2 Kings 21

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 21 of 25

1 Manasseh was a son of twelve years when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Hephzibah.

2 And he did the evil in the eyes of Jehovah, like the disgusting things of the nations that Jehovah dispossessed from before the sons of Israel.

3 And he built again the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab the king of Israel, and worshiped all the host of the heavens, and served them.

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Chapter Summary

Manasseh's reign. His wickedness causes prophecies against Judah. Amon succeeds him. He is slain by his servants and Josiah is made king.

Key Hebrew Words

רַע evil H7451 · TWOT 2191c
תּוֹעֵבָה abomination H8441 · TWOT 2530a
בָּמָה high place H1116 · TWOT 253
גִּלּוּל idol H1544 · TWOT 353h
מִזְבֵּחַ altar H4196 · TWOT 525b
דָּם blood H1818 · TWOT 436

People & Context

Manasseh

Son of Hezekiah; reigns fifty-five years in Jerusalem doing great evil, rebuilding idolatry and shedding innocent blood.

Amon

Manasseh's son who reigns two years in his father's wicked ways; conspired against and killed by his own servants.

Josiah

Amon's son, made king by the people of the land after Amon's assassination.

Hezekiah

Manasseh's righteous father, whose high places Manasseh rebuilt after he had destroyed them.

Hephzibah

Mother of Manasseh, named at the start of his reign.

Meshullemeth

Daughter of Haruz of Jotbah, mother of Amon.

Timeline

Manasseh's Wicked Reign

Manasseh begins a 55-year reign, doing immense evil, rebuilding high places, worshipping the host of heaven, and putting an Asherah in the temple.

2 Kings 21:1-9
Prophets Announce Jerusalem's Doom

God's prophets declare that because of Manasseh's horrific sins, Jehovah will bring disaster, wiping Jerusalem completely clean like a dish.

2 Kings 21:10-15
Manasseh Sheds Innocent Blood

In addition to his idolatry, Manasseh fills Jerusalem with innocent blood from one end to the other.

2 Kings 21:16

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