Read 2 Kings 21
Manasseh King of Judah
21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” 5 In the two courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.
7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.” 9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
10 The Lord said through his servants the prophets: 11 “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. 12 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; 15 they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”
16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
17 As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 18 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
Amon King of Judah
19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. 20 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. 22 He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.
23 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. 24 Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.
25 As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.
Go Deeper
This lesson explores leadership and legacy, as well as sin and redemption. King Manasseh is known as one of the most evil kings in Judah’s history, but there is more to his story than we read in chapter 21. His life ultimately points to a God rich in mercy.
King Manasseh was 12 years old when he ascended to the throne of Judah. Manasseh was born during the last 15 years of his father, Hezekiah’s, life. However, he did not follow the legacy and leadership of his father’s faithfulness to God. Manasseh’s reign was marked by sin for almost 55 years. As detailed in verses 3-9, Manasseh led idol worship outside and inside the Temple, sacrificed his own son, and led his people away from God to commit more evil than the nations before them. Later, we learn that shedding of innocent blood filled Jerusalem and the prophets of the day warn of Judah’s impending disaster. Before Manasseh dies, we see a significant turn of events occur.
Manasseh’s evil reign is also recorded in 2 Chronicles 33. This account adds that he is captured, taken to Babylon as a prisoner, and finds himself in a dark place. “In his distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly…when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). The chapter also describes how Manasseh began to serve and follow God, urging the people of Judah to do the same. There were still consequences to his sin, but his leadership and legacy began a shift back to serving God. Within 2 years of his death, his grandson, Josiah, would continue to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
We serve a God of great mercy. His mercy is even given to those who appear to be beyond redemption. “If we confess our sins, then he is faithful and just and will forgive us” (1 John 1:9). No one is beyond redemption!
Questions
- What do we learn from how God reacts to Manasseh’s prayer?
- Do you, or someone you know, feel like your life is beyond redemption? Allow the truth to encourage you or use it to encourage someone else.
- Is there anything that you are holding onto with pride? Pray and ask God to help you, like Manasseh, change.
A Quote
Charles Spurgeon, the 19th century British preacher, once said, “Oh! I do not wonder at Manasseh’s sin one half so much as I wonder at God’s mercy.”
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].
7 responses to “2 Kings 21”
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:7-8).
There’s no greater responsibility given parents than to pass on a legacy of faith to their children. Moses gave this charge to the Israelites and it’s certainly applicable to us. Notice the action verbs given within these verses—love, teach, talk, walk, bind, write—no passivity, but diligence and intentionality is required. Ultimately, it’s committing all our ways to him trusting that he alone can draw and align hearts to his.
6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire
My heart groans whenever I read these references to child sacrifices. How could they do that? What depravity overtook them?
But then I ask myself, in what ways are we currently sacrificing our children? To the gods of convenience, comfort, ambition, reputation, success, etc.?
I also am full of wonder at God’s mercy and compassion especially due to the high level of frustration due to disobedience. Then I think about my own children and how I love them. I gave them many opportunitys to do right things and make right choices over and over. I had the feelings of sorrow, anger, relief, but always abounding in love. BUT GOD and His great love for us that we really and truly cannot even fathom, gives us the same chances over and over.
Discipline in Scripture is never portrayed as pleasant, but it is always full of purpose. Hebrews 12:6 “The Lord disciplines the one he loves.” Just as a good father trains his children for how to live life, God trains His people for righteousness. Proverbs 3:11-12 teaches us not to despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of His reproof, because it is a sign of His love.
God is always waiting for us to turn to Him for guidance, peace, and total dependence. He loves us too much to stand by and do nothing while we walk a path toward destruction. Jesus went the full distance when He took upon Himself the shame and filth of our sin. God’s love is truly unconditional. He continues to seek you even when you are lost, even in the dark places that we get lost in. What an amazing God we serve.
We should be praising and thanking Him for never give up on us and for His loving hand of discipline.
I love that we can read “the rest of the story” of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33. We get to see God’s mercy in action and Manasseh’s reaction and obedience. BUT GOD!!!! WOOHOO!!!
God thank You for knowing that there can and is “the rest of the story” to be unfolded. God, as a parent/grandparent, I do not enjoy the disobedient reactions from my children/grands. But to watch in action my daughter and son-in-law’s guidance with my grandgirls has been life changing for me. Thank You for showing me a better way. Thank You for showing me Your love in disipline. God thank You for never giving up on me. God, today, in these minutes of this day, give me the eyes to see Your people (love goggles), the ears to hear Your voice, so that I follow with obedience and the words that edify and glorify You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God I lift JP up to You today. Father just give him comfort, rest when he actually sleeps, and encouragement deep in his knower of You,that You have him in the palm of Your hand through ALL things. God thank You for the details of all procedures, blood draws, every different procedure that the hospital might do, that You are protecting all things. I come against the wiles of the enemy in Jesus name, and stand in the gap with God being glorified in all details. God, Your word says in Eph 6 that with Your armour JP will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For JP is not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. God vs 10 says Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
God we see JP’s example of using this as a platform for You and I am so emboldened by this. God thank You for how YOu just constantly give this man and his family grace, peace, joy, love beyond measure and health today in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it seems crazy to me that so many great leaders God place in power and most of their children came right behind them and did evil to God’s people. God had to humble Mannanseh to the point where he know he was not in control before he surrender. we must learn to humble ourselves by our own mistakes and actions before God have to humble us.
Right?! Such a great point!
What first struck me in this chapter is how quickly worship in Israel shifted from personal devotion to something the king himself enforced. Manasseh wasn’t just privately idolatrous—he institutionalized idolatry. He rebuilt pagan altars, set up Asherah poles, and even put pagan worship objects in the temple itself.
David Guzik (Enduring Word) describes this as “state-sponsored idolatry”—a leader using their power to normalize, endorse, and enforce false worship across the land.
What happens when rulers decide to dictate how people will relate to God?
I’m going to try and tread very lightly going forward here, because the very last thing I want to do is politicize the study of God’s word. It is risky, even problematic, to overlay “politics” on top of “religion.” (You know, the two subjects we’re never supposed to talk about at Thanksgiving!)
But commingling the two is precisely the problem – and the reason I am bringing this up in the first place.
As most Texans know by now, it is now a legal requirement to display the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. As someone who serves in public education leadership… well, let’s just say I’ve witnessed some “lively discussion” on the subject. (And having gotten more acquainted with the specifics of the thing, I’m surprised by just how “specific” this law actually is—right down to document size and placement.)
As I said, a sensitive subject.
So, before I say anything else, I want to affirm the righteous intent. The desire and determination to see God’s word protected and proclaimed is good—holy, even. How many times have we inscribed his words on the beams and walls of our buildings – including some of those very same classrooms?
I’ve had occasion to do so a few times (including the walls and floors of the Harris Creek sanctuary) – and I do so in reverent obedience.
But what if… such acts were REQUIRED by some elected official?
And that’s where I start to get very concerned.
For starters, public school classrooms can be visually very “busy” places. I would hate to see God’s holy law disappear into so much background noise — just another poster on the wall, if you will. I’m worried that when sacred things are made commonplace, their weight may be diminished.
And when the state takes charge of how God’s word is displayed, there’s the risk that very same word can be co-opted for purposes other than worship.
A delicate, VERY difficult subject, for sure. And I, for one, have no clear answer.
So I’ll end with a question and a prayer.
What honors God more?
Mandated displays of his law?
Or willing, obedient hearts?
Lord, may your word never become so much “wallpaper,” but instead be written on our hearts… and into our lives.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” When we stray from God’s path, we invite chaos and destruction into our lives. Lord, help me draw closer to you from Your living word.