Context No. 2789 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 33:1-9: in context

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 3For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. 4He built altars in the LORD’s house, of which the LORD said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.” 5He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD’s house. 6He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger. 7He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8I will not any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses.” 9Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

Manasseh becomes king at twelve and reigns fifty-five years, and he sets about undoing everything his father Hezekiah had built. He rebuilds the high places, raises altars to Baal, worships the stars, and goes so far as to set carved idols inside the temple where God had promised to put his name forever. He even passes his own children through the fire. Under him Judah does more evil than the nations God had driven out.

The horror is not only his personal wickedness but that he seduces a whole people into it. A leader's evil multiplies, spreading through everyone under him, and it settles into the very house God had chosen, turning the place of his name into a shrine for idols. And yet readers of Chronicles know what this passage does not yet tell: later this same Manasseh will be humbled, will repent, and God will hear him. Even a king this wicked is not finally beyond the reach of mercy. But here we simply watch how far a heart, and a nation, can fall.

When I have influence over others, am I leading them toward God, or, like Manasseh, drawing them into my own compromises?

Sources

2 Chronicles 33:13: "When he prayed to him, he was entreated by him... Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."
Proverbs 29:12: "If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked."
Romans 5:20: "But where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly."