2 Kings 21

2Ki 21:1-18.

MANASSEH'S

WICKED

REIGN, AND

GREAT

IDOLATRY.

1-3. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign--He must have

been born three years after his father's recovery; and his minority,

spent under the influence of guardians who were hostile to the

religious principles and reforming policy of his father, may account in

part for the anti-theocratic principles of his reign. The work of

religious reformation which Hezekiah had zealously carried on was but

partially accomplished. There was little appearance of its influence on

the heart and manners of the people at large. On the contrary, the true

fear of God had vanished from the mass of the people; corruption and

vice increased, and were openly practised

(Isa 28:7,

&c.) by the degenerate leaders, who, having got the young prince

Manasseh into their power, directed his education, trained him up in

their views, and seduced him into the open patronage of idolatry.

Hence, when he became sovereign, he introduced the worship of idols,

the restoration of high places, and the erection of altars or pillars

to Baal, and the placing, in the temple of God itself, a graven image

of Asherah, the sacred or symbolic tree, which represented "all the

host of heaven." This was not idolatry, but pure star-worship, of

Chaldaic and Assyrian origin [KEIL]. The sun, as

among the Persians, had chariots and horses consecrated to it

(2Ki 23:11);

and incense was offered to the stars on the housetops

(2Ki 23:12;

2Ch 33:5;

Jer 19:13;

Zep 1:5),

and in the temple area with the face turned toward the sunrise

(Eze 8:16).

5. the two courts of the house of the Lord--the court of the priests,

and the large court of the people.

6. made his son pass through the

fire--(See on

2Ki 16:3).

observed times--from an observation of the clouds.

used enchantments--jugglery and spells.

dealt with familiar spirits--Septuagint, "ventriloquists," who

pretended to ask counsel of a familiar spirit and gave the response

received from him to others.

and wizards--wise or knowing ones, who pretended to reveal secrets,

to recover things lost and hidden treasure, and to interpret dreams. A

great influx of these impostors had, at various times, poured from

Chaldea into the land of Israel to pursue their gainful occupations,

especially during the reigns of the latter kings; and Manasseh was not

only their liberal patron, but zealous to appear himself an adept in

the arts. He raised them to be an influential class at his court, as

they were in that of Assyria and Babylon, where nothing was done till

they had ascertained the lucky hour and were promised a happy issue.

7. And he set a graven image--The placing of the Asherah within the

precincts of the temple, which was dedicated to the worship of the true

God, is dwelt upon as the most aggravated outrage of the royal

idolater.

8. Neither will I make the feet of Israel move . . . out of the land

which I gave their fathers--alluding to the promise

(2Sa 7:10).

only if they will observe, &c.--This condition was expressed from the

first plantation of Israel in Canaan. But that people not only did not

keep it, but through the pernicious influence of Manasseh, were seduced

into greater excesses of idolatrous corruption than even the original

Canaanites.

10-17. And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets--These were

Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Isaiah. Their counsels, admonitions,

and prophetic warnings, were put on record in the national chronicles

(2Ch 33:18)

and now form part of the sacred canon.

12. whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle--a strong

metaphorical form of announcing an extraordinary and appalling event

(see

1Sa 3:11;

Jer 19:3;

also

Hab 1:5).

13. the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab--Captives

doomed to destruction were sometimes grouped together and marked off by

means of a measuring-line and plummet

(2Sa 8:2;

Isa 34:11;

Am 7:7);

so that the line of Samaria means the line drawn for the destruction of

Samaria; the plummet of the house of Ahab, for exterminating his

apostate family; and the import of the threatening declaration here is

that Judah would be utterly destroyed, as Samaria and the dynasty of

Ahab had been.

I will wipe Jerusalem, &c.--The same doom is denounced more strongly

in a figure unmistakably significant.

14. I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance--The people of

Judah, who of all the chosen people alone remained. The consequence of

the Lord's forsaking them would be their fall into the power of their

enemies.

16. Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood--Not content with the

patronage and the practice of idolatrous abomination, he was a cruel

persecutor of all who did not conform. The land was deluged with the

blood of good men; among whom it is traditionally said Isaiah suffered

a horrid death, by being sawn asunder

(see on

Heb 11:37).

2Ki 21:19-26.

AMON'S

WICKED

REIGN.

19-24. Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign--This

prince continued the idolatrous policy of his father; and, after an

inglorious reign of two years, he was massacred by some of his own

domestics. The people slew the regicide conspirators and placed his son

Josiah on the throne.