2 Kings - Chapter 21

2 Kings 21.1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 Kings 21.2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 2 Kings 21.3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 2 Kings 21.4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. 2 Kings 21.5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 2 Kings 21.6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 2 Kings 21.7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: 2 Kings 21.8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. 2 Kings 21.9 But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel. 2 Kings 21.10 And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying, 2 Kings 21.11 Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: 2 Kings 21.12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. 2 Kings 21.13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. 2 Kings 21.14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; 2 Kings 21.15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. 2 Kings 21.16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. 2 Kings 21.17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 2 Kings 21.18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. 2 Kings 21.19 Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 2 Kings 21.20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did. 2 Kings 21.21 And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: 2 Kings 21.22 And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD. 2 Kings 21.23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. 2 Kings 21.24 And 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. 2 Kings 21.25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 2 Kings 21.26 And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Kings : Chapter 21

The Evil Reigns of Manasseh and Ammon in Judah

Chapter 21 of the book of 2 Kings delves into the dark reigns of Manasseh and Ammon, revealing how royal apostasy can profoundly affect the destiny of a nation. This text depicts Manasseh's extreme idolatry, the shedding of innocent blood, and the brevity of Ammon's reign. Through this narrative, we explore important themes such as the generational consequences of sin, God's infinite patience, and the point of no return in divine judgment.

Furthermore, 2 Kings 21 sets the stage for the essential reforms that Josiah would implement. Let's reflect together on five biblical passages that resonate with the crucial themes of this alarming chapter.

Jeremiah 15:4

"I will make them odious to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah, and because of all that he has done to Jerusalem. » This verse from Jeremiah underscores the lasting consequences of Manasseh's reign, as described in 2 Kings 21, and highlights the impact of his actions on Judah.

2 Chronicles 33:11-13

“The Lord sent against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who seized Manasseh, put a hook through his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him to Babylon. In his distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord heard him and granted his request; then he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” » This passage from Chronicles gives us a glimpse of Manasseh's repentance, a key aspect not mentioned in 2 Kings 21.

Zephaniah 1:4-5

"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will eliminate from this place the last vestiges of Baal, the names of the idolatrous priests and the priests, those who bow down on the terraces and worship the stars, those who bow down and swear by the Lord, and those who swear by Molech. » Zephaniah prophesies against idolatrous practices in Judah, which flourished under the reign of Manasseh, as described in 2 Kings 21.

Jeremiah 32:34-35

"They set up their detestable idols in the temple that bears my name and desecrated it. They built altars to Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, although I never commanded them, and it never occurred to me that they would commit such a heinous act, causing Judah to sin. » Jeremiah here condemns idolatrous practices, including child sacrifice, which were introduced during the reign of Manasseh, as recounted in 2 Kings 21.

Micah 3:9-12

“Hear this, you leaders of the descendants of Jacob, leaders of the nation of Israel, who hate justice and pervert all righteousness; who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with wickedness. Their rulers judge for bribes, their priests teach for profit, and their prophets prophesy for money. Yet they always rely on the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is among us; no evil will befall us.’” "Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the Temple hill will become a thicket." This prophecy of Micah denounces the corruption and injustice in Jerusalem, which marked the reigns of Manasseh and Ammon, as described in 2 Kings 21.