2 Chronicles 33

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 33

1¶ Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2But 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.

3For 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 host of heaven, and served them.

4Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

6And 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 wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7And 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 this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

8Neither 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 heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

9So 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.

10And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11¶ Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

12And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he [was] God.

14Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

15And 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.

16And 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.

17Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, [yet] unto the LORD their God only.

18Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers 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.

19His prayer also, and [how God] was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, 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 seers.

20So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

21¶ Amon [was] two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

22But 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;

23And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.

24And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

25But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Manasseh of Judah reigned for fifty-five years, initially committing great evil in the sight of the LORD, surpassing even the abominations of the heathen. He rebuilt high places, erected altars to Baalim and the host of heaven, practiced child sacrifice and divination, and placed an idol in the very house of God. Consequently, the LORD allowed the Assyrians to capture him and carry him to Babylon. In his affliction, Manasseh humbled himself and prayed to the LORD, who heard his supplication and restored him to his kingdom, leading to his subsequent reforms.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by detailing the exceedingly wicked reign of King Manasseh, who ascended the throne at age twelve and ruled for fifty-five years. He actively promoted idolatry, rebuilding high places, erecting altars to foreign gods and celestial bodies, and even placing a carved image in the LORD's temple in Jerusalem. Manasseh also engaged in abhorrent practices such as child sacrifice in the valley of Hinnom and various forms of divination, leading Judah to commit worse evils than the nations cast out by the LORD. Despite divine warnings, Manasseh and his people refused to hearken. As a result, the LORD brought the Assyrians against them, who captured Manasseh and took him to Babylon in fetters. In this deep affliction, Manasseh genuinely humbled himself before God and prayed, and the LORD mercifully heard his plea, restoring him to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Following his restoration, Manasseh undertook significant reforms, removing foreign gods and idols, casting out altars, and repairing the altar of the LORD, commanding Judah to serve the God of Israel. However, the people continued to sacrifice in high places, though now to the LORD. His son Amon succeeded him, reigning only two years, and continued his father's initial wicked ways, refusing to humble himself, leading to his assassination by his servants, after which the people made Josiah king.

Long Summary

King Manasseh began his fifty-five-year reign over Judah at the age of twelve, immediately engaging in widespread evil that provoked the LORD's anger. He systematically undid the reforms of his father Hezekiah, rebuilding high places, erecting altars for Baalim, and making groves for idolatrous worship. Manasseh worshipped and served all the host of heaven, even building altars for them within the two courts of the very house of the LORD, where God had declared His name would dwell forever. His abominations included causing his children to pass through the fire in the valley of Hinnom, and practicing various forms of divination such as observing times, using enchantments, witchcraft, familiar spirits, and wizards. He further desecrated the temple by placing a carved idol within it, directly defying God's specific command to David and Solomon concerning the sanctity of His chosen house in Jerusalem. Manasseh's actions led Judah and Jerusalem to err and commit worse evils than the heathen nations whom the LORD had previously destroyed. Despite the LORD speaking to Manasseh and his people, they refused to listen. Consequently, the LORD brought the captains of the Assyrian army against them, who captured Manasseh among thorns, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. In this profound affliction, Manasseh sought the LORD his God, humbling himself greatly and praying. The LORD was entreated of him, heard his supplication, and mercifully brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom, causing Manasseh to acknowledge the LORD as God. After his restoration, Manasseh undertook significant defensive building projects and placed captains of war in Judah's fenced cities. More importantly, he initiated religious reforms, removing the strange gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, casting out all the altars he had built in Jerusalem, and repairing the altar of the LORD. He offered peace and thank offerings and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. Nevertheless, the people continued to sacrifice in the high places, though now directing their worship to the LORD their God only. Manasseh died and was buried in his own house, and his son Amon reigned in his stead. Amon, twenty-two years old when he began to reign, continued his father's initial evil practices for two years, sacrificing to all the carved images Manasseh had made. Unlike his father, Amon did not humble himself before the LORD but trespassed more and more, leading to his assassination by his own servants. The people of the land then slew the conspirators and made Josiah, Amon's son, king in his place.

Core Concepts

  • Manasseh's Profound WickednessManasseh's reign began with extensive and severe idolatry, including the rebuilding of high places, erection of altars to Baalim and celestial bodies, child sacrifice, and the placement of an idol within the LORD's Temple, surpassing the abominations of the heathen.
  • Divine Judgment and CaptivityDue to Manasseh and Judah's refusal to heed divine warnings, the LORD allowed the Assyrian army to capture Manasseh, binding him with fetters and exiling him to Babylon as a consequence of his great sin.
  • Manasseh's Repentance and RestorationIn his affliction in Babylon, Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the LORD and prayed, and God mercifully heard his supplication, restoring him to his kingdom in Jerusalem.
  • Religious Reforms Under ManassehFollowing his restoration, Manasseh removed foreign gods and idols from the Temple and Jerusalem, cast out altars, repaired the LORD's altar, and commanded Judah to serve the God of Israel.
  • Continued High Place WorshipDespite Manasseh's reforms, the people of Judah continued to offer sacrifices in the high places, though the text notes that this worship was now directed towards the LORD their God only.
  • Amon's Unrepentant EvilManasseh's son Amon continued his father's initial idolatrous practices, sacrificing to carved images, but unlike Manasseh, he did not humble himself before the LORD, leading to his assassination.