Manasseh

Biblical Account

Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah. He came to the throne at the age of twelve and reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-five years, the longest reign of any king of Judah (2 Kings 21:1). His life is recounted in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. He is not to be confused with Manasseh the son of Joseph or with the tribe named after him.

Second Kings records his idolatry as follows:

• He rebuilt the high places (altars set up on mountains or hills) that his father had destroyed.
• He made altars for Baal and an Asherah pole, and he worshiped all the host of heaven.
• He built pagan altars in the courts of the temple.
• He made his son pass through the fire and consulted diviners and mediums.
• He shed a great deal of innocent blood (2 Kings 21:16).

The prophets announced that disaster would come upon Jerusalem because of these deeds. After his death Manasseh was buried in the garden of Uzza, and his son Amon succeeded him as king.

Second Chronicles adds an account not found in 2 Kings. The commanders of the Assyrian army captured Manasseh, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. When, in his affliction, he humbled himself greatly and prayed, God brought him back to Jerusalem, and "then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God" (2 Chronicles 33:11-13). After his return he removed the foreign idols and rebuilt the altar of the LORD.

Significance Within Scripture

The books of Kings portray Manasseh as the chief embodiment of the sin that brought Judah to ruin. They state that even though his grandson Josiah carried out reforms, the LORD did not turn from His wrath because of what Manasseh had done (2 Kings 23:26). The fall of Judah is also linked to his sins (2 Kings 24:3-4; Jeremiah 15:4).

Second Chronicles, through the same figure, shows that even the most wicked person can be restored if he repents.

In the New Testament, his name appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:10.

Interpretation and Debated Issues

• Differences between the two accounts: Second Kings contains no account of his repentance. Some interpreters regard the two accounts, written from different perspectives, as complementing each other, while others see the difference as reflecting the theological emphasis of the Chronicler. Assyrian royal records are known to list Manasseh king of Judah among the rulers who paid tribute. Scholars remain divided, however, over the historicity of the account of his deportation to Babylon.
• The Prayer of Manasseh: Second Chronicles 33:18-19 states that his prayer was recorded. A short text said to contain this prayer has been handed down under the title "The Prayer of Manasseh." Protestants and the Catholic Church do not include it in the canon. In some of its traditions, the Orthodox Church includes it in the Bible. The Anglican Church classifies it among the Apocrypha, which are read for instruction.
• The tradition of Isaiah's martyrdom: The story that Manasseh had the prophet Isaiah sawn in two is not found in the biblical text. It is preserved in Jewish tradition and in apocryphal works such as the Ascension of Isaiah. Some interpreters connect this tradition with Hebrews 11:37 ("they were sawn asunder"), but the text of Hebrews does not name Isaiah.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Manasseh is usually presented, with 2 Chronicles 33 as the text, as a figure who illustrates the grace of God, who receives even the most wicked king when he repents. He is also frequently cited in sermons on the importance of passing on the faith, since a wicked son followed the devout Hezekiah.