2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33

2 Kings 21:1-16; 2 Chronicles 33:1-9
Manasseh Reigns over Judah

• Manasseh (son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah) begins his reign at the age of 12, reigns 55 years.
• He does not follow in the steps of his father, who was obedient to God, but is more like Ahab, disrespecting God to the extent of desecrating God's temple.
• Manasseh's sins, describing the ways he followed the nations Israel destroyed:
• Rebuilds the high places his father had destroyed;
• Erects altars for Baal;
• Makes a sacred pole, as King Ahab had done;
• Worships and serves the host of heaven;
• Builds altars in the temple of God for the host of heaven;
• Makes his son pass through fire in the valley of Hinnom;
  
• Practices soothsaying and augury, deals with mediums and wizards (a condemnation of such practices, which we should note today);
  
• Places a carved image of Asherah in the temple, where God had put his name as a testament of his faithfulness to Israel;
• Causes Judah to sin with idols;
• Sheds innocent blood.

• God's promises to punish Judah because of Manasseh:

• To bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of all who hear of it will tingle;
• To punish them as he would Samaria or the house of Ahab;
• To wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, turning it upside down;
• To cast off the remnant of his heritage and give them into the hands of their enemies.

2 Chronicles 33:10-17
Manasseh Restored after Repentance

• Because Manasseh does not listen, God brings the army of Assyria against Manasseh and they take him captive to Babylon.
• He humbles himself and prays to God, who restores him to his kingdom. If God can forgive Manasseh...
  
• "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD indeed was God." This seems to indicate that Manasseh humbled himself before God before he knew for sure he was God – a description of his growing faith – first a knowledge of God as one who punishes and then as one who delivers.
• Manasseh's restitutions:

• Builds high outer wall for city of David;
• Puts army commanders in all of Judah's fortified cities;
• Removes idols from the temple;
• Removes altars from Jerusalem;
• Restores the altar of the LORD and offers sacrifices;
• Commands Judah to serve the God of Israel. (Though the people still sacrifice on the high places, but only to the LORD.)
  

2 Kings 21:17-18; 2 Chronicles 33:18-20
Death of Manasseh

• The record of his prayer, his sin and faithlessness, the sites and sacred poles he built before he humbled himself are in the Annals of the Kings.
• When Manasseh dies he is buried in the garden of Uzza, at his house.
• He is succeeded by his son Amon.
  

2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25
Amon Reigns over Judah

• Amon, son of Manasseh and Beshullemeth, daughter of Haruz of Jotbah, begins his reign at age 22, reigns for 2 years.
• He is evil, following in his father's footsteps, abandoning the LORD, never humbling himself as his father had.
  
• His servants conspire together and kill him, and are likewise killed by the people of the land.
• He is buried in the garden of Uzza, succeeded by his son Josiah.