2 Chronicles 33

This chapter belongs to the records of the kings of Judah in the latter part of 2 Chronicles. It continues from the end of 2 Chronicles 32, where Hezekiah dies and his son Manasseh becomes king.

Outline

• Verses 1–9: Manasseh becomes king at the age of twelve and reigns fifty-five years. He rebuilds the high places, serves Baal, the Asherah, and the host of heaven, sets up altars and a carved image in the temple, and causes his sons to pass through the fire.
• Verses 10–13: When the people refuse to heed the warning, the captains of the Assyrian army take Manasseh captive and carry him to Babylon. Manasseh humbles himself and prays, and God hears him and brings him back to his throne in Jerusalem.
• Verses 14–17: He builds a wall, removes the foreign gods and idols, and repairs the altar of the LORD. The people sacrifice to the LORD alone, yet they still offer sacrifices on the high places.
• Verses 18–20: The chapter notes that Manasseh's acts are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and in the sayings of Hozai, and it reports his death.
• Verses 21–25: Amon becomes king at twenty-two and does evil for two years before being killed by his servants. The people put the conspirators to death and make Josiah king.

Key Verses

• 2 Chronicles 33:12: "when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly" — the passage depicting the repentance of Judah's most wicked king.
• 2 Chronicles 33:13: "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God" — a summary of the understanding he gained through suffering.
• 2 Chronicles 33:23: Contrasts Amon, who did not humble himself, with Manasseh.

People and Places

• Manasseh: King of Judah. His fifty-five-year reign was the longest in Judah's history.
• Amon: Son of Manasseh. He was killed by his servants after only two years.
• Valley of Hinnom: A valley south of Jerusalem, mentioned as the place where children were made to pass through the fire.
• Assyria and Babylon: The nation that took Manasseh captive and the place to which he was carried.
• Gihon and Ophel: The spring and hill in Jerusalem where Manasseh built an outer wall.
• The sayings of Hozai: A book said to record the acts of Manasseh; it is no longer extant.

Points for Reflection

• 2 Kings 21, which covers the same period, does not mention Manasseh's captivity or repentance. Kings emphasizes Manasseh's sins as the cause of Judah's destruction (2 Kings 24:3–4), while Chronicles places its emphasis on repentance and restoration.
• A text known as the Prayer of Manasseh, presented as the prayer he offered, has been preserved. Some Orthodox traditions include it in the Bible, but Protestants and Catholics do not accept it as canonical.
• The story that Manasseh had Isaiah sawn in two is preserved only in Jewish tradition and does not appear in the biblical text.
• Manasseh and Amon are named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:10.

In the Korean Church

In preaching, Manasseh is frequently cited as an example that God receives anyone who repents, however great their sins.