Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Manasseh worships foreign gods and is sent into exile. He repents and is restored to his throne in Jerusalem. His son Amon becomes king and is killed in his second year.
II. Photo
Manasseh is taken captive: “The officers of the army of the king of Assyria took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him in fetters, and led him off to Babylon.” (v. 11b)
III. Select Verses
3-7: He rebuilt the shrines that his father Hezekiah had demolished; he erected altars for the Baals and made sacred posts. He bowed down to all the host of heaven and worshiped them, and he built altars [to them] in the House of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.” He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the House of the LORD. He consigned his sons to the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, and he practiced soothsaying, divination, and sorcery, and consulted ghosts and familiar spirits; he did much that was displeasing to the LORD in order to vex Him. He placed a sculptured image that he made in the House of God, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this House and in Jerusalem, which I chose out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My name forever.
10-13: The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not pay heed, so the LORD brought against them the officers of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him in fetters, and led him off to Babylon. In his distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to Him, and He granted his prayer, heard his plea, and returned him to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD alone was God.
IV. Outline
1-20. Manasseh
1. Introduction
2-9. Manasseh’s sins
2. Introduction
3-5. Instituting idol worship
6a. Child sacrifice
6b. Magic
7a. An idol in the temple
7b-8. God’s conditional promise
9. Summary
10-16. Punishment and repentance
10. Manasseh does not heed God’s warning
11. Manasseh is brought to Babylon as a captive
12-13. Manasseh repents and is restored in Jerusalem
14. Building projects
15. Removing idolatry
16. Restoring the temple
17. The people continue to sin
18-20. Summary; Death
21-15. Amon
21. Introduction
22-23. Amon’s sins: idolatry and arrogance
24. Amon is killed by his servants
25. The people choose Josiah as king
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from http://www.puppetgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/handcuffs.jpg
