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 host 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 host 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 wizards: he wrought 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 this 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 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.
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 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.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And 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.
14 Now 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.
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, yet 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 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.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sins, 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.
20 So 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.
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 slew him in his own house.
25 But 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.
The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the kings of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. It covers the period of time from the reign of King Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites to Babylon. Chapter 33 of 2 Chronicles focuses on the reign of King Manasseh, who was one of the most wicked and idolatrous kings in the history of Judah. This chapter serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of repentance and restoration.
Chapter 33 begins by stating that Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. He was the son of King Hezekiah, who was a faithful king and had brought about many religious reforms in Judah. However, Manasseh did not follow in his father's footsteps and instead turned away from God and led the people of Judah into idolatry and sin.
The chapter describes how Manasseh rebuilt the high places that his father had destroyed and erected altars to the Baals, Asherah, and other false gods. He even went as far as to set up altars for these gods in the house of the Lord, the temple that Solomon had built for the worship of God. He also practiced divination, witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists, which were all strictly forbidden by God's law.
Manasseh also led the people of Judah to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, causing them to stray from the covenant that God had made with their ancestors. He even sacrificed his own sons in the fire, a practice that was common among the pagan nations but was strictly forbidden by God. The chapter ends by stating that Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from one end to another.
As a result of his wickedness, God brought judgment upon Manasseh and the people of Judah. The Assyrian army invaded Judah and captured Manasseh, binding him with chains and taking him to Babylon. In his distress, Manasseh finally turned to God and humbled himself before Him. He prayed and sought God's forgiveness, acknowledging that he and his people had sinned greatly and deserved the punishment they were receiving.
God heard Manasseh's prayer and saw his repentant heart, and He brought him back to Jerusalem. Manasseh then realized the error of his ways and began to undo the damage he had caused. He removed the foreign gods and idols from the temple and the city of Jerusalem, repaired the altar of the Lord, and reinstated the proper worship of God. He also commanded the people of Judah to serve and worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
Despite his repentance and restoration, Manasseh's actions had already set in motion the downfall of the kingdom of Judah. The people of Judah had been corrupted by his wickedness, and they continued to follow in his footsteps even after his death. The chapter ends by stating that although Manasseh humbled himself before God, he did not completely turn away from his evil ways. This would ultimately lead to the downfall of Judah and their exile to Babylon.
1. The Consequences of Sin
One of the main themes of chapter 33 is the consequences of sin. Manasseh's wickedness and idolatry not only affected him but also the entire nation of Judah. His actions led to the corruption of the people and the eventual downfall of the kingdom. This serves as a warning to readers about the destructive nature of sin and the importance of staying faithful to God's commandments.
2. The Importance of Repentance
Another significant theme in this chapter is the importance of repentance. Despite Manasseh's wickedness, God showed mercy and forgiveness when he humbled himself and turned to Him in repentance. This serves as a reminder that no matter how far we have strayed from God, there is always an opportunity for repentance and restoration.
3. The Power of God's Forgiveness
In chapter 33, we see the power of God's forgiveness and restoration. Despite Manasseh's evil deeds, God was willing to forgive him and restore him to his throne. This shows that no one is beyond God's forgiveness and that He is always willing to extend His mercy and grace to those who turn to Him in repentance.
4. The Importance of True Worship
The chapter also highlights the importance of true worship. Manasseh's actions had corrupted the worship of God in Judah, and it was only through his repentance and restoration that the proper worship of God was reinstated. This serves as a reminder that true worship involves not only outward actions but also a sincere heart and a faithful relationship with God.
5. The Influence of Leadership
The influence of leadership is another key theme in this chapter. Manasseh's actions as king had a significant impact on the people of Judah, leading them astray and causing them to sin. This serves as a warning to leaders about the importance of setting a good example and leading with integrity and righteousness.
Chapter 33 of 2 Chronicles serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of repentance and restoration. It shows that even the most wicked and idolatrous individuals can find forgiveness and restoration through God's mercy and grace. It also highlights the destructive nature of sin and the importance of staying true to God's commandments. Ultimately, this chapter emphasizes the power of God's forgiveness and the importance of true worship and leadership in the kingdom of God.
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