Manasseh

Portrait of Manasseh

Manasseh reigned as king of Judah for fifty-five years and became the most wicked ruler in the nation's history by promoting idolatry, child sacrifice, sorcery, and the shedding of vast amounts of innocent blood that filled Jerusalem from one end to the other. These actions exceeded the sins of the pagan nations the Lord had previously driven out, provoking divine judgment that resulted in his capture by Assyrian forces and exile in chains to Babylon. While imprisoned, Manasseh humbled himself, prayed to God, and genuinely repented, leading the Lord to restore him to his throne in Jerusalem. His story, recorded especially in 2 Chronicles 33, illustrates both the severe national consequences of royal apostasy and God's remarkable mercy toward even the most notorious sinners who turn back to him in faith.

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Biography

Born
c. 709 BC, Jerusalem
Died
c. 643 BC, Jerusalem
Occupation
King of Judah
Tribe
Judah
Father
Hezekiah
Mother
Hephzibah
Children
Amon
Era
Divided Kingdom (c. 697-643 BC)
Nationality
Judean

Family

Parents
Hezekiah Hephzibah
โ†“
Manasseh
โ†“
Children
Amon
Old Testament Divided Kingdom King Villain 2 Kings

Did You Know?

1

Manasseh's 55-year reign was the longest of any king in Judah or Israel, yet the Bible records that he sacrificed his own son as a burnt offering to Molech and erected altars to foreign gods inside the Jerusalem temple itself.

2

Jewish tradition holds that Manasseh ordered the prophet Isaiah to be sawn in half inside a hollow log, an event alluded to in the New Testament's reference to prophets being 'sawn in two' (Hebrews 11:37).

3

After being captured by Assyrian forces and taken in chains to Babylon, Manasseh genuinely repented, leading God to restore him to his throne. An outcome unique among Judah's kings and recorded in 2 Chronicles 33.

4

Manasseh's extensive shedding of innocent blood in Jerusalem was so severe that later prophets, including Jeremiah, cited it as a primary reason the city ultimately fell to the Babylonians despite his personal repentance.

5

The short apocryphal 'Prayer of Manasseh,' preserved in some ancient Christian manuscripts, is a penitential composition attributed to the king that emphasizes God's boundless mercy toward even the most notorious sinners.

Key Passages

Manasseh's Wickedness

2 Kings 21:1-9

Manasseh's story warns how a leader's embrace of evil can corrupt an entire nation, underscoring our need for faithful obedience to God.

M1anasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his motherโ€™s name was Hephzibah.

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. 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. 4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 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. 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: 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. 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 21 โ†’

Manasseh's Repentance

2 Chronicles 33:10-16

This passage shows that even the most rebellious heart can find full restoration through humble repentance and God's mercy.

A10nd 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Chronicles 33 โ†’

God Heard His Prayer

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

This passage shows that even the most hardened sinner can find mercy and restoration through humble prayer.

A12nd 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Chronicles 33 โ†’

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