Context No. 4133 of 4322 · 2 Kings

2 Kings 21:1-9: in context

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 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 destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. 4He built altars in the LORD’s house, of which the LORD said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” 5He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of the LORD’s house. 6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, 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 Asherah that he had made in the house of which the LORD 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 cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

King Manasseh is one of the deeply wicked kings in Judah's history. He undid his father Hezekiah's reforms, rebuilt the high places, set up idols even in the temple, practiced sorcery, and did great evil in the sight of the LORD. But the passage adds a line that reveals the full scope of his wickedness: Manasseh led the people astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before them.

His sin was not only his own; he drew a whole nation into it. There is a sobering truth here about the influence of a leader, and of any of us over those in our sphere. Manasseh's evil was multiplied because he led others into it; his position and example dragged a whole people deeper into sin than even the pagan nations had gone. The wrong we do is bad enough; but when we lead others into it, drawing them along by our influence and example, the harm is multiplied. Our example does not stop with us; it shapes those who watch and follow us, for good or for evil.

Am I mindful that my example and influence shape those who follow me, for good or for evil, and do I use whatever influence I have to lead others toward God rather than, like Manasseh, drawing them into sin?

Sources

2 Kings 21:9: "But they didn't listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel."
2 Kings 21:2: "He did that which was evil in the LORD's sight, after the abominations of the nations whom the LORD cast out."
2 Kings 21:6: "He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery... He did much evil in the LORD's sight, to provoke him to anger."