Manasseh II Chronicles 33

II Chronicles 33:1 "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem;" See II Kings 21:1 also

It seems a long time for a bad king to reign but there is a difference with Manasseh. He turned his life around by humbling himself before God.

v2 "But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel."

He did the usual stuff but with a lot of enthusiasm.
v3 "For he built again the high places... v4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD... v5 And he built altars ...in the two courts... v6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire...observed times, and used enchantments...witchcraft...v7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made in the house of God..."

He tried about everything that was against the teachings of the law, so it appears. He did not get away with it though.

v10 "And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they would not hearken. v11 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."

Manasseh had a good example in Hezekiah but there must have been other influences in his life. It is often the case when a man of God is off busy with the LORD's work, his children take advantage of his absence to do mischief. Most grow out of it and return to their teachings, some do not.

v12 "And when he was in affliction he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. v13 And prayed..."

God heard and brought him back to his homeland where he tried to undo all the evil he had done such as set up the idols. He started out really bad but ended up trying to honor God.

He had a son named Amon who started to reign at 22 years old but did evil. He reigned only two years before his servants killed him who in turn lost their lives to the people. Instead of humbling himself as his father did v23 "...Amon trespassed more and more."

Isaiah 32:1 "Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment."

Manasseh humbles himself before the Lord.

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