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Manasseh King of Judah

Amon King of Judah

2 Chronicles 33:1-25

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Mayor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell ,Ph.D., Editor.



Amon King of Judah

Text:

2 Chronicles 33:1-25,

1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.

2. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

3. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.

4. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”

5. In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts.

6. He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.



7. He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever.

8. I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.”

9. But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

10. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

11. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

12. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.

13. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him



back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

14. Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

15. He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.

16. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

17. The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18. The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel.

19. His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself—all these are written in the records of the seers.



20. Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

21. Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.

22. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all the idols Manasseh had made.

23. But unlike his father Manasseh, he did not humble himself before the Lord; Amon increased his guilt.

24. Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace.

25. Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place. (NET)

Introduction:

I. The reign of Manasseh is addressed in 2 Kings 21:1-18 as well as in 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

II. The reign of Amon is addressed in 2 Kings 21:19-26 as well as in 2 Chronicles 33:21-25.

III. Manasseh and Amon were both wicked, evil kings, sandwiched between two good kings, Hezekiah and Josiah. (See Hicks.)

A. Manasseh’s repentance did not materially change either the nation or his son, Amon. (See Hicks.)



B. Too much evil had gone before.

IV. Manasseh humbled himself while Amon did not humble himself.

A. Scriptures:

1. 2 Chronicles 33:12, 19, In his pain Manasseh asked the LORD his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the LORD responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 33:23, He did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done. Amon was guilty of great sin. (NET)

3. Exodus 10:3, So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long do you refuse to humble yourself before me? Release my people so that they may serve me! (NET)

4. 2 Kings 22:19, ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the LORD. (NET)

C. While both 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33 stress Manasseh’s sinfulness, 2 Chronicles 33 gives attention to his repentances as well.



1. Manasseh’s repentance could not undo the effects of his wickedness nationally or in regard to his son Amon who walked in his sinful foot steps.

Commentary:


2 Chronicles 33:1, Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. (NET)

I. Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and …

A. Manasseh’s father was Hezekiah and his mother was Hephzibah (my delight is in her). (See Hicks.)

1. 2 Kings 21:1, Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah. (NET)

II. There has to be something wrong with a political system that places a twelve (12) year old boy in charge of a nation.

A. Even though his first years may have been as a co-regent with his father Hezekiah, no godly advisor is named as a righteous influence thereafter.

1. Manasseh desperately needed a Jehoiada to guide him.

a. 2 Chronicles 24:1-2, Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. He reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah, who was from Beer Sheba. Joash did



what the LORD approved throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. (NET)

III. He reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five (55) years.

A. Manasseh’s reign is, according to Coffman, dated 687-642 B. C., a period of forty-five (45) years.

1. Dillard stated the first ten (10) years were served as a co-regent with his father, Hezekiah, accounting for the fifty-five (55) year regency.

2. Part of the fifty-five (55) year reign of Manasseh was probably, Coffman agreed, served as a co-regent under his father, Hezekiah.

3. Accurate determination of ancient dates is often difficult. (Coffman)

4. Hicks stated Manasseh began his reign at age twelve (12) as a co-regent with his father (Hezekiah) in 696 B.C. and ruled for fifty-five (55) years, longer than any other king in Israel’s history. (Also see Dillard.)

5. Dillard noted that the Chronicler does see “length of reign as an indicator of divine blessing.”

a. 1 Chronicles 29:28, He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him. (NET)

b. 2 Chronicles 24:15-16, Jehoiada grew old and died at the age of 130. He was buried in the City of David with the kings, because he had accomplished good in Israel and for God and his temple. (NET)



2 Chronicles 33:2, He did evil in the sight of the LORD and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out ahead of the Israelites. (NET)

I. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,….

A. How did, why did the son of good King Hezekiah turn out so badly?

B. 2 Kings 21:2, He did evil in the sight of the LORD and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out from before the Israelites. (NET)

II. Following the detestable practices (abominations) of the nations (heathens) the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

A. This was as bad an assessment as could be made of evil King Manasseh!

1. Genesis 15:16, In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.” (NET)

2. Deuteronomy 9:4-5, Do not think to yourself after the LORD your God has driven them out before you, “Because of my own righteousness the LORD has brought me here to possess this land.” It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you. It is not because of your righteousness, or even your inner uprightness, that you have come here to possess their land. Instead, because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out ahead of you in order to confirm the promise he made on oath to



your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (NET)

3. Deuteronomy 18:9-14, When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is about to drive them out from before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen readers and diviners, but the LORD your God has not given you permission to do such things. (NET)

4. 2 Kings 17:8, 16-20, they observed the practices of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from before Israel, and followed the example of the kings of Israel. They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal. They passed their sons and daughters through the fire, and practiced divination and omen reading. They committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD and made him angry. So the LORD was furious with Israel and rejected them; only the tribe of Judah was left. Judah also failed to keep the commandments of the LORD their God; they followed Israel’s example. So the LORD rejected all



of Israel’s descendants; he humiliated them and handed them over to robbers, until he had thrown them from his presence. (NET)

2 Chronicles 33:3, He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them

I. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished;...

A. It is amazing to see the vacillations of Judah and its kings from repeatedly going from worshiping God to worshiping idols to worshiping God to ….

B. Idols and serving all manner of heathen deities were Judah’s besetting sins!

II. He also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles (groves), (the stocks) that set forth Astoreth.

A. 2 Kings 21:3, He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them. (NET)

B. Deuteronomy 16:21, You must not plant any kind of tree as a sacred Asherah pole near the altar of the LORD your God which you build for yourself. (NET)

III. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.

A. Manassseh forsook the exclusive worship of the God of his father in favor of the religious observances of the



Assyrians and other heathen nations neighboring Judah, (See Dillard.)

2 Chronicles 33:4, He built altars in the LORD’s temple, about which the LORD had said, “Jerusalem will be my permanent home.” (NET) I. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said,…

A. The temple envisioned by David and built by Solomon for the worship of Almighty God was all too often desecrated by: . . .

1. neglect,…

2. being used for the worship of heathen gods,…

3. having its contents used to pay tribute to Gentile enemies, and by …

4. being damaged and destroyed by Judah’s enemies.

II. ”My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”

A. God’s name, not some idol, was alone to be in Jerusalem and the temple. B. Deuteronomy 12:11, Then you must come to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to reside, bringing everything I am commanding you—your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, and all your choice votive offerings which you devote to him. (NET)



2 Chronicles 33:5, In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky. (NET) I. In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts.

A. “Both courts” refer to the holy place and the most holy place.

B. Manasseh polluted the entire temple!

C. Israel was forbidden to worship the stars, sun, moon and planets, but this did not deter Manasseh.

1. Deuteronomy 4:19, When you look up to the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—the whole heavenly creation—you must not be seduced to worship and serve them, for the LORD your God has assigned them to all the people of the world. (NET)

2. God’s people are not to be involved in astrology! 2 Chronicles 33:6, He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD and angered him. (NET) I. He sacrificed his sons in the fire (he made his sons pass through the fire) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom,…

A. 2 Kings 21:6, He passed his son through the fire and practiced divination and omen reading. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits, and appointed



magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. (NET) B. 2 Kings 16:3, He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. He passed his son through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out from before the Israelites. (NET) C. 2 Chronicles 28:3, He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites. (NET)

D. This horrible sin was literally child, human sacrifice!

E. Deuteronomy 18:9-13, When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is about to drive them out from before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. (NET) F. Micah 6:7, Will the LORD accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring—my own flesh and blood—for my sin? (NET) G. 2 Chronicles 28:1-4, Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in



Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the LORD, in contrast to his ancestor David. He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals. He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. (NET) H. The Valley of Ben (son of) Hinnom was a deep, narrow ravine west and south of Jerusalem. (Nelson’s New Illustrated bible Dictionary)

1. 2 Kings 23:10, The king ruined Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that no one could pass his son or his daughter through the fire to Molech. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 28:3, He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites. (NET) 3. Jeremiah 7:31-32, They have also built places of worship in a place called Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they can sacrifice their sons and daughters by fire. That is something I never commanded them to do! Indeed, it never even entered my mind to command such a thing! So, watch out!” says the LORD. “The time will soon come when people will no longer call those places Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom. But they will call that valley the Valley of Slaughter and they



will bury so many people in Topheth they will run out of room. (NET)

4. This place was also called “Tophet”. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible dictionary) II. Practiced sorcery (augury), divination and witchcraft, (witches), and consulted mediums and spiritists (wizards).

A. Leviticus 19:26b, 31, “‘You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying. “‘You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying. (NET) B. Deuteronomy 18:10-14, There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer. Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is about to drive them out from before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen readers and diviners, but the LORD your God has not given you permission to do such things. (NET)

C. 2 Chronicles 10:13-14, The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary



whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.” (NET)

D. Leviticus 18:10, You must not expose the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter by having sexual intercourse with them, because they are your own nakedness. (NET) E. Leviticus 20:6, 27, “‘The person who turns to the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits to commit prostitution by going after them, I will set my face against that person and cut him off from the midst of his people. “‘A man or woman who has in them a spirit of the dead or a familiar spirit must be put to death. They must pelt them with stones; their blood guilt is on themselves.’” (NET) F. Occult practices, such as fortunetelling and witchcraft, were common among the pagan nations of the ancient world. Attempting to control evil spirits was expressly forbidden to the Hebrew people. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

G. Augury is divination from auspices, omens or portents. (Merriam Webster)

H. Divination is the act or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers. (Merriam Webster) I. Sorcery is the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits. (Merriam Webster)



J. Witch is one that is credited with unusual malignant supernatural powers; especially a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar spirit. (Merriam Webster) K. Witchcraft is the use of sorcery or magic, communication with the devil or with a familiar spirit. (Merriam Webster) L. Medium is an individual held to be a channel of communication between the earthly world and a world of spirits. (Merriam Webster)

M. Wizard is thought to be one who has magical influence or power. (Merriam Webster) N. Spiritist, demonology, soothsayer are related terms. (See Bromiley.) III. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

A. The writer of 2 Kings 21 presents Manasseh as the nadir, lowest point, in the religious decline of Judah from which it did not recover until after the Babylonian Captivity. (See Dillard.) B. The writer of 2 Chronicles 33 does give Manasseh credit for his late in life repentance and good deeds.

2 Chronicles 33:7, He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. (NET)



I. He took the carved image (the idol) he had made and put it in God’s temple,…

A. Hicks suggested that Manasseh may have been embarrassed because all the surrounding nations had idol representations of their gods while Judah had no such representation of Jehovah.

B. Manasseh defiled God’s holy temple, a terrible and horrendous sin!

C. Clarke quoting the Targum wrote, “He set up an image, the likeness of himself, in the house of the sanctuary.”

1. The Targum supposed Manasseh wished to procure for himself Divine honors. (See Clarke.)

D. ”The ‘carved image’ is specifically an image of Asherah.”

1.2 Kings 21:7, He put an idol of Asherah he had made in the temple, about which the LORD had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. (NET)

II. Of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon,…

A. Manasseh acted here in direct violation of God’s specific, clear command!

1. Divine retribution and a “hook in his nose” awaited this sinner.

2. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap!

III. ”In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever.



A. Psalm 132:13-14, Certainly the LORD has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home. He said, “This will be my resting place forever; I will live here, for I have chosen it. (NET)

B. God’s name belonged in the temple, not some unauthorized altar and worship of hand carved idols and the worship of the creation rather than the Creator!

IV. I will not again make the feet of Israelites leave the land I assigned to your forefathers,…

A. This was a wonderful promise, but it was a conditional promise with a big IF attached!

V. IF only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and ordinances given through Moses.”

A. Judah did not keep its part of the contract, covenant and suffered mightily because of its failure!

2 Chronicles 33:9, But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed ahead of the Israelites. (NET)

I. But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray,…

A. 2 Kings 21:9, But they did not obey, and Manasseh misled them so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed from before the Israelites. (NET)

II. So that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.



A. This was the pits for Judah, as far down as they could go religiously.

1. They had hit rock bottom!

2. They had sunk lower than their heathen neighbors.

2 Chronicles 33:10, The LORD confronted Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. (NET)

I. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

A. 2 Kings 21:10-15, So the LORD announced through his servants the prophets: “King Manasseh of Judah has committed horrible sins. He has sinned more than the Amorites before him and has encouraged Judah to sin by worshiping his disgusting idols. So this is what the LORD God of Israel says, ‘I am about to bring disaster on Jerusalem and Judah. The news will reverberate in the ears of those who hear about it. I will destroy Jerusalem the same way I did Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem clean, just as one wipes a plate on both sides. I will abandon this last remaining tribe among my people and hand them over to their enemies; they will be plundered and robbed by all their enemies, because they have done evil in my sight and have angered me from the time their ancestors left Egypt right up to this very day!’” (NET)

B. Obstinate, rebellious, hard hearted, stiff necked apostates!

1. Are there modern day Manasseh’s still around?

2 Chronicles 33:11, So the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They seized



Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. (NET)

I. So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria,...

A. The information presented in verses 11-18 is found nowhere else in the Bible. (See Coffman.)

B. Exactly when in Manasseh’s reign these events occurred is not stated, but Ellison via Coffman “placed the event very late in Manasseh’s reign.”

1. “This explains why Manasseh’s repentance and reformation are not mentioned in 2 Kings, and why they left no lasting impression.” (See NBCR, p. 32, via Coffman.)

2. Further, “He was a vassal of Assyria and would have been afraid to remove (the idols) then. Such subservience of Manasseh to the Assyrian overlords has been proved by the Babylonian inscriptions.” (See AAOT, p. 280, via Coffman.)

3. J. Barton Payne in Wycliffe Bible Commentary via Coffman wrote, “It was perhaps in 648 B.C., when Ashurbanipal overcame a four year revolt led by his brother in Babylon. Egypt took that opportunity to throw off the Assyrian yoke, and Manasseh might have attempted the same thing with less success.”

C. The Pulpit Commentary states “the King of Assyria was either Esarhaddan, B. C. 680, or less probably, his son, Ashurbanipal, B. C. 667-647.

II. Who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.



A. Hicks spoke of a certain scenario in Assyrian history which might account for this exile as well as its location in Babylon. “There appears to have been an internal Assyrian civil strife at the time Manasseh was taken captive. Shamash-shum-ukin, king of Babylon (652-648 B. C.) and brother of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, rebelled and enlisted support from several nations, including some Phoenicians and Arab tribes near Judah. Ashurbanipal defeated his brother in 648 B.C. and marched against his allies. If Manasseh joined the rebellion, Ashurbanipal would have marched against him. Consequently, it is probable that Ashurbanipal defeated Manasseh as part of his brother’s attempted coup d’etat. Ashurbanipal would have taken Manasseh to Babylon (the site of the rebellion and his imperial location for a few years). Chronicle’s placement of Manasseh in Babylon correlated with the only time Assyrian monarchs were located there.”

B. Hicks wrote, “The method by which Manasseh was transported is well known from reliefs that picture captives led by a chain anchored in their noses and shackles on their feet.”

C. Manasseh suffered God’s retribution for his horrible wickedness!

1. He was treated here as if he had been an animal. (Dillard)

D. God fought for his righteous people, but delivered his wayward people into the hands of their enemies.

1. 1 Chronicles 15:11, David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. (NET)



2. 1 Chronicles 18:4, David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s chariot horses. (NET)

3. 2 Chronicles 13:19, Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns. (NET)

4. 2 Chronicles 12:4, He captured the fortified cities of Judah and marched against Jerusalem. (NET)

5. 2 Chronicles 28:18, The Philistines had raided the cities of Judah in the lowlands and the Negev. They captured and settled in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its surrounding villages, Timnah and its surrounding villages, and Gimzo and its surrounding villages. (NET)

6. 2 Chronicles 32:11, Hezekiah says, “The LORD our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria.” But he is misleading you and you will die of hunger and thirst! (NET)

7. 2 Kings 19:28, Because you rage against me, and the uproar you create has reached my ears; I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle between your lips, and I will lead you back the way you came.” (NET)



8. Ezekiel 19:4, The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit. They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. (NET)

9. 2 Chronicles 36:6, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. (NET)

2 Chronicles 33:12, In his pain Manasseh asked the LORD his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. (NET)

I. In his distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his father.

A. “When God’s people turn to him, he returns to them.”

1. 2 Chronicles 7:14, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (NET)

B. When things are going well some don’t see a strong need for God.

1. Manasseh’s idols didn’t save him.

2. When Manasseh’s nose had a hook in it, he prayed to God, remembered the God of his father.

C. Some, however, when in trouble, curse God.

1. Revelation 16:8-9, Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire. Thus people were scorched



by the terrible heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory. (NET)

2. Revelation 16:10-11, Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds. (NET)

2 Chronicles 33:13, When he prayed to the LORD, the LORD responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The LORD brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the LORD is the true God. (NET)

I. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to this plea;…

A. 2 Chronicles 6:33, Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you. (NET)

B. Hicks wrote, “The story of Manasseh underscores the grace of God like no other text in Scripture.”

1. Romans 5:20, Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, (NET)



2. Luke 23:39-43, One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NET)

3. 1 Timothy 1:16, But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. (NET)

C. Since God heard wicked Manasseh when he repented, there is hope for us all!

II. So he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.

A. AnBi, Chronicles, p. 198, via Coffman wrote, “It may be taken for granted that vassal kings were allowed to return to their countries after being put under the threat of divine retribution with its terrible consequences.”

B. Hicks wrote, “Manasseh is mentioned in the Assyrian records as a loyal vassal who provides labor, military assistance, and supplies for Assyrian interests and military campaigns.”

C. “There is evidence of leniency on the part of Ashurbanipal toward some of his rebellious vassals,” Hicks wrote,



especially those in his western regions who could serve as buffers between Assyria and Egypt.

D. Ashurbanipal’s defeat of his brother in 648 B.C., if this is the correct setting of these events, places Manasseh’s repentance in his old age and his reformation was short. (See Hicks.)

E. Manasseh’s repentance, forgiveness and return from Babylon to Jerusalem would certainly have encouraged those who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity to whom the Chronicler wrote. (See Hicks.)

III. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

A. Only the Almighty God could or would have acted so graciously toward Manasseh and Judah!

2 Chronicles 33:14, Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah. (NET)

I. Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher.

A. “Upon his return to Jerusalem, Manasseh initiated a national renewal in building projects, fortifications, and religious reformation,” Hicks wrote.

B. These military constructions would better enable Manasseh to defend the western region from encroachments



against Assyria as well as to defend Judah against its enemies. (See Hicks.)

II. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

A. These military fortifications both protected Judah and served as a buffer between Assyria and Egypt.

2 Chronicles 33:15, He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. (NET)

I. He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the LORD, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.

A. Manasseh who had been the leader in apostacy now becomes leader in the return to God.

1. Who are the leaders you are following?

B. Dillard wrote that Manasseh’s reforms were not complete and/or permanent, long lasting because Josiah later had to remove altars Manasseh had built from the temple.

1. 2 Kings 23:12, The king tore down the altars the kings of Judah had set up on the roof of Ahaz’s upper room, as well as the altars Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple. He crushed them up and threw the dust in the Kidron Valley. (NET)

2. Jeremiah 15:4, I will make all the people in all the kingdoms of the world horrified at what has



happened to them because of what Hezekiah’s son Manasseh, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.” (NET)

2 Chronicles 33:16, He erected the altar of the LORD and offered on it peace offerings and thank offerings. He told the people of Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. (NET)

I. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it,…

A. Fellowship offerings, also known as Peace offerings, heave offerings and wave offerings, were bloody offerings presented to God designed to restore a right and meaningful relationship with God and with life itself. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Deuteronomy 12:18, Only in the presence of the LORD your God may you eat these, in the place he chooses. This applies to you, your son, your daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages. In that place you will rejoice before the LORD your God in all the output of your labor. (NET)

2. Deuteronomy 16:11, You shall rejoice before him—you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites in your villages, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows among you—in the place where the LORD chooses to locate his name. (NET)

3. Judges 20:26, So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the LORD; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the LORD. (NET)



4. Judges 21:4, The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace. (NET)

B. Thank offerings were bloody offerings presented for unintentional or intentional sins of a lesser degree and for which the violator could make restitution. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Leviticus 5:1-5, “‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity. Or when there is a person who touches anything ceremonially unclean, whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or the carcass of an unclean domesticated animal, or the carcass of an unclean creeping thing, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has become unclean and is guilty; or when he touches human uncleanness with regard to anything by which he can become unclean, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty; or when a person swears an oath, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, whether to do evil or to do good, with regard to anything which the individual might speak thoughtlessly in an oath, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty with regard to one of these oaths— when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things he must confess how he has sinned (NET)

2. Thank offerings were a kind of peace offering given in response to special divine blessings, vows associated



with special divine requests and freewill offerings presented in worship and praise. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

II. and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

A. Manasseh evidenced the fruits of repentance!

1. His repentance was genuine.

2 Chronicles 33:17, No valid results were found for your search. Try refining your search using the form above. To find out more about refining searches and using the search form effectively, visit the frequently-asked questions page. (NET)

I. The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

A. “This was still contrary to the Mosaic Law and actually little more than applying a new name to the old Baal worship,” Coffman quoted WBC, p.417.

B. Coffman wrote that, “These reforms in Manasseh’s reign came far too late to have much effect; and besides that, his reign probably was concluded before he had finished all that he planned to do.” … Manasseh’s reforms left much to be desired!

2 Chronicles 33:18, The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. (NET)

I. The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the lord, the God of Israel,…



A. 2 Kings 21:10-18, So the LORD announced through his servants the prophets: “King Manasseh of Judah has committed horrible sins. He has sinned more than the Amorites before him and has encouraged Judah to sin by worshiping his disgusting idols. So this is what the LORD God of Israel says, ‘I am about to bring disaster on Jerusalem and Judah. The news will reverberate in the ears of those who hear about it. I will destroy Jerusalem the same way I did Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem clean, just as one wipes a plate on both sides. I will abandon this last remaining tribe among my people and hand them over to their enemies; they will be plundered and robbed by all their enemies, because they have done evil in my sight and have angered me from the time their ancestors left Egypt right up to this very day!’” Furthermore Manasseh killed so many innocent people, he stained Jerusalem with their blood from end to end, in addition to encouraging Judah to sin by doing evil in the sight of the LORD. The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign and all his accomplishments, as well as the sinful acts he committed, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzzah, and his son Amon replaced him as king. (NET)

II. are written in the annals of the kings of Israel (that is, Judah, as frequently used in 2 Chronicles).

A. This book is lost to history.

2 Chronicles 33:19, The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the LORD responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites



where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. (NET)

I. His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty,…

A. 1 Chronicles 5:25, But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them. (NET)

B. 1 Chronicles 9:1, Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. (NET)

C. 1 Chronicles 10:13, So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD and did not obey the LORD’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. (NET)

D. 2. Chronicles 12:2, Because they were unfaithful to the LORD, in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. (NET)

E. 2 Chronicles 7:14, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (NET)

II. as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols…

A. Although Manasseh repented late in life, his long sinful life will never be forgotten not its effects on Judah and Manasseh’s family negated.

III. before he humbled himself . . .



A. Things changed for the better when Manasseh changed!

IV. are all written in the records of the seers (of Hozai, Chozai.)

A. “The Syriac has Hunan the prophet; and the Arabic has Saphan the prophet,” Clarke wrote.

2 Chronicles 33:20, Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace. His son Amon replaced him as king. (NET)

I. Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace, his own house, his palace garden, in the garden of his own house, in the garden that formerly belonged to Uzza, Uzzah.

A. 2 Kings 21:18, Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzzah, and his son Amon replaced him as king.(NET)

1. Manasseh is the fifth (5th) king of whom it is noted that he was not buried in the royal tombs. (Dillard)

B. This contrasts markedly with the great honor that was bestowed upon Manasseh’s father, good king Hezekiah!

1. 2 Chronicles 32:33, Hezekiah passed away and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor. His son Manasseh replaced him as king. .(NET)

C. The Pulpit Commentary places Manasseh’s death at age sixty-seven (67), based on the fact that Manasseh was twelve (12) years of age when he became king and a reign of fifty-five (55) years.

II. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.



A. Older children of Manasseh had been made human sacrifices.

B. For whatever reasons, Amon, born when Manasseh was forty-five (45) years of age, succeeded his father as king of Judah.

Amon King of Judah

2 Chronicles 33:21, Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. (NET)

I. Amon was twenty-two (22) years old when he became king, and…

A. 2 Kings 21:19, Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz, from Jotbah. (NET)

B. Manasseh was forty-five (45) years of age when Amon was born.

1. The Pulpit Commentary concludes that several of Manasseh’s children had been sacrificed in the fire and that Amon was the remaining firstborn.

C. Amon’s mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbab, of whom nothing more is known.

1. 2 Kings 21:19, Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz, from Jotbah. (NET)

III. he reigned in Jerusalem two years.



A. Amon’s reign is dated, according to Coffman, 642-640 B.C.

2 Chronicles 33:22, He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just like his father Manasseh had done. He offered sacrifices to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped them. (NET)

I. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done.

A. Amon followed in his father’s evil way.

B. Partners, take careful note of this!

II. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all (carved) idols Manasseh had made.

A. “Amon was the unhappy product of his father’s pagan life, …”, Coffman wrote quoting WYC, p. 417.

B. Amon imitated his father’s vices, but not his repentance.

2 Chronicles 33:23, He did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done. Amon was guilty of great sin. (NET)

I. But unlike his father Manasseh, Amon did not humble himself before the Lord; . . .

A. Manasseh humbled himself and God blessed his last years.

B. Amon did not humble himself and was assassinated!

II. Amon increased his guilt, trespassed more and more.

A. The guilt of Manasseh, Amon and Judah itself was cumulative.



1. Things eventually became as bad as when Judah was taken into Babylonian Captivity where they languished for seventy (70) years while Jerusalem and the temple lay in ruins.

2 Chronicles 33:24, His servants conspired against him and killed him in his palace. (NET)

I. Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace.

A. Exactly why Amon was assassinated is not known. (See Hicks and Coffman)

1. The identity of these “officials” is consequently not definitely known either. (See Dillard.)

B. Malamat via Hicks “believes it was the result of political intrigue in which pro-Egyptian officials murdered him because he was pro-Assyrian.”

C. “Others,” Hicks wrote, “suggest that it was motivated by religious convictions in which pro-reform officials (late Manasseh) sought to reverse Amon’s religious policies.” (Also see Dillard.)

D. In any event, “Amon suffered the fate of those who do not seek God.” (See Hicks)

E. Similar executions involved Joash and Amaziah.

1. 2 Kings 14:5, When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 24:25-26, When they withdrew, they left Joash badly wounded. His servants plotted



against him because of what he had done to the son of Jehoiada the priest. They murdered him on his bed. Thus he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. The conspirators were Zabad son of Shimeath (an Ammonite woman) and Jehozabad son of Shimrith (a Moabite woman). (NET)

3. 2 Chronicles 25:27, The list of Joash’s sons, the many prophetic oracles pertaining to him, and the account of his building project on God’s temple are included in the record of the Scroll of the Kings. His son Amaziah replaced him as king. (NET)

F. Amon, like his father Manasseh, was buried in the garden of Uzza.

1. 2 Kings 21:26, He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzzah, and his son Josiah replaced him as king. (NET)

2 Chronicles 33:25, The people of the land executed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place. (NET) I. Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon,… A. Evidently this indicates a lack of popular support for what the conspirators had done. (See Hicks.) B. The Chronicler does not even bother to cite Amon’s burial site! (See Hicks)

1. 2 Kings 21:25-26, The rest of Amon’s accom-plishments are recorded in the scroll called the



Annals of the Kings of Judah. He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzzah, and his son Josiah replaced him as king. (NET)

II. and they made Josiah his son king in his place! A. Dillard wrote, “If Amon was twenty-two (22) when he became king and ruled for two (2) years, Josiah was born when Amon was about sixteen (16) years old.” Conclusion: I. Manasseh led Judah astray. (See Hicks) A. 2 Chronicles 33:7, He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. B. 2 Chronicles 33:4-5, He built altars in the LORD’s temple, about which the LORD had said, “Jerusalem will be my permanent home.” In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky. (NET) C. 2 Chronicles 33:9, But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed ahead of the Israelites. (NET)

D. 2 Chronicles 33:6-7, He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed



magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD and angered him. He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home. (NET)

II. Manasseh repented, humbled himself, and God forgave him. (See Hicks) A. 2 Chronicles 7:14, if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. . (NET) B. Since God forgave Manasseh, the returning exiles could hope that God would forgive them also. C. Since God forgave Manasseh, there is hope for you and me also. III. Manasseh reversed his conduct and produced fruits of repentance. (See Hicks.) A. 2 Chronicles 33:15, He removed the foreign gods and images from the LORD’s temple and all the altars he had built on the hill of the LORD’s temple and in Jerusalem; he threw them outside the city. (NET)

B. 2 Chronicles 33:16, He erected the altar of the LORD and offered on it peace offerings and thank offerings. He told the people of Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. (NET)



C. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13, In his pain Manasseh asked the LORD his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. When he prayed to the LORD, the LORD responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The LORD brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the LORD is the true God. (NET) IV. There was no way Manasseh could make right the wrong he had done! A. So it is with us! B. “It is difficult to undo the harm one has done with his own life,” Hicks wrote. “Nevertheless, God is merciful, compassionate, and gracious.”



Questions

On

2 Chronicles 33:1-25

(Questions based on NIV Text.) 1.Where in the Bible do we read about King Manasseh? ________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Where in the Bible do we read about King Amon? ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. ____________ and ____________ were both ____________, ____________ ____________, sandwiched between ____________ ____________ ____________ , ____________ and ____________. 4. ____________ ____________ himself while ____________ did not himself. ____________ looks with .____________ on the ____________, but the ____________. 5. ____________ was ____________ years old when he became ____________ and he reigned in ____________ . ____________-



____________ ( ) years, longer than any other king of ___________. 6. ____________ ‘s father was ____________ and his mother was ____________. 7. What could reasonably be expected of a twelve (12) year old king without a wise and devout advisor?_____________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Why did Manasseh, the son of good King Hezekiah, do “evil in the eyes of the Lord”? ___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Manasseh followed “the ____________ ____________ of the ________________ the ____________ had driven out before the ________________.” He even ____________ the ____________ ________________ his ____________ ____________ had ________________.” 10. Describe the Baals and Asherahs. Over what were they thought to have power? How were they worshiped? Why was Judah tempted to worship these gods? ____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Manasseh worshiped all the “Starry hosts”. What exactly does the Bible say about this practice? Who worships the “starry hosts” today? _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. How was the temple, envisioned by David and built by Solomon for the worship of Almighty God, desecrated? ________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. What did Manasseh do in regard to the temple and its misuse? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Manasseh made his sons pass through the fire. What does this mean? _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



15. Where was the Valley of Ben Hinnon? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. Describe the following sinful practices in which Manasseh participated. Sorcery_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Augery__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Divination_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Witchcraft_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Medium consultation ____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Spiritism________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17.What similar practices are observed today? What does the Bible say about the occult? _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. Manasseh did ________________ ________________ in the _____________, ____________ him to ____________ . How would you like for God to be angry with you? ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. Manasseh made a carved image and put it in God’s temple. What behooved him to do such a thing? _____________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. God promised that he would never again cause Israel to leave the promised land: Why, then, did the Israelites find themselves in Assyria and Babylon? ___________________________________ ______________________________________________________



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. How evil did Judah become? ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22. The ____________ ____________ to ____________ and his ____________ , but they ____________ ____________ _______________________ . 23. What happened to Manasseh and Judah because of their sins?__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. Why was Manasseh taken to Babylon instead of to Ninevah? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 25. In his ____________ Manasseh ____________ the ____________ of the ____________ his ____________ and ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ the ____________.



26. Some, however, when in trouble, dire straits, ____________ ____________. Give examples of this. ______________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. When Manasseh ____________ to God, the ____________ was ____________ by his ____________ and ____________ to his ____________. “The ____________ of ____________ ____________the ____________ of ____________ like no other text in ____________. “ (Hicks) Since ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ when he ____________, there is ____________ for ____________ ____________. 28. In what political situation did Manasseh find himself when he returned to Jerusalem? ___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. Manasseh’s Babylonian “distress” made a new man out of him. In what ways was he different? ____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



30.What purposes were served by Manasseh’s construction projects? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31.What did Manasseh do to reverse the evils of his pre-Babylonian conduct? ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 32. Define: Fellowship offerings ___________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank offerings ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Peace offerings _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Heave offerings ________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Wave offerings _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 33. Manasseh told Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. Did they listen? Earlier in life when Manasseh told Judah to worship idols, did they listen? Why the difference in response? ______________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 34.Was God pleased with the people’s sacrifices made at the high places located throughout Judah? Why or why not? ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 35. How lasting were Manasseh’s reforms? __________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 36. What did the Lord say to Manasseh through the prophets? (See 2 Kings 21:10-18.) ______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 37. List things, both good and bad, that Manasseh did. __________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 38.What honors were bestowed on Manasseh when he died? How old was he when he died? What do these facts say to us? _______ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 39. Why was Amon, born when Manasseh was forty-five (45) years old, chosen to become king upon his father’s death? He was certainly not Manasseh’s firstborn. _________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 40. ____________ was ____________ - ____________ ( ) years old when he became ____________ , and he ____________ in ____________ ____________ years. 41. ____________ did ____________ in the ____________ of the ____________ , as his ____________ ____________ had done.



42. Amon followed in his father’s evil ways. What message is there in this for today’s parents? ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 43.” ____________ was the ____________ ____________ of his ____________’s ____________ ,… “____________ imitated his ____________’s ____________ , but ____________ his ____________. Unlike his ____________ ____________, ____________ did not ____________ himself before the ____________. 44. ____________ ____________ himself and ____________ ____________his ____________ ____________. ____________ did not ____________ himself and was ____________ . 45. ____________ increased his ____________ , ____________ ____________ and ____________. ____________’s ____________ ____________ against him and ____________ him in his ____________. 46. Why was Amon killed? _______________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 47. Where was Amon buried? What honors were bestowed on Amon when he expired? _________________________________ ______________________________________________________



________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 48. Upon the death of Amon, his son ____________ became king. 49. ______________ led ______________ ____________. He ________________, ____________ himself, and ____________ _______________ him. ______________ ______________ his ______________ and produced ____________ of ____________. 50. There was ____________ ____________ ____________ could make ____________ the ____________ he had done. It is to undo the harm one has done with his ___________ ___________. Nevertheless, ____________ is ____________ , ____________, and ____________.


Manasseh King of Judah - Bible Study Workshopbiblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_chronicles/2... 2 Manasseh King of Judah Amon King of Judah Text: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25, 1. Manasseh

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