 33:11-20

Though God bear long and is kind, he will make inquisition at last.

1. The king of Babylon, now the conqueror of Affyria, advances, and having born down all before him, drags forth the wicked Manasseh from a shaker of thorns, whether he had fled to hide himself; and binding him in letters, carries him captive to Babylon. Now Hezekiah’s treasures were given for a prey, and the people received the just scourge of their faithless apathy.

2. What all former warnings never effected, this heavy affliction brought about. In his misery, Manasseh thought upon God, and with deep humiliation cried for mercy. Happy prison! How infinitely better to him, than the defiled palaces of Zion.

Before Chord Zion. Note, (1.) Sanctified afflictions are among the greatest mercies. (2.) They who remember in trouble their own evil ways, will feel the bitterness of them, and groan being burdened. (3.) No case so desperate as to exclude hope, whilst there is yet access to the throne of grace.

3. God had compulsion upon him, and inclined the heart of the king of Babylon to pity and refuse him to his left dignity. Note, (1.) The vilett of sinners need not despair, when Manasseh is pardoned. (2.) When our misery drives us to God, he will not refuse to help us. (3.) The prayer of penitence never yet returned without the answer of peace.

4. Made wise by pall experience, he now knew that the Lord alone was God, whose rod he had left, and whose mercy he had raised: therefore, with derelation of his former abomination, mere idol is destroyed out of God’s house; his ruined altar repaired; his fastidious and fervent suffered; and the people brought back from their idolatry. The high places indeed were not taken away; but though on them they still sacrificed, it was to the Lord Jehovah only. Note, (1.) Where the heart is truly converted, there will be a thorough change in the conduct. (2.) The worship of God is among the first concerns of the awakened soul. (3.) When we are brought to a sense of our own sins, we shall zealously labour to recover those whom we have seduced, or emboldened to transgress by our own ill examples.

5. In consequence of his unfeigned repentance, God strengthened him in his kingdom; Jerusalem was forested, and the cities of Judah garrisoned. Without God all defences are vain: if he be with us, his name is a strong tracer; the righteous flesh unto it, and are free.

6. Manasseh no more revolted from God. The son that rose so eclipsed, set with splendor. Accounts of his wickedness and repentance were preserved in the books of the kings of Israel, and the writings of the fears, who had spoken to him in the name of the Lord. He rejected their misage indeed at first, but afterwards acknowledged his guilt and shame, and wished it to be perpetuated for a warning to others. He was buried privately, probably at his own desire, as a mark of humiliation, and left his throne to his ungodly son and successor Amon. Note, (1.) Though God hath forgiven our sin, no one hath ever been a good member, and he commanded at the review of it. (2.) They who are true penitents, are most willing to take shame to themselves for their sins.

7. ¶ Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images, which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; 23. And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. 24. And his servants conspired against him, and flew him in his own house. 25. ¶ But the people of the land: flew all them that had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Judah his son king in his stead.

8. 21-25. Amon copied the worth of his father’s wicked ways. The images which Manasseh had cast out, and should have destroyed, he restored. More mad upon his idols, than even his unhappy father, and incorrigible in his sin, he never like him repeated. Short was his career of inquiry: as two years he fell by a conspiracy of his own servants, and left the kingdom to the last good king of Judah. Note, (1.) Final imperistence feats up the soul under eternal ruin. (2.) That which is evil, is much easier copied, than what is good. (3.) It is a mercy to a land, when wicked magistrates are quickly cut off from it.