Manasseh's Reign

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began his reign in Jerusalem, and he reigned for fifty-five years (2 Kings 21:1). He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed and erected altars for Baal. The text states he made an Asherah pole and worshiped all the starry hosts (2 Kings 21:3). Manasseh built altars for the starry hosts in the two courts of the temple of the Lord and sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination and consulted mediums and spiritists (2 Kings 21:6). The text does not say why he chose these specific practices, but it records that he placed a carved Asherah pole in the temple.

The Lord spoke through his servants the prophets, declaring that because Manasseh had committed these detestable sins, He would bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who heard of it would tingle (2 Kings 21:12). The Lord stated he would stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and would wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish (2 Kings 21:13). Furthermore, the text records that Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end (2 Kings 21:16).

When Manasseh died, he was buried in the garden of his own palace, the garden of Uzza, and his son Amon succeeded him as king (2 Kings 21:18). Amon was twenty-two years old when he began his reign and he ruled for two years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord as his father Manasseh had done, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped (2 Kings 21:20-21). Amon's officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace, though the people of the land killed those who had plotted against the king (2 Kings 21:23-24). The text does not say what motivated the officials to kill him.